[Clarabelle]

I am setting up a new window cleaning round and have been out canvassing but have not had any success in getting calls.  I am doing tratitional at the moment but want to get a wfp when I get some calls and can afford it.  I am also limited to bungalows at the moment but they don't seem interested - I am not sure if this is because I am a woman or do most bungalow owners do their own because they can reach?
I have been out with my partner helping him out on his round several times and really enjoy the work (even though he doesn't pay me )  So I am getting experience in cleaning windows, but just cant seem to get any calls off my own back.
Please does anyone have any advice or suggestions.
Thanks.

[Window Cleaning Services]

Dress smartly, speak with a confident business-like manner,leave a business card and smile, you will get some eventually.all the best. Syd

[cozy]

Welcome to the nuthouse Clarabelle. Be sure to have a thick skin on here

My wife works with me since years, in all the time she has done so, I have never noticed a negative reaction from any custies at all. In fact I would say she is a real asset to our team. A tip though, being a woman, dress smart when  canvassing but don't overdo the makeup and no mini skirts

It shouldn't make any difference at all. In fact you could get further, faster than some of the cavemen like me on here. :

Be polite and professional. Expect them to say yes.

[R W C]

Like has already been said I doubt its the fact your a woman, id put it down to being the propertys youve chosen, bungalowas are normaly done by the same window cleaner for the past 20 years, they very rarely get dropped or sold as part of a round because access is normally easy and you can keep doing these after retirement years.

[wfp master]

stick a false moustache on 

[jonnyald]

id say get a set of ladders and also a selection of extension poles .and a wagtail flipper squeegee ,  then  you are ready to tackle the houses,you know it makes sense ........

[mark dew]

I think the fact that you are a woman is an asset when canvassing. That you are canvassing bungalows negates that asset though.
Unless you can do low level ladder work i think realistically you will struggle for ages to build up any meaningful income.
You might be lucky and hit a hot spot, but the market you are targetting is only a small percentage of work out there. Then take into account a good success rate might be 5% anyway and you have some idea of scale of your task.

Without being able to do at least an upstairs terrace, your only real option is being employed by a traditional cleaner, doing the downstairs while they do the  tops. ie your boyfriend.   
Other ground floor stuff like shop windows, is pretty much sewn up.

Or even better advertise yourself as an internal window cleaner.
Parish magazines and shop windows would be good places for you to advertise. Make sure you give a landline number and leave the advert reader in no doubt you are a woman.
I think you could build up a good round over time if you concentrated on internal windows. Most wc (i'm guessing are like me) don't like doing insides cos of the faffing about and the reactions to pricing accordingly.
And the fact of having a female inside someones house is non-threatening to most people.
Without a ladder i can't think of a healthier market for you.


Good luck to you for what you are trying to do. I think you are bound to succeed, if you have got this far with the idea.
If you target and pick up internal window cleaning work, don't forget to come back and post about it. Cos there will be other things you will need to take into account. Primarily your safety. Etc.   

[simon knight]

but don't overdo the makeup and no mini skirts

Take no notice of this pseudo Kraut Clarabelle...you got the assets babe flaunt 'em is my advise

Cozy are you MAD?

[cozy]

 

[GWCS]

I think the fact that you are a woman is an asset when canvassing. That you are canvassing bungalows negates that asset though.
Unless you can do low level ladder work i think realistically you will struggle for ages to build up any meaningful income.
You might be lucky and hit a hot spot, but the market you are targetting is only a small percentage of work out there. Then take into account a good success rate might be 5% anyway and you have some idea of scale of your task.

Without being able to do at least an upstairs terrace, your only real option is being employed by a traditional cleaner, doing the downstairs while they do the  tops. ie your boyfriend.   
Other ground floor stuff like shop windows, is pretty much sewn up.

Or even better advertise yourself as an internal window cleaner.
Parish magazines and shop windows would be good places for you to advertise. Make sure you give a landline number and leave the advert reader in no doubt you are a woman.
I think you could build up a good round over time if you concentrated on internal windows. Most wc (i'm guessing are like me) don't like doing insides cos of the faffing about and the reactions to pricing accordingly.
And the fact of having a female inside someones house is non-threatening to most people.
Without a ladder i can't think of a healthier market for you.


Good luck to you for what you are trying to do. I think you are bound to succeed, if you have got this far with the idea.
If you target and pick up internal window cleaning work, don't forget to come back and post about it. Cos there will be other things you will need to take into account. Primarily your safety. Etc.   

I agree do internal windows.

Canvass your fellas customers too cos I bet he doesn't like doing insides - so you could arrange to do them when he does the outside.

