[Feen]

I started cleaning windows about 2.5 years ago by helping someone else. It was part time and I had other things going on - farm work, gardening etc. It has developed into a full time job. I wfp most of my work (using a backpack) and make reasonable money. However, if I'm totally honest I'd have to say I don't like wfp. Sure it beats being up a ladder and it's quicker, but I don't get the satisfaction of seeing dirty water come off the window from my squeegee and KNOWING the window is clean. With wfp I always have a little doubt because I don't see it dry. With better pricing strategy (see other post called Hourly rate I think), I am keen to get as much of my work trad as I can. No way will I go high on ladders in place of the pole, but I'll try to get as much lower and ground floor work done trad at a higher price. I really do enjoy cleaning windows and want to earn my living as enjoyably as possible. What about you?

[gerard mcmanus]

feen I am trad so you might expect me to say yeah go for it, but I wouldn't. If you are WFP and only want to change for that reason, I would say don’t. Do insides trad, and outsides WFP. let your success, by growth and development be your satisfaction, not getting to marvel at a window you have just cleaned.

[andyatkinson]

stay safe and do downstairs trad if you still wanna bond with the soap suds!

[Oakley Windows]

I worked off a ladder for nine years, Im in my second year of WFP and love my job.

The benefits are endless, I see no negatives, I love it.

I was speaking to a friend the other day, telling them the first thought in my head when I wake up is 'I wonder what new work I'll get today' in the last month Ive picked up £1,000 of domestic gutters and about £400 of regular windows.

I work when I want, at an hourly I choose, I start when I want, I finish when I want, I earn top $ and thats magic.

I take pride in  my work and I love cleaning windows.

[ftp]

I've never really thought if i enjoy cleaning windows but i seem to spend all my spare time on here or George or topping the van, charging the battery, looking for new equipment so i guess i must enjoy it.
 Still get a buzz when i get recommended or get a commercial contract (not often) and love the freedom. The last job i had was forgotten the minute i left the clocking out machine.

[EZclean]

on ladders, i got proper stalled and fed up of the job, but ive found a new lease of energy, enthusiasm and all round joy from changing to wfp.
i know what you mean about not knowing for sure how it will dry. i'm coming up to finish second cleans, and i'm hoping the 3rd and 4th cleans will be different.

[NWH]

I love working WFP it was the best thing i ever did changing over 4 years + ago,i saw a bloke today scrimmimg windows on a pub at 8.30 i passed there again 3 hours later only to see him doing insides.Trad just takes to long compared to WFP i really can`t believe it when i talk to trad WC`s and they say they will never change over,WFP it`s just a case of going round and picking up the money but trad is a different animal you have to work for it lol.

[mci services]

I started cleaning windows about 2.5 years ago by helping someone else. It was part time and I had other things going on - farm work, gardening etc. It has developed into a full time job. I wfp most of my work (using a backpack) and make reasonable money. However, if I'm totally honest I'd have to say I don't like wfp. Sure it beats being up a ladder and it's quicker, but I don't get the satisfaction of seeing dirty water come off the window from my squeegee and KNOWING the window is clean. With wfp I always have a little doubt because I don't see it dry. With better pricing strategy (see other post called Hourly rate I think), I am keen to get as much of my work trad as I can. No way will I go high on ladders in place of the pole, but I'll try to get as much lower and ground floor work done trad at a higher price. I really do enjoy cleaning windows and want to earn my living as enjoyably as possible. What about you?

i think this is a good question, i personally like to have a mix of work, for example this morning i did wfp till about 12.00 then instead of doing what i intended i went and did some work that was due to be done from the ladder and i will do todays afternoons work tomorrow morning because i find w/c very boring if using the same method day in day out. so if i can mix my days up with trad and wfp all the better works for me anyway

[johns window kleen]

I like being my own boss etc etc, but I no longer get a boner from cleaning windows. Its a bit boring and repetitive.

If I get a new bit of kit it rekindles the joy for a few days.

