[Crystal-clear]

indeed , i live in london thou , but alot want a text or call night before , dont think they would even like me climbin over

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

txt em then but state on yr invoice
or windows cleaned today that if no access
full charge will occur as youve txted etc
gotta run it as a business 

[Crystal-clear]

money area then lol
not like my battlefield
council estates  

I bet u have no hassle oh why didnt you call me . oh like i said you have no access issues i have no need to call you........................... oh but i want to know ......

[Crystal-clear]

ye that was my question should i text or not,. at the moment its working with the front if out. but im loosing an extra load of money

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

gotta charge for yr time m8
youve turned up tried to arrange access etc
gotta be strict m8

[lee_dewing]

Gav's way easier,

I say 30-40% i text and are good at remembering to unlock, some say leave or going on hols (pi55 me off a bit)

If  custy forgets i do get over with ladders anyay 99% of the time; and just write on bill accessed back with ladder.

The only real issue i have wih texts is it causes 2 problems.

1) If it rains unexpectedly, and you can't get jobs done you've text, you have to contact again to reschedule.

The way i get around this is not to do too many custy's who need text's messeages in one day
e.g 3-4 custy's text, rest show and do.

Weather forecasts about 70% accurate bbc (imo) so if weather looks abit hit and miss most of the week, will deffo get text custy's done as few a day, everyday mixed with the custy's not needing contacting.
Better to do text on dry days but hard this time of year!

2) I feel that text-ing everyone would be a nightmare as it sets your day in stone, and sometimes for me it can be more profitable not to work this way.

e.g custy asks you "while your here can you do conny roof?"

So as before some text custy's (30% 0f your day) rest show up and do.

So when i pick up a new custy, unless padlocked, show up and do.

Padlock=text but if locked still use ladder to get over if possible.

Have made a gate unlocking gadget (i copied from someone on here)

Decorators pole with nail scissors jubilee clipped on end; lean over flip bolt/s up and slide open

If that don't work, use ladder get over, unlock, open to make easy, when done just put top bolt on if can to stop, climbing over again.

Gonna get wd40 for them stiff bolts


Oh yeh custy's with combination padlocks usually leave in unlocked positon so store combination in my phone.

so when they forget i just unlock it myself, use to as for padlock codes but custy's seem a bit reluctant to give, if there out and gate locked i just say i climbed over
just remember to lock again.

have had some custy's show up while i'm cleaning and say "you've unlocked gate?"
I just say i've noticed the code was *&^% last time, no ones changed code yet an i still text em.

Sorry for lenghty reply crystal hope some is useful.

Lee

[lee_dewing]

sorry noticed typo

use to ASK for padlock codes but custy's seem a bit reluctant to give, if there out and gate locked i just say i climbed over
just remember to lock again.

[Paul Coleman]

Those poles are for cleaning windows - not vaulting gates  .
I do have a few who I will either text or phone but only a very few and only if the job is one of the more worthwhile ones.  I won't climb gates.  I spent quite enough time on the acupuncturist couch getting my back sorted thanks.  Splitting ladders is time consuming and not for me.  My ladder is only on my van for the occasional job.  I do carry a stepladder and a long crowbar though.  This enables me to lean over and unhook bolts that are quite a way down - so long as there is no padlock.  Also, where a lock is near the top, I do ask for (and usually get) a spare gate key.
Remember, if there is no access without some action by the customer, your round will be severely depleted at peak holiday times (late July - late August).  You will need extra customers to cover this or take a hit on your income.

[Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services]

You carry step ladder and crow bar Paul, nice one 

[bad trippy]

i used to split the ladder but started to txt em the night before, getting ladder off van is too time consuming, if you have a trolley system its gonna be two journeys, easier to txt the night before.
I would say 80% rememeber to leave em unlocked, as for the other 20% who forget, ive started charging full rate, ie same price for fronts as fronts and backs.
So its better they forget 

[dazmond]

i text a few but its only a few.these are ones where its hard to climb over with ladders.sometimes all i need is my single 8ft pointer to open a gate or if i cant be bothered going back to the van ill climb on a wheelie bin and jump over!(but only if i can then unlock the gate from that side!)

