[8weekly]

.. do you have a surcharge on first cleans? Those that I've seen don't mention one so I just wondered what you do about real mingers?

[8weekly]

Anyone? Do you just take the hit on the hourly rate? Some first cleans can take me twice or even more than the regular clean.

[CleanClear]

.. do you have a surcharge on first cleans? Those that I've seen don't mention one so I just wondered what you do about real mingers?

Yes, usually charge double. When you word your leaflet, it should say (example)   3 bed semi £10 per month.(or whatever your frequency is). Then when they call you need to inform them of your initial clean surcharge. Or, small print at the bottom i.e Initial cleans attract a premium of...xxx
 We don't actually leaflet, we just give them out to people making enquiries as they're passing if that makes sense.

[CleanClear]

Anyone? Do you just take the hit on the hourly rate? Some first cleans can take me twice or even more than the regular clean.

Out of interest, do you accept work outside of your most compact areas ? If so, how do you price them? Your hourly rate would be different on less compact work, or do you charge more for work like that ? If so any leaflet on with prices should reflect the areas you work in.

[8weekly]

Anyone? Do you just take the hit on the hourly rate? Some first cleans can take me twice or even more than the regular clean.

Out of interest, do you accept work outside of your most compact areas ? If so, how do you price them? Your hourly rate would be different on less compact work, or do you charge more for work like that ? If so any leaflet on with prices should reflect the areas you work in.

It's tricky isn't it. I am struggling to keep up with quotes and work and other than the odd day with help I have decided to struggle on my own until February, so the prices on leaflets is partly because of that. I also believe that fixed pricing presents a more professional image.

I have control over where the leaflets are delivered and I only target where I can make it pay.

[Mick Kent]

I look at every first clean as an investment clean and am not bothered about how much extra that the first clean earns me, all i care about is doing that first clean good and winning over that customer to be a regular long term customer. By charging double it may change the way the ball roll's meaning the customer wont see me as a fair trader and may see me as a money grabber then again it may not and the customer may think fair do's they are filthy but either way i am in it for the long haul and am not interested in complicating a simple process of doing a good job and maintaining a customer.
im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up but 95 times out off 100 my first clean turns into a 2nd clean and 75 percent of them stay as regular customers which i class from the 6th clean.
Thats how i feel about charging double for first cleans anyway! I did try it charging 50% more ages ago when just started out rebuilding but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean and when i didnt charge more they were all fine so decided charging extra on first cleans wasnt for me.

[CleanClear]

I look at every first clean as an investment clean and am not bothered about how much extra that the first clean earns me, all i care about is doing that first clean good and winning over that customer to be a regular long term customer. By charging double it may change the way the ball roll's meaning the customer wont see me as a fair trader and may see me as a money grabber then again it may not and the customer may think fair do's they are filthy but either way i am in it for the long haul and am not interested in complicating a simple process of doing a good job and maintaining a customer.
im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up but 95 times out off 100 my first clean turns into a 2nd clean and 75 percent of them stay as regular customers which i class from the 6th clean.
Thats how i feel about charging double for first cleans anyway! I did try it charging 50% more ages ago when just started out rebuilding but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean and when i didnt charge more they were all fine so decided charging extra on first cleans wasnt for me.

Mick, if you don't charge extra for first cleans and you don't agree with it for yourself thats fine. I'm not going to argue with you as regards that. But something is going wrong here based on what you're saying.......

im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up

but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean

Now i'm guessing here, and i know its hard to put into words exactly what you're trying to convey so i hope i'm not taking you out of context. But if i'm reading right then you're not turning up to some new or potential customers just based on instinct? This same instinct , that they won't pay extra, is the reason you say that it puts them off? But you don't turn up so how do you know this ? Also, you're not new and you're established so how do you find time to go do new customers/first cleans in with your regular planned work ?

[8weekly]

I look at every first clean as an investment clean and am not bothered about how much extra that the first clean earns me, all i care about is doing that first clean good and winning over that customer to be a regular long term customer. By charging double it may change the way the ball roll's meaning the customer wont see me as a fair trader and may see me as a money grabber then again it may not and the customer may think fair do's they are filthy but either way i am in it for the long haul and am not interested in complicating a simple process of doing a good job and maintaining a customer.
im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up but 95 times out off 100 my first clean turns into a 2nd clean and 75 percent of them stay as regular customers which i class from the 6th clean.
Thats how i feel about charging double for first cleans anyway! I did try it charging 50% more ages ago when just started out rebuilding but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean and when i didnt charge more they were all fine so decided charging extra on first cleans wasnt for me.

