Hello, friends! Lately I’ve been hitting up residentials with door flyers but I want to try door knocking this week!!! Any tips for a first timer??
Make a good first impression, I’m not one for door knocking however i have been going into businesses and handing out my new cards, i was doing it early morning and most shops were not open so i would just leave a card on the window, got a good result 25 cards out 3 jobs scored that day.
Be quick, confident and prepared. Look presentable, comb your hair, tuck your shirt in, and SMILE. Tell them who you are, what you do, and why your at their door.
Example: (as I walk to the look to see if the windows are dirty, clean, or somewhere in between) Ding dong. Hi I am Dan. A local window cleaner. We were in the neighborhood, and I wanted to introduce myself.
Most people will ask for a card, and say something along the lines of: Thanks we are ok right now but will consider you when we need them done. Ask them if they would like an estimate and if you can follow up later. (if the windows are dirty come back soon, if they are clean a couple weeks. Or after a rain, whenever you think they’re dirty)
The homeowner may ask questions, do you do it yourself or do you have a crew? What do you charge? Are you insured? Be prepared, have the answers, I run a small crew, but I will be here, however you do it. Most homes in the neighborhood are between x and x.
This is the same concept of gaining route work, except one of the decision makers probably is answering the door.
If you not a people person this may not work. I spend more time chit chatting at someones front door than knocking on doors. But everytime I am on that street I’ll knock to say hello. Most neighbors know who I am if they use my service or not. That’s my method and has good for me.
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Pretty cool biz card.
Beautiful cards!
Thanks for thee feedback guys!
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I don’t do residential door knocking, I did it for one day and it made me feel like a used vacuum salesman, at the end of the day I felt like it made me look more like a “desperate window cleaner” to find work vs. a confident company - and one guy seemed REALLY ticked off that I was taking time out of his day, meaning his windows might look like crap - but guess who he WONT be calling to clean them when he decides too.
If any of my customers are like me - if you show up at my door… and you are not a girl scout with cookies, I am not interested and more annoyed with you (even though I am smiling at you) inside I am thinking “go away you money sucking person”.
On the flip side if I get door hangers, I actually look at them to see if it’s anything good before I will toss it.
When I drop fliers if someone is doing yard work or unloading the car etc that’s when I’ll usually take a second to chat them up or will hand them the hanger in person - I have scored homes that way and it seems a little more natural vs. trying to get someone to open the door.
Not really tips - but why I don’t and wont do it again lol
My question to you would be this. Are you a desperate window cleaner or a confident company? Companies doing a million dollars a season are door knocking and I think its safe to say they are plenty confident. This year we have already had the cops called on us and someone calling us saying they were going to have us arrested. I LOVE IT! Do not let miserable people dictate the way you run your company. Are you gonna lose deals because one guy was mad? Who cares about him. Your only a desperate window cleaner if you carry yourself that way.
I share the same view
Im with [MENTION=20262]Bunkerboot83[/MENTION] and [MENTION=20847]Chesebro[/MENTION] on this, I would not knock on residential doors (I dont like my private space invaded)…Storefronts Heck Ya! (Public Domain)
LOL Your right, I totally was/am that “desperate window cleaner.” When I started I had $87 to my name, a full tank of gas in a Hyundai accent, a wooden six foot ladder, and a broom handle I used for a pole. Total Bucket Bob!
After the first job I did the lady told what a good good job I did (lying) and told me her neighbors would love me and to knock on their doors. Both neighbors agreed to let me wash their windows. I think they liked my price (cheap). After that I went to a supply store and bought more towels and a good bucket. From just those three clients they gave me maybe twenty more. Plus their community clubhouse, which I pick up more clients every time. One of those neighbors was a encyclopedia salesman, that now owns four commercial buildings I clean. Go figure!
But I believe in creating your own luck, with door hangers, fliers, postcards, throw out squeegees in a parade, whatever just believe in it.
Now I use that same desperation to fuel the fire. I don’t want to go back to scrubbing clubs, thinking $100 a day and some free golf is awesome. I rather be a desperate window cleaning 
That’s a very good point people don’t like being disturbed. In my neighborhood of middle class families I have yet to see a window cleaner and we get fliers once a month. Here it is not a priority, we’re all too busy with life so I wouldn’t waste my time knocking on our doors or even putting out door hangers. But drive 10 miles east and it becomes a social thing, people there want their windows cleaned. Most of those people started from scratch and root for the little guy, hungry for work, trying to make and grow a successful company. After I finish a job, I’ll walk over to the house on both sides, and across the street and knock on the door. Introduce myself. The worst that can happen is they will say no, but its already a no if I drive away and don’t ask.
It’s a lot easier for someone to say no to a flyer than it is to say no to your face. That’s more than likely because my fliers suck, but that’s another problem.
If I am in the neighborhood and hear of a new homeowner I’ll knock on their door for sure. Since their new, they may not know or have service providers. They picked this neighborhood for a reason, if I am good enough for their neighbors, they figure I’ll be good enough for them. Door knocking isn’t for everyone but in the right situations and knowing the right neighborhood to do it in pays off.
Bottom line find something that works for you. But door knocking has worked out for me.
^^^^
@Friendows-Matt Must read
