[Grafters Cleaning Services]

I have just completed my 3rd day using WFP, so what do I think about the system? I am using a trolley set as most of my work is domestic, I find it suits me OK, it’s great if you have more than 1 house in a row but can be a bit time consuming when you have to reload back into van but I’m sure as time goes by I will find short cuts and make it easier, apart from a stiff neck (and I’m sure will get better in time) it’s brill. Now here’s a funny thing, for years I’ve been on the ladders and my price has been determined by the amount of windows, for example a small 3 bed would have cost around £7-00 but I’ve picked up a few extra jobs in the last few days using WFP and for some reason I have quoted higher prices and still got the jobs. Today for example I was cleaning a customers house and was approached by 2 other people in the same road, when I called around their houses I quoted them both £9-00 (and got both jobs) whereas the house I was cleaning is only £7-00. so why have a put my prices up using WFP? Answer: I don’t really know. Maybe it’s physiological, perhaps I look more professional using WFP, I don’t really know but I just did it without thinking and it’s working for me so I’m sticking with the new prices increases on all new jobs and hope to put up all my old customers prices up in April.
The one thing I like best about WFP is no more ladders, for 3 days I’ve been ladderless and my knees don’t seem to knock anymore on those high, hard to reach windows. I’ve now decided that I’m staying with WFP and if any of my existing customers don’t like then it’s tough because ladders for me are obsolete, except when I have to climb over the occasional gate or get on a garage roof etc. it’s taken me a while to see the light about WFP but I think it’s the best move I’ve made, and as more my wife she is so happy in the knowledge that I’m not up that big ladder anymore.
 

[sue bell]

Hi Jay, DO YOU NEED SOME KIND OF RISK ASSESSMENT FOR USING THIS SYSTEM FOR THE COUNCILS AND SO ON........WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP FIND ME ONE. I will explain to you in more depth about myself if you can help me.......   sue

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

sorry sue can't answer that one, the only council work i do is 2 council run rest homes and they don't seem to have any issues as long as the job gets done. maybe someone else on this forum might be able to answer that one?

[sue bell]

THANK ANYWAY....HAPPY CLEANING....SUE

[Ian Fletcher]

where do you keep your water,or do you just use taps in gardens

[Duke]

we store ours..once out of the 1000 litre tank...in 30 litre plastic containers...about 30 of them...on a daily basis (we have 5 cleaners to keep going)...funnily enough, they are sold as 25 litre containers...but will in fact hold 30....

[marc al]

  My first day with the pole, what a great day with some good results, I have actually dropped one price as it was so much easier and I felt guilty for the old dear!
   I did do several customers with trad methods this afternoon as they won't be talked into wfp!

  Marc

[Ian Fletcher]

the wfp,sounds good

i was just wondering how much greif is there with geting round the back of houses,you know all the stuff over garages etc,,

[Duke]

not really a problem...phone them first if access is difficult...arrange a convenient time....and if they won't be 'converted' like a handfull of mine in the early days....pass them on, or drop them.....you'll soon pick up more that want your services BECAUSE you use a pole....funny innit ?

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

where do you keep your water,or do you just use taps in gardens

no you can't use tap water, it has to be purified first and carried in my van in 25ltr containers

[Jeff Brimble]

Jay its great that you have had 3 good days---however please be prepared to answer the critics who dont understand, tell them it takes a couple of goes.Later on they wil probably have forgot how you clean them. I started doing tops only they accept the sense of you not falling off. If they do complain I will sometimes go back over them again (you could have made a bad job,BUT do not give in to them and go up the ladder NO WAY !). and leave it at that if they complain next time round I offer to do the odd problem windows again if they decline, I explain that this is the way I am doing the tops for my safety and to please try it one more time then if they dont like it give me a ring to cancel- most dont by the third time and accept.
Three good days does not a summer make, expect to get the odd cloud. Often the street chairman or busybody will spread the bad news of how he is not going to have any new fangled thing and you may have to be prepared to initially loose quite a few. They may even bring in a new w/cer of their own. This has happened to me. But with patience you may find that you loose maybe 2-3 % overall and the benifits far out way the negatives.
Your stiff neck and shoulders will continue until you get new muscles, meantime get a yellow pages under your neck whilst lying down and do gentle relaxation excercises. Oh and by a pair of cheap but uv protected sunglasses they will stop you squinting with one eye.
Persevere and prosper.