i also have a few bigger stand alone jobs that i phone the night before as i need access through large double garages.

luckily for me i usually only have a couple a day that i have to unlock or jump over.most custies either open the gate for me (obviously if their in!)or their easy to open without ladders.

if its dangerous or virtually impossible to climb over then its front only im afraid!


dazmond

[Paul Coleman]

You carry step ladder and crow bar Paul, nice one 

  .  I know.  It sounds awful, doesn't it?
I used to use a claw hammer to hook around those bolts but some were out of reach.  That's when I bought the long crowbar.
The only thing I ever use it for is hooking around bolts to undo them.  It's ideal for that.
My accountant had raised eyebrows when he first saw it in my accounts but when I explained he put it through.  It's a 100% work item and therefore a valid business expense.
I have sometimes wondered if the old bill might have a comment if they ever looked in the back but I decided that I just shouldn't concern myseldf about that.  It's a tool that I use for my work (albeit in an unorthodox manner) and I have every right to carry it in the back.

[Mike 108]

When quoting, I split the quote – the price for cleaning everything that is always accessible (i.e. front and side of house) and the price for cleaning everything that is behind a locked gate (i.e. rear of house).

A lot of people are concerned about keeping the front windows clean but are less concerned about the rear. This suits me, as there is less hose to drag about and cleaning the front windows only is usually quite straightforward.

I’ll offer to clean the ‘rears’ by appointment (higher charge) or if they ask me while I’m doing the fronts. Either way, I look upon it as ‘extras’ that are over and above my normal earnings.

[Klean07]

Climbing gates is so unproffesional these days. Besides what would happen if you slipped and twisted your ankle or similar? Also what would you do if the owner had just bought a rottweiler or similar.

[davids3511]

I have a round that i clean front and backs 100% everytime i call!
Y? text the night b4?
seriously
Why?
I keep a set of ladders in the van for getting over gates.

It takes more time to go back to the van, get the ladders out, hop over gate, hop back over again, put ladders back in van then it does to send a single text the night before.

I send 4/5 every night and rarely have a problem. If they forget teh front gets done at 70% of the total price. That usually sorts them out and they start remembering.

I use o2 and have 100 free texts and use their web intefact to send one text to all that need one that night. Takes seconds.

[davids3511]

crystal honest its common place
on my round locked gates etc
iv 2nd guessed most ov my locked gates
know roughly ow much hose i need etc
i dont txt as a few will say ow leave em
this time as my budgies died or whatever lame excuse
they can find i operate a 4wkly cleaning
frequency not a as n when clean they know
which day ill be coming fr past cleans , ie say a tuesday
then it will be exactly 4wks to the day
ladders r split on van anyway
simples 

Gav, what do you do if you miss a day or two? Surely your whole month is off kilter then?

[davids3511]

ye that was my question should i text or not,. at the moment its working with the front if out. but im loosing an extra load of money

If you charge more for the front than just 50% you will do ok on your hourly rate. Personally I have a few that do forget. I look forward to them because it is either £10.00 for 20 mins to do the full house or £7.00 for 8 mins to do just the front.

[Crystal-clear]

ok great this was my point climbing is unprofesinal ,time consuming and dangerous,mike i am kinda working like you at the moment front and sides you are making good money but depending on driving it is over all better to clean full houses.

i work 5 days a week or at least that will be the plan , so rain will not stop me i wonder how larger domestic cleaners do it say someone with 2 vans or more? i want to think long term and offering front and back if you are in or just fronts if you are out seems a little bit unprofesinal ,increeses driving time and income ,and i am not sure if its the way to go, i know the advantage of not texting/calling before clean but the customers i am texting at the moment seem sweet,

[niceandclean]

We text or call all customers the night before. Its very rare that we get a not this time as when the customer is signed up and again after the first clean, they are told that this is done for courtesy and for access. I can not remember the last time i climbed a gate? Also you will be surprised how many customers say they have been meaning to call for prices on certain extra's. But hey, what works for some and all that!

[Crystal-clear]

niceandclean hi mate.

You are txting all access gate problem customers? you mentioned sign up, so you dont work on good will you work on a contract?

do you run more then 1 van?

cheers.