Mick, if you don't charge extra for first cleans and you don't agree with it for yourself thats fine. I'm not going to argue with you as regards that. But something is going wrong here based on what you're saying.......

im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up

but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean

Now i'm guessing here, and i know its hard to put into words exactly what you're trying to convey so i hope i'm not taking you out of context. But if i'm reading right then you're not turning up to some new or potential customers just based on instinct? This same instinct , that they won't pay extra, is the reason you say that it puts them off? But you don't turn up so how do you know this ? Also, you're not new and you're established so how do you find time to go do new customers/first cleans in with your regular planned work ?

That's where I struggle. It is hard to justify putting in the extra work on a first clean when I'm earning less per hour as a result and where there's a 20% chance they may not be a long term customer.

[Mick Kent]

If you target the right areas and houses there is minimal problems especialy on sold board customers!
Anyway i thought leaflet customers were meant to be the most reliable of customers??

[dave f]

i never charge extra for first cleans tride it a couple of times and got knock back.i think it sets you off on the wrong foot, imo

[SeanK]

I totally agree with Mick on this, like I have said before most of my customers have more than paid me back
for the extra time on a first clean by recommending me to others.
He's also right about targeting the right properties I can honestly say that I have only been caught out about
four times in so many years.
Come on guys haven't you ever approached a property and just by looking at the state of the garden and
the way property is maintained to know this one isn't worth the door knock.

[8weekly]

I totally agree with Mick on this, like I have said before most of my customers have more than paid me back
for the extra time on a first clean by recommending me to others.
He's also right about targeting the right properties I can honestly say that I have only been caught out about
four times in so many years.
Come on guys haven't you ever approached a property and just by looking at the state of the garden and
the way property is maintained to know this one isn't worth the door knock.

I don't knock doors. You are right that I don't tend to get many inquiries from dumps, and my leafleters are instructed not to leaflet "council estates", so natural selection and some targeting helps. I rarely get refused an additional payment on a first clean. I rarely get stitched either. If you don't charge extra for a first clean that is your choice. But don't assume that your customers place as little value on your time as you think they do.

[SeanK]

That's not really the issue and to be honest I don't know if charging extra on first cleans would have made
a difference in me getting them or not.
But my main priority when first starting out was to build a round and not to make as much money as possible.
There are plenty of big companies that take a loss at the start just to win a long term customer so if they work
that way then there must be something in it.
I did build a round fairly quick so for me my way was right, but as I haven't tried it your way then I cant tell if
its the best way,

[CleanClear]

I look at every first clean as an investment clean and am not bothered about how much extra that the first clean earns me, all i care about is doing that first clean good and winning over that customer to be a regular long term customer. By charging double it may change the way the ball roll's meaning the customer wont see me as a fair trader and may see me as a money grabber then again it may not and the customer may think fair do's they are filthy but either way i am in it for the long haul and am not interested in complicating a simple process of doing a good job and maintaining a customer.
im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up but 95 times out off 100 my first clean turns into a 2nd clean and 75 percent of them stay as regular customers which i class from the 6th clean.
Thats how i feel about charging double for first cleans anyway! I did try it charging 50% more ages ago when just started out rebuilding but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean and when i didnt charge more they were all fine so decided charging extra on first cleans wasnt for me.

Mick, if you don't charge extra for first cleans and you don't agree with it for yourself thats fine. I'm not going to argue with you as regards that. But something is going wrong here based on what you're saying.......

im pretty good at spotting messers and the 1 off brigades where i simply dont bother even turning up

but found it put a lot of potential customers off changing there mind before the first clean

Now i'm guessing here, and i know its hard to put into words exactly what you're trying to convey so i hope i'm not taking you out of context. But if i'm reading right then you're not turning up to some new or potential customers just based on instinct? This same instinct , that they won't pay extra, is the reason you say that it puts them off? But you don't turn up so how do you know this ? Also, you're not new and you're established so how do you find time to go do new customers/first cleans in with your regular planned work ?

That's where I struggle. It is hard to justify putting in the extra work on a first clean when I'm earning less per hour as a result and where there's a 20% chance they may not be a long term customer.

Put your 1st clean price on the leaflet like this.......

[CleanClear]

If you target the right areas and houses there is minimal problems especialy on sold board customers!
Anyway i thought leaflet customers were meant to be the most reliable of customers??

There's one thing for sure Mick. When you get a call from your leaflet with the prices already on it then its not a price enquiry. Its generally to book it in.