[jaykie]

Blimey 49 stan, i wasnt expecting that, my dads the same age as you 

[jaykie]

Im so glad i only listen to certain peoples posts on this forum and i now know whose not to read as if id read some of these when i 1st started i wouldnt of bothered making the plunge in this trade, but im glad i listened to those in the no.

Based on what?

How would you know?

The gathering of information is a key business process, complete, up to date and accurate. This place is a mine field.

 

because ive got a nice van, with a nice system and poles with a website,leaflets,and advertising that is bringing me really good domestic and commercial work that i wouldnt of dreamed of getting and i have provided them with the right paperwork and good prices, im also earning more now then i was when i was employed which was only 5 months ago, so yes i do know who to listen too and who not too 

[jaykie]

Thats what im saying, i listen to those who have moved forward and grown a business not just doing a job, i learn something new everyday but there are quite a few on here who dont believe what others say and just like to be negative towards everyone, i want to grow a business and not just sit back, work till lunch time etc

[pjulk]

I did three gutter cleans yesterday started at 10.30 and finished just after 2pm.

I charged £40 a house did it off ladders with bucket and a couple of pouches and a spray bottle and oh yes my rubbers,
Gloves that is.

No need for flashy equipment.

I have a pressure washer and extendible lance but it can get a bit messy like that so prefer to do off of ladders.

[pt]

Hi All,

Min £125 3 bed detached front / back 2 gables.

[Kevin R]

The reason I dont wish to charge low prices like £15 per hour or even £50 for two hours work is you will continue to live hand to mouth for ever. At that point you have a self employed JOB not a business.

If one man can clean residential windows at £40 an hour (most can wfp if pricing is sensible) why clean gutters for less?

We have the beer money crowd here to. They dont effect my business at all. Price well and you will get better work, stay cheap and you will get the price shopping skinflints as customers as they think YOUR in it for the beer money.

If your running a bona fide business you have higher running costs. So your charges must cover these. I see many a window cleaning companies come and go because most dont charge enough and the costs catch up with them (like tax) and then they realise their not making as much money as they though. On £15-25 an hour your better off in employment.

25 an hour better off employed?? where do you live - buckingham palace, tax isnt 90% you know, anything above 10-15 an hr for yourself is better than minimum wage, i earn a good rate, but i wouldnt tell someone on 15 to go get a job because they arent on £50 an hour for ripping off pensioners who cant clean there own gutters, theres a price for profit, and there is taking the p, just because they HAVE to pay it, doesnt mean you should price ridiculously, thats what you probably moan about when you go to fill your car, or buy food, why practice it yourself?

well said

I really object to comments about ripping off pensioners. Most of this work we cant afford to do - we pass it on to the local "bucket and ladder" brigade as we have no interest in it at all.

There is the top of the market and the bottom. We service the top its that simple, but we pass on work where we can.

Its not about "ridiculous" prices its about surviving in the current financial climate. Commercial work isn't what some people think it is. Many hours are spent in negotiations, quoting, scheduling, invoicing, risk assessments, method statements, arranging plant and machinery, staff ,sub contractors, maintenance  etc etc.  I charge what I do to be competitive and survive - Minimum charges are there for a reason because driving to the job, telephone calls, quoting etc all cost money, not to mention doing it.

If you can do a gutter job for £15 per hour then good luck, but when the next large company calls and wants theirs doing give me a call as you wont be able to do it from a ladder    

Before you start shouting "rip off" just look around you and wonder who cleans the ones you can't?

[jaykie]

The reason I dont wish to charge low prices like £15 per hour or even £50 for two hours work is you will continue to live hand to mouth for ever. At that point you have a self employed JOB not a business.

If one man can clean residential windows at £40 an hour (most can wfp if pricing is sensible) why clean gutters for less?

We have the beer money crowd here to. They dont effect my business at all. Price well and you will get better work, stay cheap and you will get the price shopping skinflints as customers as they think YOUR in it for the beer money.

If your running a bona fide business you have higher running costs. So your charges must cover these. I see many a window cleaning companies come and go because most dont charge enough and the costs catch up with them (like tax) and then they realise their not making as much money as they though. On £15-25 an hour your better off in employment.

25 an hour better off employed?? where do you live - buckingham palace, tax isnt 90% you know, anything above 10-15 an hr for yourself is better than minimum wage, i earn a good rate, but i wouldnt tell someone on 15 to go get a job because they arent on £50 an hour for ripping off pensioners who cant clean there own gutters, theres a price for profit, and there is taking the p, just because they HAVE to pay it, doesnt mean you should price ridiculously, thats what you probably moan about when you go to fill your car, or buy food, why practice it yourself?

well said

I really object to comments about ripping off pensioners. Most of this work we cant afford to do - we pass it on to the local "bucket and ladder" brigade as we have no interest in it at all.

There is the top of the market and the bottom. We service the top its that simple, but we pass on work where we can.

