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danno

  • Posts: 70
first week of canvassing
« on: November 10, 2013, 07:41:20 pm »
So last week was my first week of wc! Managed to get 6 regular customers mostly 4weekly and a couple of 8weekly, does this sound about an average number for a first time canvasser or do i need to up my game??

Danny Guest

  • Posts: 545
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2013, 07:45:05 pm »
A customer is a customer. Give yourself a pat on the back

It's a numbers game, the more you knock the more customers you get.

There are variables for each area such as demand, other window cleaners and their reliability and quality, people being out etc theres loads. Only way to really find new customers is by going knocking.

Best of luck
Danny
Guest Cleaning Services

A & J Owen Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 2192
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2013, 07:48:03 pm »
don't just sell the windows but add ones are more lucrative say a few guttercleans . hedgehog installs are good £15 for a 6mlength. £10 a install. 12m =£20 and so on so

Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2013, 09:54:06 pm »
Make sure you book em Danno   ;D

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2013, 09:44:24 am »
So last week was my first week of wc! Managed to get 6 regular customers mostly 4weekly and a couple of 8weekly, does this sound about an average number for a first time canvasser or do i need to up my game??


Don't forget they ain't regular until you actually turn up again with out arguments people will say anything on the door to get windows cleaned.
In order not to get disheartened work on a 50% retention rate that way if one or 2 cancels you won't be upset keep knocking personally I wouldn't talk to much about regular clean it first then up sell . So say £15 next time its £10 in 2 months or month if your area is monthly friendly;)

H20cleaning

  • Posts: 2098
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2013, 10:45:03 am »
I personally have never canvassed but wish i had the nuts, however what i would say is if there really dirty make their first clean more money( if they still go ahead your usually onto a decent customer) if there think about it then possibly could be messers.
If you havnt got much work on, then spend more time than you think!
Look professional and keep dropping lines in like "if any of your neighbours ask for my number heres a leaflet for them"

roundbuilder

Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2013, 11:12:31 am »
So last week was my first week of wc! Managed to get 6 regular customers mostly 4weekly and a couple of 8weekly, does this sound about an average number for a first time canvasser or do i need to up my game??


Don't forget they ain't regular until you actually turn up again with out arguments people will say anything on the door to get windows cleaned.
In order not to get disheartened work on a 50% retention rate that way if one or 2 cancels you won't be upset keep knocking personally I wouldn't talk to much about regular clean it first then up sell . So say £15 next time its £10 in 2 months or month if your area is monthly friendly;)
I disagree totally,, unless your knocking in a dump the people who say they want a window cleaner will actualy keep you as long as you do a good job! Ask them there and then if they want regular or a 1 off.
some may mess you about but nowhere near as much as 50%.
Hit a good area of houses £250k plus and chances are customers will be fine. Hit the single mums on benefits on a cancal estate and expect problems.

Joey Eastwood

  • Posts: 400
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2013, 11:57:46 am »
Always charge at least 50% extra for 1st clean, then if they cancel after at least you've not spent twice aslong cleaning a filthy house to never do it again.  I learnt this last year, spent an hour n half scrubbing green sills for the bloke who said he wanted monthly clean to say nah leave it mate.. Haha
when life throws you water, clean windows

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2013, 12:50:32 pm »
I never knock a dump! Houses over £500k people mess about I'd say 50% defo
People would say anything to get that first clean. Didn't you check your history once you found out that you had 40% canceled 60% stuck over time
I also think that retention rates will go more in your Favor
I think price has a factor to play too if its under £15 or £10 you won't have anywhere near 50% cancelation but I charge more . Also

if you are happy doing trad if customer insists
Happy skipping this time
Happy to collect
Happy to call before clean

All these things contribute to a higher stick rate I don't do any of them

Don Kee

  • Posts: 4878
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2013, 02:35:38 pm »
Agree with the expect cancellations, really disagree with 50% though....
Maybe you mean expect cancellations so you dont get disheartened when they happen? (An under promise over deliver scenario)

Why don't you have a quick google before making stupid comments?

roundbuilder

Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #10 on: November 11, 2013, 03:14:02 pm »
I never knock a dump! Houses over £500k people mess about I'd say 50% defo
People would say anything to get that first clean. Didn't you check your history once you found out that you had 40% canceled 60% stuck over time
I also think that retention rates will go more in your Favor
I think price has a factor to play too if its under £15 or £10 you won't have anywhere near 50% cancelation but I charge more . Also

if you are happy doing trad if customer insists
Happy skipping this time
Happy to collect
Happy to call before clean

All these things contribute to a higher stick rate I don't do any of them

Yes im happy to do all those things as its part of the game. Honestly if you lose that many first cleans id look into whether your cleanng them well enough..
Never do i get that 50 percent of problems, if i did id be worried.

mike1986

  • Posts: 432
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2013, 03:15:37 pm »
I think 50% cancellation rate is about right. Maybe not after the first clean, but after 3 or 4 months i usually lose close to half of them.

HampshireWindowCleaning

  • Posts: 601
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2013, 04:03:27 pm »
50% cancellation rate is terrible if you have canvassed the work yourself.
My stick rate is easily 90%, possibly more. Maybe that's because I only canvass the type of property's that I think have the cashflow to afford a regular window cleaner.

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #13 on: November 11, 2013, 04:06:43 pm »
Example
If you clean 10 houses then collect you will most Likley get paid on 9/10 of them if not All if you do the 2nd clean and collect you will also get paid on at least 70% if not more

Now if you clean 10 houses and invoice them to pay via cheque,standing order ,online banking and some say sorry I want you to collect and if you say no that's say 3 cancelations . Then 2nd clean you only entertain standing orders that's another 2 canceling that's how you get 50% ;)

HampshireWindowCleaning

  • Posts: 601
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #14 on: November 11, 2013, 04:10:31 pm »
I don't collect at all, if they can't do online or cheque I ask them to leave money out for me. If they can't do that either I wouldn't take them on but that has never happened.

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #15 on: November 11, 2013, 04:13:46 pm »
Tell em standing order only more cancelation ;)

South Window Cleaning Ltd

  • Posts: 291
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2013, 05:47:16 pm »
We charge 50% extra for first clean but give a 50% discount on 6th clean,
stops the messers

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2013, 07:40:30 pm »
We charge 50% extra for first clean but give a 50% discount on 6th clean,
stops the messers
Yea best way.

Barryman

  • Posts: 12
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #18 on: November 11, 2013, 09:04:48 pm »
I sign them up to a ten year contract

Crystal-clear

  • Posts: 3029
Re: first week of canvassing
« Reply #19 on: November 11, 2013, 09:21:10 pm »
I sign them up to a ten year contract

Lol brilliant I bet some will still nod their heads 25 years not a problem "can this guy just clean my windows then buger off haha"