[Smudger]

Step 1

Use Indeed - on the job advert insist that they send you a cv and a covering letter telling you why they want the job and a bit about themselves - anyone who only sends a cv doesn't get an interview ( can't follow a basic instruction )

Step2

Interview -see if they turn up on time - how they dress etc...   ask questions about there previous work - fitness etc.. see if they have any questions ( if they are what benefits do I get like free use on etc.. don't take them on ) do they appear interested in the job - if they can hold a reasonable conversation its possible they can remember a simple task - I find people that fish take to window cleaning quite well as they seem to know how to handle a long pole )

Step 3

Invite for a weeks trial ( paid ) work with them - see how they fit in with you and you with them - ANY sign of doing a half hearted job - get rid

Step  4

3 Month trial ( to be terminated at any time - keeps a tally of performance - sickness etc...


Step 5

If all goes well - take on full time


Have you thought of a part timer - i've had 3 older guys 58 to 61 - work part time either 2/3 days a week or mornings only - these older guys have great work ethic - customers love 'em - rarely have time off or issues with you telling them what to do.

I made the mistake of employing in laws - never again - hey take the p to much

Darran

[NWH]

Don’t take on anyone that has 0 responsibilities you want someone that needs a job and is willing to work to keep it.

[Stoots]

I’ll offer my 2 pennies just my experience people at the earliest want 6 weekly who are willing to pay good money,4 weekly is estate work who mostly don’t have a big house and don’t want to pay much more than £25.
Of course you’ll get people say I’ve got customers who pay more than that every month-4 weekly but in the main this is not the case,if you are going out cleaning 30-35 houses a day they are not all going to be 50-60 quid houses.
The way to earn well and to build the business  is to extend the frequency charge more money and  clean quality properties,get rid of the jobs you know in your heart of hearts you don’t want to clean and replace them with better jobs, take a gamble and put prices up the increases should cover some jobs you lose but you’ll still be earning more for less work.
You want customers who have money not people who are comparing window cleaning prices with neighbours,stand alone properties who have huge disposable income = more per clean and no quibbling over a few quid.

Its easily said if you work in an affluent area out in the sticks.

Im based in the city centre of a northern city, different worlds mate.

[Stoots]

Step 1

Use Indeed - on the job advert insist that they send you a cv and a covering letter telling you why they want the job and a bit about themselves - anyone who only sends a cv doesn't get an interview ( can't follow a basic instruction )

Step2

Interview -see if they turn up on time - how they dress etc...   ask questions about there previous work - fitness etc.. see if they have any questions ( if they are what benefits do I get like free use on etc.. don't take them on ) do they appear interested in the job - if they can hold a reasonable conversation its possible they can remember a simple task - I find people that fish take to window cleaning quite well as they seem to know how to handle a long pole )

Step 3

Invite for a weeks trial ( paid ) work with them - see how they fit in with you and you with them - ANY sign of doing a half hearted job - get rid

Step  4

3 Month trial ( to be terminated at any time - keeps a tally of performance - sickness etc...


Step 5

If all goes well - take on full time


Have you thought of a part timer - i've had 3 older guys 58 to 61 - work part time either 2/3 days a week or mornings only - these older guys have great work ethic - customers love 'em - rarely have time off or issues with you telling them what to do.

I made the mistake of employing in laws - never again - hey take the p to much

Darran

Thanks, i will try to put together a process rather than what i have been doing.

Spoke to someone tonight that seems a good fit. Invited him for a trial day end of the week.

I think i recall you doing 30 hour contracts? Thats what i was doing with the agreement that its monday to thursday but if a day cant be completed they have to work the Friday. First time i tried to implement it i got a load of attitude which was when i sacked him.

Thinking now just doing 40 hours and paying them regardless of weather, cant see many people with responsibilities wanting 30 hours but could be wrong.

I have had part timers in the past 2 or 3 days. The last guy was 4 days.

[NWH]

When you implemented you got attitude back from him,window cleanings full of blokes like that they want to get onboard with you most of the time because they know you think you have an easy life an come home early lol,once they learn it’s different for them they don’t want to know because it’s work and they don’t want work.

[Smudger]

yes its 30 hour contract - senior guys get 35

the main reasons are - winter months have less daylight so 6 hr days mean I don't pay loads of ours for them sitting around second holidays are paid a 6 hrs a day - in general the guys do 35 to 40 hours a week so when they take time off they see a difference in wages.

we don't often roll over anymore and with a change in some staff I decided to do a Saturday rota - so now part of the contract is they do one Saturday in 4 ( usually 08.00 to 12.00 )

Darran

[Stoots]

So ive just put 200 custs up £1, they already had an increase less than 2 years ago so im a bit nervous lol

2 came back saying they were not happy so ive kept their prices as they were.

Both well priced  and good payers so i might have to re think my strategy i dotn want to lose good ones and keep the crap

might put them up in order of crapness instead

The rest who have never had an increase or are newer customers i was going to put them up £2 but maybe re think that. i do need to offload 100 really

[Simon Trapani]

You’ve made yourself look silly & weak to the two you’ve backtracked on imo. Why put those two up in the first place if you weren’t prepared to follow through? They’ve called you're bluff.

[dazmond]

So ive just put 200 custs up £1, they already had an increase less than 2 years ago so im a bit nervous lol

2 came back saying they were not happy so ive kept their prices as they were.

Both well priced  and good payers so i might have to re think my strategy i dotn want to lose good ones and keep the crap

might put them up in order of crapness instead

The rest who have never had an increase or are newer customers i was going to put them up £2 but maybe re think that. i do need to offload 100 really

Personally I would of just wished the 2 unhappy customers well and removed them from my round....

Ironically enough sometimes they ve backtracked and asked me to carry on at the new price no problem..

[Stoots]

To be fair I've had a few now not too hapy but all of them had an increase 16 months ago. Plus the covid situation so i get it.

Rest of them have never had a rise so will see how i get on with them.

Will start with the worst work first this time 

[james peters]

I have had both my daughters helping me until recently , job sharing,  2 days a week each, both very good workers.
however one is pregnant again, and the other one has mental health problems and is unable to continue.
so I now find myself with a very full schedule.
I havnt got  what it takes to expand ,by this I mean I cant handle the stress of expanding.
so I have just put a lot of my prices up by an average of £2
I havnt lost any, and I have started to see the benefits.
it also means that all new work is priced as high as possible, as it doesnt matter whether or not I get the work.