[Ian101]

I recon she is well frustrated. Offer to give her a right good humping. Can turn them around to your way of thinking in no time!! Get's messy after a few month's though.

too old for me ..... more like Bob Plumbs cup of tea ... 

[Johnny B]

I would prefer to just turn up amd clean, just as I did in England for 14 years without any problems.

Here in Ireland it just doesn't work that way, so I have had to adapt my approach, and if it means that I have to call, phone or text beforehand, I will do that in order to stay in business.

Very interesting thread!

John      

[Ian101]

I would prefer to just turn up amd clean, just as I did in England for 14 years without any problems.

Here in Ireland it just doesn't work that way, so I have had to adapt my approach, and if it means that I have to call, phone or text beforehand, I will do that in order to stay in business.

Very interesting thread!

John      

Out of interest if say you have 15 jobs schedules for the day how many would turn into a not today or leave em this time ?

[William McCafferty]

ruddy hell HYDRO!!you was on the phone 30 mins the night before?did you ask her how the kids were?and wheres shes going for her summer holidays?

2 mins tops if i have to pre notify.

luckily its only for a few customers here and there.most are turn up and clean.just the way i like it!

if you read the post, its what I have done this week, so the 30 minutes are over 3 days and out of all the calls/texts only 1 said they won't be in as they have a hospital appointment, the husband has cancer so I have transferred it from wednesday to today.

I am in the area anyway so it's not a problem, so instead of me driving to there house yesterday and cleaning only the front for £6 I will be able to do the front and back today for £15, so that text has earn't me an extra £9 this week.

With this customer and because of the cancer issue, I am willing to work around their times but if a customers was always saying not tommorow or whatever then they would be removed from the round and they can call when they want a cleaner at the one-off prices I charge and only when I can do them, unless they are willing to pay travelling time of £40 per hour.

[William McCafferty]

Oh I forgot, I had a text from a customer for 1, I should of done yesterday, they still have scaffolding around the house and I would not have even been able to clean 1 window let alone the whole house, so I would have lost 30 minutes in travelling time as well as diesel in getting there.

with calling to night before its swings and roundabout, sometimes they might cancel but at times it can save you time and money.

[William McCafferty]

and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.

So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner

The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call.  This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route.  I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far).  I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean".  I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that.  Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen.  This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now.  The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.

Paul

What would have happened if you hadn't called and drove all the way to them and then they cancelled, that would be a waste of time and fuel.

I have a lot of properties where to gain access to the backs if they are not at home, would require me to parachute into their back garden, I could of course just turn up and clean the front, drop a slip and wait for payment, but I would lose money by not cleaning the backs, I would then have to start chasing payments from those who forget to send a cheque etc.

I have worked it out that if I did not call and they are not in, I would lose over £800 per month, the amount of time involved in small and yes you do get the not this time, but most of these are done within the next week to 10 days, only a very small percentage are lost from that months income figures.

I have a nursing home I do and it was due to be done next week, it takes the whole morning to do and I always drop the invoice off the week before I do it so the cheque is ready for me when I clean.

I turned up monday and the whole place is covered in scaffolding because they need a new roof and there is no way I could clean it.

It is now rebooked for 3 weeks time so I have not lost a complete clean, just 50% of it but it has saved me money by me knowing.

[Paul Coleman]

and back to the original question of calling or not the night before, so far this week I would have lost £87 if I had not called.

So for 30 minutes of hassle £87 is a good little earner

The funny thing about this is that I lost £70 because I DID call.  This was two customers - customers that can be replaced by a bit of door knocking for "turn up and clean" work if I choose to go down that route.  I may well replace one of them as they seem to be turning into a serial messer but the other one seems OK (so far).  I am lost as to why anyone would prefer a "pre-notify" job over a "turn up and clean".  I realise that money can be left out but a cheque in the post or a bank transfer can soon remedy that.  Turn up and clean does mean more money outstanding generally but once you get to that position, it doesn't worsen.  This is because double payments are coming in from previous visits while some fail to pay promptly in the here and now.  The two tend to balance out once the first few weeks have been overcome.

