TrishP

It's too bloody expensive here! I was quoted a ridiculous figure in the $100s for my place. I paid 8 quid per month in the UK and it took them 10 minutes tops to do it. I do my own windows, inside and out.

Lamin

Thanks for the ideas guys, but I really want looking at window cleaning. The idea cam about when some teachers I know said they couldn't take time away from work to collect dry cleaning or nip to IKEA etc. I often have trouble finding time to go to the post office or the garage for an MOT. Could this be turned into a business?

Appreciate any ideas or tips.

Oink

Things we’ve had done this year

Had our blinds taken down, washed and put back up
Our old smelly sofa and BBQ taken away and dumped
Kitchen cabinets refinished
New ugly looking sink put in
Bedroom and study carpets cleaned
Boat washed and waxed
Most of the other cleaning stuff, like windows, parking stalls etc is done by our building mgt.

scrubbedexpat091

Only services we have paid for this year:

Oil change on car*
Help unloading Uhaul**

Coming up later in the year

Have the car waxed
Need new tires installed


* I could oil change myself but its not allowed anywhere so only option is to have it done and really no significant savings doing it ourself.

** no way was I unloading the entire truck myself. I still unloaded it but needed help.

Its doesnt appear the building owner has ever cleaned the windows on the outside here based on the level of dust.. I keep the patio door glass clean but the living room window is not accessible for me to do it. Requires a tall ladder (3rd floor) or a pressure washer, plus its not tenants job to keep the outside windows cleaned.

enak

I think taking things to the post office could be turned into a neat local business. Filling in international customs forms and figuring out if it would be cheaper to take it across the border to the US (often is) or to use a courier... it takes ages for folks to do that where I work.

Shirtback

Yes, it could. As previously mentioned, it's sometimes called personal concierge services. You would need to research your local target market, find out what services already exist, what people are willing to pay, how many people would use the service, whether it's financially viable etc etc.

One of my neighbours does this sort of stuff. She works extremely hard, & probably only pulls in the equivalent of a part-time salary. Which is all she needs & wants. She gets work through word of mouth/referrals.

As a very wide generalization, it might be feasible in a large city (but probably already exists there), or in (wealthy) "cottage" country. You'd also need to be able to turn your hand to a very wide range of services, including handyman/window-cleaning/housekeeping/cleaning/errand running/dog-walking/scheduling or supervising contractors/meeting & greeting/ etc etc etc type stuff, probably.

Shirtback

Most companies have someone called a secretary, or a PA, or a clerk/admin etc ... to work that stuff out for them I'm not sure how many private individuals would regularly need that service enough to make it financially viable without offering other services.

Stinkypup

Surely that should be top of the list, with maybe BBQ at no 2?

scrubbedexpat091

If I recall oink lives ina condo and surprised they let bbqs in.

I miss bbqs. They always seem to be banned anywhere I live...

Stinkypup

He probably lights it up in the lounge and stinks like a kipper once he is finished- note he got rid of the stinky sofa () at the same time which makes me suspicious

scrubbedexpat091

You have a very valid point there....lol

Oink

They're allowed on our balcony but firstly, we never used it and secondly HID has bought a massive wrap around patio couch so there'll be no room for it. We are allowed one those gas powered heat lamps so that should to keep all her prosecco-soaked cackling mates warm.

scrubbedexpat091

Venture your in a high rise glass and steel building?

Probably why they are banned everywhere I live. Low rise probably wood structure and the plastic stuff they use for the exterior probably burns or melts too easy....lol

GC44

There's a business in my nearest town that goes round customers gardens collecting the dog crap. Believe they charge $75.

BristolUK

Is that annually or 'piece' work?