[SeanK]

I keep my gates locked as I have oil heating and don't want to make it easy for
thieves to empty the tank.
If I was forced to leave my gates unlocked because my window cleaner was to lazy
to put a set of steps over the gate then he wouldn't be my cleaner.
You do have to wonder how some on here would survive with a bit of competition.

I hope your not directing this comment at me Sean.

In actual fact all my customers are greatful that we give them a next clean date so they can leave their gates locked. The idea is that access is made available on the clean date we give them so we don't risk damaging their property or ourselves by climbing over.

Only downside of course is you have to honour the date you give them like clockwork, and for the type of window cleaner who decides to just ' turn up' with less than a Few moments notice or when they feel like it its not going to work.

We also have keys to customers houses for inside cleans, that's how much trust our customers Have in the service we offer.

Marc. It wasn't directed at you or anybody else on this forum.
I know how easy it is to get over a locked gate under 7ft so I wouldn't hire a window cleaner
who couldn't be bothered to do this.
I also know that there are plenty of guys who would be more than happy to get over the gate.
The thing is I wouldn't remember to leave the gate open for a window cleaner even if he did text
the night before so I couldn't expect my customers to do it.

[Marc Stock]

Oh ok I see.

 

[Lee Burbidge]

text and if they aint unlocked it they will have to wait till next time

Would you leave it completely then or do just front only?

[Lee Burbidge]

all of em lee apart from the last 2!

i never knock on  their door the day before or leave a note!

lol I know that is a strange one. I added it because I know a local window cleaner who does just that 

[Lee Burbidge]

We text the night before if they have very high gates or no through access. Hate texting, your asking for it if they have had a bad day or are a bit skint.

We  normally use two 7 rung pointers.

Have you ever used one of the online systems where you can send a message to multiple mobiles?

[Lee Burbidge]

Fold up ladder that folds out into an A frame. Put it over the gate and climb over
without touching the fence or gate. ( Wide spaced feet for stability)
Safe and quick.

This is becoming popular for the boys wanting to grow a window cleaning business

[sunshine windows]

We work in certain areas for more than a couple of days, and are happy to leave a note and come back, if access is an issue.

[paulben]

I either leave note or text day before why risk falling climbing over gate and custy wont thank you if you damage gate

[Jim Waugh(Albright & Shiny)]

text and if they aint unlocked it they will have to wait till next time

+1

[robbo333]

I text or phone the night before. Don't get many problems. A lot of custys leave the money out for me to pick up.

[Lee Burbidge]

I text or phone the night before. Don't get many problems. A lot of custys leave the money out for me to pick up.

So, all you of guys that text and phone - what would you say is the split.... for me its 75% texting and 25% landline calls.... I prefer the texting because I can do it at anytime of the night or early morning. Sometimes preping my van and sorting out 'office stuff' could take me longer than usual, if my evening is going to pan out like that I have to break into that preping and office stuff to sit and do that 25% landline calls for the next days clean.
I feel its wrong to call customers too late in the evening even tho I assume most would not care......  I hate being tied to call the landlines, plus the landlines take longer to go through and process for the next day than texting. Texting - I write the message then send it out to multiple phone numbers. so much easier and convenient.

Does anyone use group messaging software on their desktop for this? Or, are the numbers you need to text such a low amount that its not worth it.......?

What would be the magic number to move over to such software/program/app..... personally I get bored punching in above 10 numbers into my mobile

[gary999]

Climbing over gates not likely...i text night before so gates can
be left open rarely a problem and i also hold over a dozen keys
to garages for access.

 obviously i have a better class of customer,which is just as well
seeing that i am a better class of window cleaner

[robert mitchell]

i text the landline number if i don't have a mobile , only a few as most have mobiles.

with ee they let you know by text if the landline text went through .

if it doesn't (rare) i just phone that one.

[Pro-Poler]

Do the front and do one!

[Lee Burbidge]

i text the landline number if i don't have a mobile , only a few as most have mobiles.

with ee they let you know by text if the landline text went through .

if it doesn't (rare) i just phone that one.

How many texts do you average?

[dazmond]

i dont text customers every day.probably about 3 or 4 texts on say 2 or 3 working days a week. "phone the night before" is only 2 customers out of 380+!

i much prefer "turn up and clean" on agreed frequency as it allows much more flexibility.very few of my customers have access issues.


regards


dazmond

[Lee Burbidge]

i dont text customers every day.probably about 3 or 4 texts on say 2 or 3 working days a week. "phone the night before" is only 2 customers out of 380+!

i much prefer "turn up and clean" on agreed frequency as it allows much more flexibility.very few of my customers have access issues.


regards


dazmond

Daz me too.... some times when all the planets are alligned I find my 4, 6 and 8 weekly dropping in at the same time..... texting can be manic, landlines less so. Because we work residential out of town too we need to maximise our time in another city. So as much as a ball ache it could be at these times, I still wanna make sure I scoop everyone up

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

ive binned most of my call aheads but carry little giants and a garden hoe to hook bolts with

[Spruce]

ive binned most of my call aheads but carry little giants and a garden hoe to hook bolts with

I like the garden hoe idea. I use an unger pole with a gutter screw and a couple of nuts which works quite well.

[Lee Burbidge]

ive binned most of my call aheads but carry little giants and a garden hoe to hook bolts with

I like the garden hoe idea. I use an unger pole with a gutter screw and a couple of nuts which works quite well.

I think long sticks with a hook is excellent idea for undoing bolts , but I still have those that have padlocks on