Paul

What would have happened if you hadn't called and drove all the way to them and then they cancelled, that would be a waste of time and fuel.

It would have cost me of course, but it would only have cost me once.  However, even when I do drive a fair distance, I usually tend to do it for at least a few jobs rather than just the one.
Over the years I have gradually moved on from work like that.
The vast majority of my customers are out when I clean anyway so I just turn up and clean, followed by a cheque in the post or a BACS transfer.
I would agree that it can take longer to get a settled round doing it my way but I feel that it is worth it.
I don't have any messers among my established customers.  I occasionally get one amongst the newer customers but I winkle them out eventually.  Also, bear in mind that I have a number of gate keys - this turns a pre-notify into a turn up and clean.
I am finding that, especially since the advent of WFP, I am gradually drifting into commercial rather than domestic anyway.  Most of my work is still domestic but the percentage is slowly shrinking.  I could accelerate that process if I canvassed more commercial jobs.

[H S and Son]

Also, bear in mind that I have a number of gate keys - this turns a pre-notify into a turn up and clean.

That's the solution. I thought most window-cleaners had customers back gate keys. Its some much simpler. Call the night before? I think I have two on my round who I call before, one is £100 the other is £240.00. Thats not to let them know Im coming but to tell them to get the dosh out the bank 

[magic moments]

Been in nearly 4 months,I contact around 15 for access,started off thinking il contact everyone ,got a lot trying to change dates ,not this time etc,and the worst  I don't like the pressure if it rains hard,bad weather having to retext or call to rearrange,and sometimes il decide to change order to suit me,so now I turn up clean for the majority and works well,,keeps window cleaning simples how I like it.

[Paul Coleman]

[MWC]

Mountain out of a molehill, is it really that bad to have to call the odd customer? Its a wonder any of you have any customers left the way you talk about dumping....

The good ole phrase "dump em and get two back"

cos its that easy, jokers

[dazmond]

jeeeesus!!I WAS JOKING HYDRO!!!

some of you really do take yourselves far too seriously!!chill out!!

regards


dazmond

[Dave Willis]

Nobody jokes about business on ciu! 

[William McCafferty]

I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.

So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.

[H S and Son]

Get the key to the garage and go through it?

[mister bit]

My will to live is draining away ..........

[William McCafferty]

Get the key to the garage and go through it?

I asked and the answer is no as I have access to the house also the alarms will go off.

[William McCafferty]

I also do a few police officers houses as well, funny they won't give me keys to their houses

[Paul Coleman]

I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.

So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.

I don't think anyone has said to NEVER pre-notify.
So it would depend I suppose what the access is like.  Would they leave a side gate unlocked if you texted the previous evening?  Or, if there is a gate padlock high up, would they consider using a combi lock and telling you the number? Or, would they give you a gate key assuming you can reach the lock from a stepladder?  If so, then this is probably one of those where it's worth doing.
However, if you have to move your schedule around to accommodate doing them when they are at home, it may still not be worthwhile.  I suppose much would depend on how easy they are to find at home and how much work you have in the immediate area.
There are usually ways of doing this without adjusting your schedule around people's shopping trips.

I've just re-read your post.  Only access through garage and both out at work all day.  Sounds like a weekend "special" appointment and a trip especially for one job.
No thanks.
I have done this before and it never worked.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I have picked up a new customer today, the front is only worth about £10 while the front and back is £50, they are at work, and the only way to the back is though the garage, there is no gate or fence to climb over, unless you want to go over the roof of the house and down onto a glass conservatory.

So they are never going to be in whenever I do the fronts but they will send the payment to me no problem, I'm wondering how you would clean the back or should I just get another 4 houses like this and only do the fronts to make up for what I will lose by not sending one text.

I like how you always manage to pick up a job which exaggerates a situation you are involved in debating/defending!!

Must just be coincidence!

I'm only surprised the back wasn't £250- you're slacking!