[simon knight]

 

Clarabelle: On a serious note, there is absolutely zero reason why a woman shouldn't be a window cleaner.

But! It is viewed as a mans job by the general public (Helen if you're reading this no offence meant...just stating fact!) in as much the same way as a child minder is viewed as a womans job...ditto a midwife etc etc...

Basically you as a woman will be discriminated against by the older people in our society as older people tend to "pigeon hole".  Also there will always be the old chestnut: "What happens when she has children?"

But in answer to your original question:

Bungalows are for OAPs who want to earn a pound or 2...basically anything to get them out of the house for a few hours away from the nagging wife.

Do a search on this site and you'll find enough canvassing info to fill a small African library...so I won't even attempt to re-hash this aspect.

WFP? Sure...why not?...all in good time when you've a customer base that warrant splashing out £1000s on the system. But in the mean time buy a set of ladders and offer to do a few 3 bed semis (easy peasy).

Somebody said to undercut your partner! On the basis he hasn't even had the decency to pay you for your help...yeah go for it Clarabelle...undercut the loser

[seandyer2003]

but don't overdo the makeup and no mini skirts

Take no notice of this pseudo Kraut Clarabelle...you got the assets babe flaunt 'em is my advise

Cozy are you MAD?

YEp. my windows need cleaning in that case

[mr D]

any one thinking of the stoning scene from life of Brian?

''Are there any women here?''

[Clarabelle]

Thanks for the advice.   
My partner passed on his internal window cleans to me earlier in the year, but I want to expand to do externals as well.  I thought bungalows would be a good start, but apparently not.  So it looks like I have got to get a wfp if I want to offer the ‘full’ service. 

Are there any of you really, really wonderful window cleaners out there in the cornwall area that may have any spare bits to help me set up a system.  I would be happy to pay postage or collect.  GROVEL, GROVEL, GROVEL.    Otherwise I may need to consider selling a body part to get a foot on the ladder!
Thanks.

[GWCS]

Thanks for the advice.   
My partner passed on his internal window cleans to me earlier in the year, but I want to expand to do externals as well.  I thought bungalows would be a good start, but apparently not.  So it looks like I have got to get a wfp if I want to offer the ‘full’ service. 

Are there any of you really, really wonderful window cleaners out there in the cornwall area that may have any spare bits to help me set up a system.  I would be happy to pay postage or collect.  GROVEL, GROVEL, GROVEL.    Otherwise I may need to consider selling a body part to get a foot on the ladder!
Thanks.

Why be in competition with your partner? Join forces - the stuff he gets that he doesn't want he can pass to you, and vice versa.

OR

You can go canvassing for him and take on more work for him to allow for a 2 man (person job), and when doing the work, he does up and you do down. When you get internals asked for - you do them.


However just remember keep business, business, and personal, personal. that why you know where you are.

[R W C]

Thanks for the advice.   
My partner passed on his internal window cleans to me earlier in the year, but I want to expand to do externals as well.  I thought bungalows would be a good start, but apparently not.  So it looks like I have got to get a wfp if I want to offer the ‘full’ service. 

Are there any of you really, really wonderful window cleaners out there in the cornwall area that may have any spare bits to help me set up a system.  I would be happy to pay postage or collect.  GROVEL, GROVEL, GROVEL.    Otherwise I may need to consider selling a body part to get a foot on the ladder!
Thanks.

Or one hand on the wfp 

Is your husband trad or wfp, doesnt he have a spare set of ladders or at least buy you some the tight git.

Is it just me or has there been a lot of new start ups come from the cornwall area.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

I agree with GWCS why make him your competition?
Join forces and become business partners.
It is extremely difficult at the begining, it feels like you will never get any customers, but once your reach a certain amount of customers the business will snowball. in the midlands that certain amount of customers ranges between 50 and 75 customers after that you will start getting phone calls almost everyday.

[Blue Frog Systems]

why not specialise in internals, conservatorys and fascias ? Your other half could pass on those jobs to you.

Is he WFP or traditional ?

If he is WFP you could use his water (upgrade may be needed).

I use the most basic system of wfp... WCW backpack... Pole... 25L containers... RO..... 300L garden butts for storage.

[mark dew]

Are there any of you really, really wonderful window cleaners out there in the cornwall area that may have any spare bits to help me set up a system.  I would be happy to pay postage or collect.  GROVEL, GROVEL, GROVEL.    Otherwise I may need to consider selling a body part to get a foot on the ladder!
Thanks.

Ask your boyfriend.

[Londoner]

Bungalows are always harder to get than houses but its worth the extra effort. If you are happy to do insides you can get loads of jobs. I get asked all the time and turn them down because they take too long.