But it pays the bills,gives me freedom,and even though I get bored I still take pride in my work, and do the best job I can for the custies.

[pjulk]

I find the job boring as hell but it pays the bills

[Dean Aspects]

I hate window cleaning at the best of times its just a means to an end
Unfortunately for me its probably what i will do till i retire so i make the best of it
I do get a fit of energy when i get something new but that soon fades and the same old drudgery kicks in again beats employment though

[AuRavelling79]

I do enjoy it - I like meeting many of my custies too.

Wfp transformed it from being a drudge. I describe myself as wfp yet yesterday my day was as follows:-

7 am six mile drive to:

1. Factory offices and site offices outside wfp SLX - inside trad. (chat to sales staff as I clean get a lead for domestic)

10.30 am eight mile drive to:-

2. Bunch of portakabins on a dockside - outside and inside trad (manky aluminium ill fitting 1980's windows (I use a 6ft ladder with ladder mitts on it) (chat to staff)

11.30 am three mile drive to:

3. New two storey building in Avonmouth - outside only wfp - upstairs slx, downstairs fishing pole top section

12.30 pm two mile drive to:

4. Domestic - all wfp SLX - 4 off 1970's terraces and end of terraces - hose thru house, fronts only or round back.

400m drive to:-

5. Domestic - all wfp SLX - 5 detached four/five bedroom houses

4.50 pm 2 mile drive home

Phone call message awaiting on a school I canvassed two weeks ago for Easter clean - asked to go and quote.

I like the buzz of getting biz from my own efforts and coppicing the round to make it more productive.

[gerard mcmanus]

400m drive to:-

5. Domestic - all wfp SLX - 5 detached four/five bedroom houses

      

Where was your lunch.

This was my day

morning 8 - 12 domesics
lunch 12 - 1 with my dear gran and granda - bought them a greggs, they love it
1 - 6 more domestics
all within 5 miles of my home.

[pingu]

Have to admit that wfp can be so very repetitive and boring...but I can think of no other place that would pay me for such a task and allow me to take days off...sneak off early..tell the boss what a silly billy he has been...

Yep it's boring...but the wages can be so good at time...this morning...1st job is a house half an hour away....takes 40 mins and they pay very well....

Its not a glamourous job but it beats being one of those who right now have been living the high life with their bonus', company cars, expense accounts...and will soon be fretting no end about keeping the wolves from the door.

Cheers
Dave.

[leapstallbuildings]

It's not the act of cleaning a window that I enjoy.  It's the ability to work reasonably flexible hours and to create my own work environment that I really like.  As an unskilled, working class nobody, it is great to either (a) earn good money for working full time or (b) earn a full time wage for working part time or (c) do the admin and occasional tool work while making money from the window cleaning of others.
I seem to fluctuate between (a) and (b) depending how much work I have in a particular week or how much I feel like doing.

[Londoner]

Some days I think I have got the best job in the world. Other days its tedious and repetitive. But realistically its got a lot going for it. Most of the reasons have already been said above so I won't repeat them.

I do have to try and keep myself motivated though. Went over to WFP three years ago and could never ever go back to trad.

[karygate]

i love the job because of all the freedom it gives me . always enjoy it when i get a new customer and am glad i have managed to keep everyone through the winter again. still not full and do not earn anything like some on here but i think that will change as times go on. need to motivate myself a bit more but have no intention of ever going back to the old life working for someone else 12 hours a day. the money was better(only at the moment) but that will change.

[ok cleaning]

i love and enjoy my job been doing it for 15 years now and never thought of doing anyting else in that time and i wiil be retired from cleaning windows hopefully another 10 yearsto come

[Dave Turley]

I love it... especially since i've refined my round to the point where I don't have to kill myself every day to make ends meet.

I think i'll be shining til I die, and hot wfp is just soooo easy 

[Londoner]

I love it... especially since i've refined my round to the point where I don't have to kill myself every day to make ends meet.

I think i'll be shining til I die, and hot wfp is just soooo easy 

Refining your round is the secret of success. Keep pruning out the difficult jobs.