[benny donnelly]

This is really starting to annoy me now, been clean these customers about 7 months now and every time gates are always locked and a couple have a crazy dog which goes mental if you even go near the house..

I got their numbers and texted them the night before to say im coming the next day but no joy with that method either, I had been jumping over gates/fences but was getting sick of doing so and on Friday got my hose sliced open while pulling it over a gate 

Just stupid things that hold you up and keep you there longer than you should be, now some might say just dont do them but they are good payers and always pay on time and is in an area were i have a nice bit of compact work...

So what to do? Bite my tongue and get on with it or insist if i am to continue cleaning for them they must leave gate open or leave a key hide somewhere etc changing losing them?

Im due to clean them tomorrow and I would text them about 6 this evening to say im coming, im thinking maybe saying gates must be open or rear of house will not be cleaned, or is that a bit cheeky in a way? 

[robert mitchell]

I dont think thats cheeky its fair enough and what i would do .

There is a window cleaner round my way who rather than text the day before just uses an a frame ladder to go over gates .

[mattstanley]

Try ringing rather than texting.....

[Ian101]

U have answer already  

However some are just too much hassle and time consuming ....... if unopened then do what u can and charge for full clean not ur fault gate locked

[PoleKing]

I used to get annoyed by that.
I now charge 'per visit' which means they get charged the same price for front only or front & back.
Amazing-hardly anyone forgets now!

Tell them you're doing it instead of a price rise to soften the blow.

[robert mitchell]

I had a new customer about six months ago that forgot to leave gate unlocked so as she was new i used a ladder to jump the gate and did her first clean . I text her to ensure she unlocks gate in future otherwise i will only do the front , it was a very polite text .

A week later i got a text saying you cant have done the back as the gate was locked and the windows are filthy and covered in spots and spiders webs in the corners.

I arranged to go round and look with her there , there was one web in the corner of one window that was obviously spun in the seven days it took her to complain.

The spots however were on the inside of the windows ............ should have seen her face when i pointed it out!

She has been a perfect customer ever since and has recommended me to three of her neighbours .

[KS Cleaning]

Dear customer, on my last visit I damaged a hose when jumping over your gate to access the back of your house, could you please make sure the gate is open for my visit tomorrow, many many many many thanks

[Mike #1]

My custy's reply to my texts if they dont then i only clean the front simples . Mike

[Wc Solutions]

We ring most before and it took a good few months for all customers to get used to it... A fair few now prefer text alerts rather than a phone call... Works well now - a good 90% also leave the payments out for us on the day with gate unlocked

[H20cleaning]

the best way i have found is just dont go round for 2 months... and they will see you working and ask why you dont go anymore! you tell them and from then on they will be perfect, and if they arnt interested then you havent lost a loyal custmer:)

[GoodFella2006]

http://www.screwfix.com/p/aluminium-telescopic-ladder-2-x-7-tread/64728

That's what I use.

[robertphil]

i must hurdle 5 or more houses eachday,never give it a second thought

i also have a gate opener pole with a special hook device on the tip ,a timesaver for drawbolts

[DaveG]

i must hurdle 5 or more houses eachday,never give it a second thought

i also have a gate opener pole with a special hook device on the tip ,a timesaver for drawbolts

Me too, a short wooden broom handle with a cup hook screwed in one end 

[Fin Clearview]

i must hurdle 5 or more houses eachday,never give it a second thought

i also have a gate opener pole with a special hook device on the tip ,a timesaver for drawbolts

A good tip that, ive been saying to  myself i'll make one up for years! Cheers for the reminder.

[Richard iSparkle]

I used to get annoyed by that.
I now charge 'per visit' which means they get charged the same price for front only or front & back.
Amazing-hardly anyone forgets now!

Tell them you're doing it instead of a price rise to soften the blow.

we do this too works a treat.

i make an exception for friends of mine, and it's got me in a mess really as they're always texting me to say they forgot to unlock the gate and can i change them to another day.

it's funny because i have just made the problem for myself.  if i treated them the same as my other clients they wiukld just go allong with it