[Missing Link]

"Can you leave them till spring?" is code for "I don't want my windows cleaned anymore!"

At least that's what I hear when it's said to me.

And it's rare I hear it these days because of what I hear.

[Stoots]

before I make a decision, I always ask myself how do I benefit?
I have had three ask to leave it till march this last month .... one has done it on 2 occasions.
firstly, I will admit its highly annoying grrr!
however, I have to look at where is the customer, are they a good customer as regards paying on the day... good access ,
more importantly, are they in the middle of a good run of customers ?
will I be biting my nose off to spite my face ?
the one that has done it on 2 occasions pays £36 every month... but is elderly and always at home , and pays cash .  she is on a run of houses I do. shes a bit old school, but a good customer for 8 months . It takes me 20 mins to do her property, I am happy to accomadate her request to leave it till march.
THE OTHERS CAN DO ONE !!!! LOL

I think we all can relate to this.

I have customers who if they were solo houses or out of the way would have been gone long ago.

But the ones who are right next door to another or great payer, easy access etc but has a tendency to skip or leave the gate locked..I cut them a bit of slack as when they do get cleaned they are "bonus" jobs.

I've come to realise that to get a 100% perfect round is nigh on impossible, theres always going to be a skipper even if it's just gone on holiday or having work done on house etc.

So rather than pull your hair out over it, if you want a grand of guaranteed work a week then get £1100 a week of the best customers you can and you should always be guaranteed that grand.

Adding 2 extra jobs per day for good measure is always good practice and if you've got slightly more work than you need you'll never be short.

Also at the moment I've given myself a marketing budget to refine my round...I know a lot of guys (solo) get a full round and just leave it up to the gods in terms of keeping the round topped up via walk ups, organic SEO etc.

But marketing is a cost to nearly all businesses that I think is neglected amongst us sole traders and small setups.

If you can create a constant influx of new work, you can not only replace dross but also compact the work and push higher prices as and when that type of work comes in.

If you factored in only £200 a month (or of course if you want knock or leaflet for free but I would always prefer to use money to make money rather than increased workload) you might spend 2k a year but you could be upping your weekly turnover by ££££ to make it more than worthwhile.

[combat1]

Four this week!😀 happy days, will prospect some better paid work.
Oh plus two that have split up!

[NWH]

I have 1 they want every 3 months the 1 next door is every 6 weeks,the 3 month 1 is  also £50 and takes 15-20 minutes so I’m happy to leave it every other time,I look at it as an extra 50 every other time what am I gonna do say jog on to them that would be sillly 

[KS Cleaning]

I have 1 they want every 3 months the 1 next door is every 6 weeks,the 3 month 1 is  also £50 and takes 15-20 minutes so I’m happy to leave it every other time,I look at it as an extra 50 every other time what am I gonna do say jog on to them that would be sillly

But that’s not a  can you leave to Spring is it?  It’s someone wanting to change frequency........Oh, I see, it’s willy waving time😂

[NWH]

Oh sorry I miss read it I didn’t realise huh even I can get it wrong sometimes,I should have said I’ve had a load of £5 jobs just sacked me off till the spring I might have got some sympathy.
Birds of a feather and all that eh 😂

[NWH]

Can someone please talk to me on here I’ve got a load of £3-50 terrace houses I need advise about 😂😘

[Shrek]

Can someone please talk to me on here I’ve got a load of £3-50 terrace houses I need advise about 😂😘

Bungle is your man 

[Bungle]

Can someone please talk to me on here I’ve got a load of £3-50 terrace houses I need advise about 😂😘

Bungle is your man 

Now now Mr Shrek, I'm sure you've read my reply on the other thread.  0/10.

[nathankaye]

Picked up a new job yesterday and thought I would post on here as it made a good compromise.
Gave the customer the choice of two price plans, one for 4 wkly and the other at 8 wkly. She decided upon 8 wkly over winter and 4 wkly rest of the year.
I thought, that was upfront and we're both clear on the plan going forward so this should be good

[NWH]

I wouldn’t start offering that though if it was me,I say I take on regular work and this particular area I do every 6-8 weeks if you are not around I will leave a ticket with payment details on. As soon as you get into all this offering cleaning schedules you are asking for trouble only experience,if you have lots of work and new work is not regular you are only fooling yourself into thinking it’s good,if you are already full you are doing them a favour by fitting in with them.
You’ll only be free to do your work as you wish if they fit in with your days in there area,I can remember so many days I’d drive miles out just for 1 job because I was so late on that 1 customers every other time basis.

[nathankaye]

I mostly agree, as I certainly wouldn't drive out my way for one job, unless within six months I'm able to build that one job into a small round.
However, the ones I offer 4 or 8 wks to are within the areas I work for, plus it can actually swing it in your favour. For instance if I want the job at four weekly and a good price. Rather than them squabble at the price, I give the 8 wkly price at a much higher price which makes the four weekly on face value as a good option 😂

[John Mart]

I've dropped 6 this week so far. I hate doing it and held back from dropping another 2 because 8 seemed too many. Mostly or skipping a 2nd/3rd time.

[NWH]

I always tell them from the get go do you want  a regular clean if they so no I say I’m sorry I’m not the bloke for you then,when they say yes I tell them how often I’m in that area cleaning,I’m always  around that area usually but as soon as you start offering to fit in with them they will only end up having there windows cleaned a couple of times a year which is no good to me. The key like all self employed people is to have to much  work on,can’t let customers dictate been there done that never again.

[Bungle]

Just had my first one of the winter. "We've decided to not have the windows cleaned during the winter and resume in march. " Me, 'I have bills all year round therefore I work all year round. I will replace you with someone who wants regular cleaning, I can't keep a slot open for 4 months.'

[AuRavelling79]

How did they respond Bungle?

[Bungle]

How did they respond Bungle?

He texted back thanking me for telling him my position 

[P @ F]

How did they respond Bungle?

He texted back thanking me for telling him my position 

I do wonder though if he stepped back and looked at it from your position ?
Did he think " What if my boss said that to me each winter , where would I be then "
Probably not as he did not continue with the service , best off shot of them types mate , but fair play to him for at least responding and letting you know .
Hes just got to find another you in Spring now , but he will run out in the end  .

 

[Bungle]

How did they respond Bungle?

He texted back thanking me for telling him my position 

I do wonder though if he stepped back and looked at it from your position ?
Did he think " What if my boss said that to me each winter , where would I be then "
Probably not as he did not continue with the service , best off shot of them types mate , but fair play to him for at least responding and letting you know .
Hes just got to find another you in Spring now , but he will run out in the end  .

I doubt he will find anyone else. He lives in a small pocket of houses in the sticks. There's 9 houses and an old building converted into flats. I clean 6 of the houses and he came to me to clean his windows. He'll be saving about £75 by the time March comes round!!

[P @ F]

Well when he asks you in March tell him its 75 for the first clean!