[Ian Fletcher]

so do you make more money with the wfp

[Jeff Brimble]

Sorry dont discuss ££ but ask yourself why many are spending fortunes on re quiping.
I will only say its safer, but you may find yourself with more play time.

[Ian Fletcher]

ok.where can i get more info for the wfp

[Jeff Brimble]

Check your pm.

[thewindowcleaner1]

I seemed to loose so much time when I first started using WFP explaining to customers how it worked, and where the customer normally would except that I do a good job they were going around the windows checking and finding every little spot,until I printed an explination note and launched a web site, It was the web site that did the trick (customers nicknamed me the .biz window cleaner) now if any one asked me about system aqick explination and direction to web,
I also tell new customers any problems after the first clean let me know and I'll reclean them or knock a % off next clean (no problems to date) after three years

[Jeff Brimble]

What do you do us (me, possibly ) geriatrics that that dont know what a website ? is

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

Jay its great that you have had 3 good days---however please be prepared to answer the critics who dont understand, tell them it takes a couple of goes.Later on they wil probably have forgot how you clean them. I started doing tops only they accept the sense of you not falling off. If they do complain I will sometimes go back over them again (you could have made a bad job,BUT do not give in to them and go up the ladder NO WAY !). and leave it at that if they complain next time round I offer to do the odd problem windows again if they decline, I explain that this is the way I am doing the tops for my safety and to please try it one more time then if they dont like it give me a ring to cancel- most dont by the third time and accept.
Three good days does not a summer make, expect to get the odd cloud. Often the street chairman or busybody will spread the bad news of how he is not going to have any new fangled thing and you may have to be prepared to initially loose quite a few. They may even bring in a new w/cer of their own. This has happened to me. But with patience you may find that you loose maybe 2-3 % overall and the benifits far out way the negatives.
Your stiff neck and shoulders will continue until you get new muscles, meantime get a yellow pages under your neck whilst lying down and do gentle relaxation excercises. Oh and by a pair of cheap but uv protected sunglasses they will stop you squinting with one eye.
Persevere and prosper.

thanx for your input jeff, tes i keep expecting the phone to ring with a complaint but it hasn't happened yet, i'm it will come sooner or later, by the way i also have a website which i have now updated with reference to wfp http://www.grafterscleaning.co.uk

[Ian_Giles]

Jeff,
You only squint with one eye I have to squint with both mine

Ihatefrogs87 (sign your posts with your christian name Makes addressing you easier )
Time taken to do the work is cut by a long way, and the bigger the job, the more of a difference this makes.
The tax man is going to see my income will have jumped by at least 5k in my next tax return.
This is mostly because I am getting around all of my work on time, and I am also taking on work again and not turning it away.
Prior to WFP I would be making lame excuses to myself about certain jobs.
These were the killer ones, they may have been really good money, but off aa ladder they were just such hard work
Plus they were big 3 storey offices, on windy days they were just to dangerous to attempt.
All changed now though, I can't wait for them to come around again.

It isn't all a bed of roses, it does take skill to use WFP, it is expensive to get into, filters, resin, membranes all on occasion have to be changed.
If you are on a meter it will bump up your bills noticably.
Running costs are higher.
There are certain windows that are a nightmare to clean (ones with oxidized frames).
But life is definitely easier and safer.
The safety angle is a big one of course, but the job itself becomes easier!
Its also very easy to do a bad job.
There is one local guy who has been using WFP for a month or so and his work is appaling, he is doing a dreadful job.
Another I know has all but given up on it and gone back to ladder work, only using his WFP on work that can't be done safely any other way.
He is not at all impressed with WFP, he was losing way too many customers.

Ian

[Stephen_Watters]

Don't know if my experience is unusual but having now moved over 100% to WFP some 5 months ago, we now never have to bother expalining the process to customers any more. New customers are WFP from day one although we do still give some of them one our our explanitory leaflets we designed but only now and then when we remember.

Of our 100's of customers only about 4 had any problem with it and if they were worth keeping we simply use an extending pole to squidgey upstairs windows if they are in. If not they get left. never had a complaint yet.

If anyone would like to get a copy of our explanitory leaflet so they can modify it for their use just drop me an Email and I'll send you a copy. It worked well for us.