Conservatory roofs are strange things if made of glass when it comes to window cleaners. In our last house in Scotland they refused to touch them. So it was a DIY job. Nightmare if bird poo landed on the roof.
My conservatory is double glazed which is another reason why I want to protect it, it would be very costly to start having sheets of it replaced, the chap who came to look at the whole job said it would be a 2 man full day's work rather than a couple of hours quick washdown. Window cleaners are not usually equipped to clear downpipes and guttering. I am quite nervous about having the job done as the chap promised the house would look like new when they had finished. A house nearby had its conservatory cleaned a few years ago. I was so impressed I asked the workman for a business car. Sadly when I tried to contact him his son had put up a Facebook page saying his father had died suddenly from a brain tumour. A lot of the self-employed down here were forced into working for themselves when the government introduced new rules for tax and insurance. Larger companies cut back on employees, unfortunately, quite a few of the people involved did not have a great understanding of how to run a business and soon found themselves in financial difficulties. My neighbour next door but is a good example.
@Joyce Goldenlily, I would insist on seeing a paper copy of your chap's up to date insurance before he starts the job, just to be on the safe side. Tell him if he can't produce it, he doesn't get the job.
Memo to self, I must follow my own advice and do the same before our driveway is started!
He has already sent me a copy of their insurance, along with his guarantee of using only approved solutions, etc.. in the cleaning process. I do not think there is much more I can do now, except find out how he wants to be paid.No payment from me until the job is finished I am afraid, not even part payment. Also, I want to pay by money transfer, not cash in hand. That flummoxed the gardeners who came a few weeks ago, I told them I never keep that much cash in the house. Despite initially not having their bank details to give me, by the time they had finished the work, they were able to give them to me. There! That wasn't too hard to do was it?! I surprise myself at how hard-nosed I can be in my dotage. I really do not like doing it, goes against the grain for me but there are so many scams now. I feel awful putting the phone down on cold callers, dismissing Jehova's Witnesses who come knocking, with a wave of my hand, I do not even open the door as they can see me through the window. I can see by their demeanor as they walk away, they are saying a quick prayer to save my soul. I know they get brownie points for my rejection, good for them. Having supported a friend through the breakdown of her family when her daughter was taken under their wings, I want none of it thank you. I have to trust in my intuition, gut feeling, instinct, whatever you want to call it, and hope it is correct. If it is wrong I will be on Curmudeons Corner having a good moan
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I am quite nervous about having the job done as the chap promised the house would look like new when they had finished. A house nearby had its conservatory cleaned a few years ago. I was so impressed I asked the workman for a business car. Sadly when I tried to contact him his son had put up a Facebook page saying his father had died suddenly from a brain tumour.
A lot of the self-employed down here were forced into working for themselves when the government introduced new rules for tax and insurance. Larger companies cut back on employees, unfortunately, quite a few of the people involved did not have a great understanding of how to run a business and soon found themselves in financial difficulties. My neighbour next door but is a good example.
Memo to self, I must follow my own advice and do the same before our driveway is started!
That flummoxed the gardeners who came a few weeks ago, I told them I never keep that much cash in the house. Despite initially not having their bank details to give me, by the time they had finished the work, they were able to give them to me. There! That wasn't too hard to do was it?!
I surprise myself at how hard-nosed I can be in my dotage. I really do not like doing it, goes against the grain for me but there are so many scams now. I feel awful putting the phone down on cold callers, dismissing Jehova's Witnesses who come knocking, with a wave of my hand, I do not even open the door as they can see me through the window. I can see by their demeanor as they walk away, they are saying a quick prayer to save my soul. I know they get brownie points for my rejection, good for them. Having supported a friend through the breakdown of her family when her daughter was taken under their wings, I want none of it thank you.
I have to trust in my intuition, gut feeling, instinct, whatever you want to call it, and hope it is correct.
If it is wrong I will be on Curmudeons Corner having a good moan
Fortunately for us we don't get any JW's round here any more, probably because it's too hilly and the drives are too long!