[davids3511]

I am approaching having 200 customers, mostly gained since September. I am on the 2nd and 3rd clean with most of them. The problem is about 40% are 'ring the night before' jobs and I am having a few 'not this month' and 'we will call you'. in your experience what percentage is likely to be lost in the first 6 months or so. I know in a few years many will be gone, I am thinking more short term than that.

[mark dew]

probably very few if you do a good job, are reliable and you are prepared to work around their schedules and demands.
It is more likely that you will decide how many will become ex customers.

[Neil Williams]

It's the timeof year thing. Most people are only at home during the hours of darkness so paying for something they aren't going to benefit from is par for the course at this time of year.
Best piece ofadvice: Try and get away from phoning them and this will put an end to it.

[Davew]

I'll agree with that. I've got loads of phone the night before customers- worst thing i ever did. The best ones are the ones where you turn up and do it whilst they are at work. They don't know how fast you are or what a mess you leave.

[windowwashers]

I am approaching having 200 customers, mostly gained since September. I am on the 2nd and 3rd clean with most of them. The problem is about 40% are 'ring the night before' jobs and I am having a few 'not this month' and 'we will call you'. in your experience what percentage is likely to be lost in the first 6 months or so. I know in a few years many will be gone, I am thinking more short term than that.

You really cannot tell this and nor can anyone, it has many variables.

the question is why do you have to call 40% of them the night before, this is not a good road to go down as you rightly say you get "not to day thank you"
by monthly cleans charge more for as of tomorrow, this will stop many of them doing it, if there is no access issues with people you call the night before IMO I would clean without calling, I try not get get call the nightbefore for this reason and also I have better things to do with my time than call people just to let the diside to have them done or not.

I am guessing others will say they call the night before, I would say sod that for a game of soliders I did this years ago and stil do about 6 out of over 700 this way now, and I dont call I text instead, they cant talk to you then and cuts down on not this time please. (just include in text please do not reply to this message as it is automated.)


As for how long will you keep the customers depends on many things as I said before, price, location, access, if they pay on time etc etc etc.
price right from the start or as you can, access problems avoid, location dodgy areas and I work quite a few you have to watch you back (not cleaners just the people that live there) I personally dont give a stuff about them myself but it is something that some dont like.

I hardly ever collect payment if they are out, they post a cheque (saves loads of time) or they can pay online. If I dont get payment before the next clean they are charged a late payment fee. (again others will say you cant do it) "trust me you can" I do it!



I will add more later, have to go now as Eastenders is on and I am a sad man  

But I still love it  

Ian

[Davew]

Ian, over 700? and you have "guys" working for you. You wouldn't be telling porkies would you?

[davids3511]

I am guessing others will say they call the night before, I would say sod that for a game of soliders I did this years ago and stil do about 6 out of over 700 this way now, and I dont call I text instead, they cant talk to you then and cuts down on not this time please. (just include in text please do not reply to this message as it is automated.)

How do you manage with the quotes where they want to use your services but have a gate they lock? I don't ring with the intention of giving them a choice, I just normally need them to arrange access.

[johnny_h]

"not this month" tell them to call you next month as your going to have to give their place to someone on your waiting list

[NWH]

Ring them the night before,you`ve got it all wrong it dosen`t work like that.

[jampot]

i would definatly not ring the night before you are asking for trouble, if the customers are out i will either climb over the gate or only do the front and side.

if your ringing them the night before your giving thm the chance to say "can you leave them this time"

DONT CALL THEM 

[davids3511]

Ring them the night before,you`ve got it all wrong it dosen`t work like that.

So how does it work then? If they have a gate that needs to be unlocked, how do I arrange that?

[xxmattyxx]

Ring them the night before,you`ve got it all wrong it dosen`t work like that.

So how does it work then? If they have a gate that needs to be unlocked, how do I arrange that?

I have one which I txt the night before, if they EVER try a fast one on me they will not be cleaned again, they will get a txt informing them they need to find another cleaner.

As for gates, you have a ladder? Use it.

If I do places that are locked, I climb over but cant be arsed hauling the ladder over anymore, I used to, but now the downstairs at the back gets done, but not upstairs.

With regards to those custys who try to dictate when you clean their windows, think of this......................who makes the rules regarding your business?






In that case youve answered your query, you just need to implement a strategy to avoid digging yourself deeper.



Its that time of year again when custys start to acknowledge wet weather and they seem to equate this with window-cleaning being less effective; I had one today who didnt like the look of some rain clouds when I was doing her place, my response was 'Well, its England you know, rain is par for the course' End of...


Matt

[macmac]

Ian, over 700? and you have "guys" working for you. You wouldn't be telling porkies would you?

I don't know how he finds the time, he's also a property developer & spends 23 out of 24 hours on here!

tony

[rhys11]

Ian, over 700? and you have "guys" working for you. You wouldn't be telling porkies would you?

I don't know how he finds the time, he's also a property developer & spends 23 out of 24 hours on here!

tony

he is full of it porkies porkies porkies

[Londoner]

I have loads of customers who my wife phones the week before. My round simply wouldn't work without appointments. Lots of my customers are busy people and more of my customers want and even demand this level of service. It pays off.

When they get to know you a lot get a spare key cut. I even have the code for one guys electric gates.
Raising your game gives you the edge over the competition and makes you look professional in their eyes.

[windowwashers]

Ian, over 700? and you have "guys" working for you. You wouldn't be telling porkies would you?

I don't know how he finds the time, he's also a property developer & spends 23 out of 24 hours on here!

tony

he is full of it porkies porkies porkies

You think what you like guys, really does not bother me in the slightest. 

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-9396528.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy
this is the house I have developed just to show I am not a liar, and if any of you that know anything about developing/selling houses will see I sold another in march if you want to do a check feel free.

You carry on slating, I dont mind I find it quite amusing.

[xxmattyxx]

    

I dunno about what the others say, but youve posted 3,000 posts on this forum in 4 months,

have you thought of booking yourself into here

http://www.promis.co.uk/ad/general-rehab?gclid=CKrx7OejjpACFRMXQgodBzVTtQ

    

[windowwashers]

   

I dunno about what the others say, but youve posted 3,000 posts on this forum in 4 months,

have you thought of booking yourself into here

http://www.promis.co.uk/ad/general-rehab?gclid=CKrx7OejjpACFRMXQgodBzVTtQ

    

  lol, maybe next year dont have burnout yet  .

maybe I should stop posting on here 

Ian

[iain2342]

just ouut of intrest what was the main way yo got ure clients

[windowwashers]

just ouut of intrest what was the main way yo got ure clients

I have many ways, web, leaflets, word of mouth, buying.

Main way  : has to be between web and leaflets I guess.

Ian