[dazmond]

I think it's easy for some of us to think customers dont want us to call....I've even read a few long winded cringeworthy letters that window cleaners have posted through their customers doors on another forum.....

I was chatting to a gardener who works for a small company(6 employees and 6 vans)yesterday and his boss has stopped all domestic jobs entirely and is really struggling to keep the business afloat......

IMO it's best to take each job as it comes,text the ones you normally do with your standard message and turn up and clean for the rest as usual....if they dont want them doing they'll let you know.....

I've been pleasantly surprised.....most customers have been great,yes I've had a few skipped jobs and one suspended in the last 4 weeks but I've also picked up 8 jobs(mixture of add ons and regular window jobs).....

[supernova77]

We are texting / emailing all customers the day before letting them know we are coming, that we won’t knock before we start and won’t be leaving a “windows cleaned” slip, but we will email them or what’s app them an invoice instead.

I’ve found that our cash flow has improved since sending electronic invoices - so will carry this on even after the lockdown has finished.

Since the lockdown we have only had 5 customers say not to clean until the lockdown is over.

Regular customers have been replying thanking us for still going. Many have asked for extras to be done (gutters etc..)

And, we have picked up LOADS of new work.

Andy 

[P @ F]

I have been knocking all doors before starting and telling them straight to tell me if they don’t want me on the property or money is a bit tight , it really doesn’t matter as I’m just doing what I can.
And TBH the odd few that have declined have been the ones I didn’t expect to  !

If anything now I’m getting more and more calls asking if I’m still working as the windows are grubby  !

[deeege]

I’ve not had a single domestic cancellation yet. I’ve had a couple surprised that I’m still working but that’s mainly down to the initial confusion after Boris’ speech.

I’ve a pal who’s a Gardener, works alone and has been off work for 5 weeks now. There’s really no reason either as he’s fit and healthy and lives alone.

Some people would rather just have some paid time off I think.

[NWH]

Carrying on mostly as normal texting a few to let them know I’m coming all have said we thought you’d be carrying on,I could have quiet easily stayed at home the only time I have to be careful during the day is getting diesel etc other than that not around people like I said before shopping is the worst thing at the mo.

[Clean Cloth]

Don't second guess customers but a customer second guessed me saying "we did not think you would be coming so my neighbour is going to jet wash my property today so we don't want our windows cleaned."

That was 3 weeks ago.
I also had a few "we did not expect you".
So I call or text my customers 2 days before a clean. I tell them I am observing social distancing, please pay by bank transfer or leave cash outside.
Yesterday while at work 3 said no need to call before next time, just clean them.
The others, it made easier as all gates were open and payment left outside or in my account by the time I got home.
One did call me back Sunday asking if I would be wearing gloves and a face mask and not to touch the gate when I leave.

The longer lockdown goes on the more paranoid and suspicious people will get and I can see some customers dropping off.
None lost this week or the week before (just insides) but 4 the previous week 1 was a messer anyway.

[G.W.C]

Don't second guess customers but a customer second guessed me saying "we did not think you would be coming so my neighbour is going to jet wash my property today so we don't want our windows cleaned."

That was 3 weeks ago.
I also had a few "we did not expect you".
So I call or text my customers 2 days before a clean. I tell them I am observing social distancing, please pay by bank transfer or leave cash outside.
Yesterday while at work 3 said no need to call before next time, just clean them.
The others, it made easier as all gates were open and payment left outside or in my account by the time I got home.
One did call me back Sunday asking if I would be wearing gloves and a face mask and not to touch the gate when I leave.

The longer lockdown goes on the more paranoid and suspicious people will get and I can see some customers dropping off.
None lost this week or the week before (just insides) but 4 the previous week 1 was a messer anyway.

I personally think the longer it goes on the more relaxed people will be although I do think the longer it goes on the more cancellations we will get

[Dave Willis]

Daz, you forgot to tell us how much you earned today, I’m sure the guys not working would like to know.

[NWH]

I can’t see people thinking you ain’t gonna come round and clean there windows within a year,that’s what it’s gonna be before the vaccine.

[dazmond]

at least 18 months before a vaccine and thats if everything runs smoothly...normally these things take 5 or 6 years....

get to work if you can....the weather has been great for the past 4 weeks!

[dazmond]

the number 1 reason some window cleaners/gardeners are not going back to work is customer perception from the few  ive been in contact with..........again its all in their heads....second guessing!

you cant possibly know which customers do or dont want you to carry on with your services until you message/ring them or turn up.....its crazy if you ask me......

[SB Cleaning]

the number 1 reason some window cleaners/gardeners are not going back to work is customer perception from the few  ive been in contact with..........again its all in their heads....second guessing!

you cant possibly know which customers do or dont want you to carry on with your services until you message/ring them or turn up.....its crazy if you ask me......

yep i agree

On average I think I have had about 15% skip cleans , no cancellations.

[NWH]

The majority have said I’m glad you are still coming Blah blah blah,the good thing is once you’ve done the bulk of  your work you can then carry on with confidence.
I’ve said to all of them be it face to face or by text I will be calling as usual during this time unless we are told otherwise,that’s all I’m looking for at the moment knowing where I can go without having to worry and get turned away. 

[deeege]

the number 1 reason some window cleaners/gardeners are not going back to work is customer perception from the few  ive been in contact with..........again its all in their heads....second guessing!

you cant possibly know which customers do or dont want you to carry on with your services until you message/ring them or turn up.....its crazy if you ask me......

Agree with this, I was guilty of it myself the first couple of weeks after we were locked down. I’ve had nothing but positivity since starting back, long may it continue.

I’ve also been given the go ahead to carry on cleaning a few commercial jobs from May onwards so things are looking up.

[Clean Cloth]

I do not and never have used social media but my neighbour does and she was telling me there were negative posts about a gardener we know who was still cutting lawns.
An NHS worker took a picture and was slagging him off, lots of others joined in.
Knowing that made me feel awkward going to work and I have had 2 comments from by passers asking if I think I am an essential worker.

As far as a vaccine for Covid19 goes, here is a video link I was sent.

https://www.richplanet.net/richp_genre.php?ref=282&part=1&gen=99

[Smudger]

While most (not all) customers will be happy to see you, and why not, as long as your not in close physical contact with them then really they have nothing to lose - the risk (perceived) is all yours - however if we all took the stance of carrying on "as normal" then the overall effect of social distancing and trying to control the spread of the virus would have been a complete failure.

Keeping to the bear minimum of people on the streets as just about allowed the NHS to keep some control, hence when the lockdown is eased it will be done in stages - this is nt about not getting the virus, just about a controlled infection rate

Darran

[Slacky]

All good here.

[Slacky]

Picked up £480 pressure washing job yesterday. People still want to see us, use us and more importantly welcome us despite the fear being spread.

[KS Cleaning]

Monday 23rd March, first two customers of the day asked to cancel the window cleaning service until further notice due to covid19......roll on 4 weeks Monday 20th April, on seeing my van in the street, same two customers came to their front door and asked me to resume cleaning.

[dazmond]

the number 1 reason some window cleaners/gardeners are not going back to work is customer perception from the few  ive been in contact with..........again its all in their heads....second guessing!

you cant possibly know which customers do or dont want you to carry on with your services until you message/ring them or turn up.....its crazy if you ask me......

yep i agree

On average I think I have had about 15% skip cleans , no cancellations.

ive had 289 jobs scheduled to clean since the lockdown started on march 23rd.....

6 skipped cleans at the customers request
3 skipped cleans (i skipped myself)
1 suspended job until july
8 new jobs(3 x add ons and 5 regular WC jobs)

all the rest have been cleaned without issue....