Its not about "ridiculous" prices its about surviving in the current financial climate. Commercial work isn't what some people think it is. Many hours are spent in negotiations, quoting, scheduling, invoicing, risk assessments, method statements, arranging plant and machinery, staff ,sub contractors, maintenance  etc etc.  I charge what I do to be competitive and survive - Minimum charges are there for a reason because driving to the job, telephone calls, quoting etc all cost money, not to mention doing it.

If you can do a gutter job for £15 per hour then good luck, but when the next large company calls and wants theirs doing give me a call as you wont be able to do it from a ladder    

Before you start shouting "rip off" just look around you and wonder who cleans the ones you can't?

Stan the man and Ewan, the person above is one id listen too 

[windowwashers]

Blimey 49 stan, i wasnt expecting that, my dads the same age as you 

blimey i was on holiday in your area 31 years since,perhaps i am your dad 

lol

[jaykie]

nah youd of stayed down here as money better down south

[Kevin R]

Blimey 49 stan, i wasnt expecting that, my dads the same age as you 

blimey i was on holiday in your area 31 years since,perhaps i am your dad 

If he can do that expanding thing with his face then its probably true   

[peter holley]

NOW THEN put your hand bags down girlies....


kev ...my round is nearly all domestic but i could never survive off .£15 an hour.
i expect way over double that on gutter cleaning and windows...
the point that these others are missing on here is that my custies trust me and they just want the job done and they want someone reliable...

yes its true many of my wc custies are shocked when i give them aprice and they do the job themselves....it takes them all day and they soon realuise whats involved...  the next time they need doing they are only to hasppy to pay the going rate...

£15 an hour is stupidity  
 

[Sir Squeaky]

There's some right cowboy rip-offs on here.
Where's Esther Rantzen or Matt Allright? :

I did a gutter and facia clean on 4 bed bungalow the other day including downpipes.
Took an extra 30 mins than usual.
Charged an extra £20.

Including the windows that was £30 for 40 mins.
That's still £45 p/h.

How can you justify more than that? :

[peter holley]

thats what i expect...  what im on about is charging £15 an hr  madness 

[Sir Squeaky]

thats what i expect...  what im on about is charging £15 an hr  madness 

I suppose it depends where you are.

It's not much in the sunny rich south, but in the land of flat caps, whippets and rain it's probably a fortune.

[windowwashers]

There's some right cowboy rip-offs on here.
Where's Esther Rantzen or Matt Allright? :

I did a gutter and facia clean on 4 bed bungalow the other day including downpipes.
Took an extra 30 mins than usual.
Charged an extra £20.

Including the windows that was £30 for 40 mins.
That's still £45 p/h.

How can you justify more than that? :

phone a drain jetsting company up and ask how they can charge £250 for 30 mins work

[Sir Squeaky]

There's some right cowboy rip-offs on here.
Where's Esther Rantzen or Matt Allright? :

I did a gutter and facia clean on 4 bed bungalow the other day including downpipes.
Took an extra 30 mins than usual.
Charged an extra £20.

Including the windows that was £30 for 40 mins.
That's still £45 p/h.

How can you justify more than that? :

phone a drain jetsting company up and ask how they can charge £250 for 30 mins work

A little bit more specialist.
I doubt there's 200,000 of them in the country, like common or garden window cleaners.

[peter holley]

There's some right cowboy rip-offs on here.
Where's Esther Rantzen or Matt Allright? :

I did a gutter and facia clean on 4 bed bungalow the other day including downpipes.
Took an extra 30 mins than usual.
Charged an extra £20.

Including the windows that was £30 for 40 mins.
That's still £45 p/h.

How can you justify more than that? :

phone a drain jetsting company up and ask how they can charge £250 for 30 mins work

i need one of those drain jets

[jaykie]

Believe im not all talk, i wont get on what can be earnt down here as you wont believe me,

[windowwashers]

There's some right cowboy rip-offs on here.
Where's Esther Rantzen or Matt Allright? :

I did a gutter and facia clean on 4 bed bungalow the other day including downpipes.
Took an extra 30 mins than usual.
Charged an extra £20.

Including the windows that was £30 for 40 mins.
That's still £45 p/h.

How can you justify more than that? :

phone a drain jetsting company up and ask how they can charge £250 for 30 mins work

A little bit more specialist.
I doubt there's 200,000 of them in the country, like common or garden window cleaners.

it is a pipe with water m8, my uncle does it that IMO is daylight robbery, the reason the prices are high is because people dont want to do it, same as gutter cleaning, people that price a gutter or fashia job as there standard rate for window cleaning are barking mad IMO, it is normally a once a year or one-off job so should be priced this way.

We all earn what we want so I am not getting into that arguement, you charge what you like if you happy thats what matters

[peter holley]

Believe im not all talk, i wont get on what can be earnt down here as you wont believe me,

 i believe you.... im the same dont like talking figures as you get shot down, by all the mr negatives who talk themselves into charging less and less