Bringing a bit of British to the PNW

So ive gone and done it, landed a mid-rise job 3 times a year that needs a wfp so im building one, orderd a gardiner pole today and other bits ill need.

I used to have a WFP based business in the UK where it is king and loved it. Over here in the US its a bit more complicated but ive been itching to bring in the modern 21st century technology to the job.

How have all of you found transitioning over residential customers from trad to WFP?

When I was in the UK and changed over i thought i would have more issues but everybody loved the job it did and I sold them on the idea that it cleans the sills and frames too. Hoping that will be the same way over here.

I’m in an area where the local window cleaners are not fantastically professionally, drive beaten up cars and vans and only one has a wfp that he made himself out of a pressure washer and a yard brush with fan jets. Im aiming to hit up the rich retirees with their large well kept homes. I know from research that they have trouble getting regualr reliable cleaners in the area so here is hoping!

For those interested in the UK most have a van mounted system and that is what i am building, similar to the one i built in the UK.
Illl have a 100gal tank feeding through a 12v 100psi pump to a DI pressure vessel and then a hose reel. All mounted in the back of my 2013 F150 with plenty of room left for other kit too. Im going to weld up a metal frame and attach it as one unit to be slid in and out of the truck when I want to.

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What part of the PNW are you in Robert?

Over Near the Olympics. Are you up here too?

South/west of Spokane.

I don’t even bother explaining it anymore unless they ask. I just get to work with it and if they have questions I answer them.

I think it’s sort of like if a carpenter shows up to do an addition on a home and he pulls out a Paslode airless nailgun. The homeowner might think it’s kind of cool/interesting that he doesn’t have a compressor and air hose for his nailgun, but he most likely won’t draw any negative conclusions from seeing this unique tool in use. He’s not a carpenter himself, so he’s not really familiar with the latest tools of the trade.

Whereas other carpenters will have a whole array of opinions about airless nailguns and their practicality, reliability, or effectiveness (hmmm, sound familar? :smirk:) But they make for a pretty darned convenient tool, that gets the job done :-).

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i explain it the time, for me it is a major difference from all the “dinosaurs”, customers here (the great white north) convert EASY and love it!

I use my wfp any chance I get. I have the only one around here so I think it is good for visibility. Plus I wave my arms in the air as I describe the miracle of DI and unbalanced waters attraction of crud. People buy into my enthusiasm.

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I like your example. I did roofing a few years ago in the UK too and we only had pazlodes. Then I helped a fried with his framing business up here for a day a few weeks ago and it was back to air lines.

It sounds like it is exactly the same here converting customers as it was in the UK, plus i think it will both set me apart and let me clean stuff that others cannot. (high windows and those above slick metal roofs that we have a lot of here.

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Rob, what town?

Other side of the water from you, King County has 1000+ wc. Most are like you have mentioned, beater trucks, no nothing and bare bone pricing. Not sure about your hood.

However, WFP. My mental fear with it is that with the cloudy weather/rain in the non hot months clients might not be thrilled.

Pretty sure I am 98% over the mentally. This is ever rig was 100% WFP on the outsides. Most wc’ers out here do not even know what a WFP is, your clients probably don’t either, but they are massive tree huggers so sell environment angle.

I lIve round the north end near Sequim and Port Townsend.

The thing with the beater trucks and crappy cheap cleaners is people here will and want to pay for good service. I mean really pay! I had a customer put her price up by $100 because i want charging enough! it was $280 for 3 1/2 hrs work which was pretty standard for me but she said nope have a $100 more. happy times. i have put my prices up and up (ive only been here 2 months) and probably close about 8-9 times out of 10.
there is a niche where people want professional RELIABLE people and are more than happy to pay for it. let the beaters and cheapers clean up the crappy houses that haggle and whine.

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Lifer in this State, but can not claim to be a master in knowledge of that area.

However, my dentist, my doctor…you know the story.

Water has the money, some have been burned by the beater truck guys. i know some north of you but no one crosses area’s I know.

Hit you up soon in a pm, my clients move there happy to provide your contact stuff, maybe 3 a year retire a move there

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