This is an advertisement
Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here

Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Lee Pryor

  • Posts: 2287
anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« on: May 04, 2009, 11:27:10 am »
Im thinking about doing this, what are your experiences?
The best way to predict the future is to create it.

ZaNo

  • Posts: 148
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2009, 12:02:53 pm »
I very nearly did but a few things put me off.
1) They charge 3x the monthly average now.
2) They will tell all customers that you will ring everynight before you clean.
Now i never ring any of my customers never have never will, to the fact if you start ringing them once then they will always expect it from you and may use it as an excuse against you in the future.
3) They charge a pound a mile after 60miles i think if my memory serves me correctly. Costing me £60+ Fuel for them everyday.

ZaNo

  • Posts: 148
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2009, 12:05:22 pm »
I live around 100+ miles away from them you see.

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2009, 01:18:49 pm »
I very nearly did but a few things put me off.
1) They charge 3x the monthly average now.
2) They will tell all customers that you will ring everynight before you clean.
Now i never ring any of my customers never have never will, to the fact if you start ringing them once then they will always expect it from you and may use it as an excuse against you in the future.
3) They charge a pound a mile after 60miles i think if my memory serves me correctly. Costing me £60+ Fuel for them everyday.

I dont think you have got that entirely right Zano. I have used them for a couple of years now and, yes they do now charge 3 times the amount, but its quality work. They also charge 45p per mile over 60 miles that they travel to the area, and you are charged for accommodation if needed, and if so you dont get charged mileage while they are in your area. Yes they do tell the customer that you will call them to arrange the first clean, but its then up to you what you do after that. They have booked cleans in for me when i have given them a day, but i call all my customers the night before anyway, so not really an issue for me. All customers get a signed copy of what is agreed, ie how much the clean is, how regular, any one offs ect, then i get a copy of the sheet also, so there is no issues with well i said this and i didn't say that!
All the canvassers are over 25 and female and from what i have seen, they dont have a high turnover of staff, the girls that i have met have been with them since day one that they started work for me. I now charge £1.25 per window, and this is what i get, obviously it can depend on the areas that you live, but i am quite lucky i live in quite a wealthy area.
As they say, you only get what you pay for, imo it is worth a trail Lee 02, as i have used them and not just thought about using them. 

Steve CM

Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2009, 01:40:38 pm »
wow 3x for fresh work! i wouldn't pay that as through my experience you will always get a big drop off then your left with the cream. at 3x that would send the overall price into orbit!

ZaNo

  • Posts: 148
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2009, 01:45:26 pm »
Ok well i was told that there rates had gone up since last year and that it would be a pound per mile after 60miles.
Well if you already ring your customers then there isnt a issue there, but for me as i dont ring them then there is a issue, because IMO if you start a customer off this way then decide your not going to call them again your going to have problems.

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2009, 01:47:37 pm »
In my experience, if your going to loose any its going to be within 2-3 cleans. The serious ones will stay with you, if your customer service is good. Plus if the company is targeting the right properties, you should not get a problem, over 2 years, without looking at my books, i have lost around 10 customers, some now due to CC, but most due to moving areas.

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2009, 01:48:40 pm »
Ok well i was told that there rates had gone up since last year and that it would be a pound per mile after 60miles.
Well if you already ring your customers then there isnt a issue there, but for me as i dont ring them then there is a issue, because IMO if you start a customer off this way then decide your not going to call them again your going to have problems.

So you would not call a freshly canvassed customer to arrange a first clean and more importantly introduce yourself?? £1.00 a mile, i would not pay that myself! May of been a different company??

ZaNo

  • Posts: 148
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2009, 02:38:33 pm »
Nope pretty sure it was them, iv looked over my mail. No i wouldnt call before, when i canvass myself i say ill book you in for next week, if your not in ill leave you a slip and ill collect the money a few days later. they love it. that way they can see my work before they pay. But of course if i have no access to the back then i will book them in for a certain day but still wont ring.
I will say this though, there are a few cheaper canvassing companys out there AND a few let you clean the first cleans before you pay the canvasser so you have a heads up on what your paying for, instead of paying for the customer before you have had a chance to clean the propertys.
But then again having a few young ladies working for you isnt such a bad idea in its self ;)

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2009, 03:10:54 pm »
I have said before, there are other companies out there, and you have to go with the one that you feel best suits your needs. Which companies have you tried? How did you get on with them? What type of properties have you had canvassed?

MSTAV

  • Posts: 366
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2009, 03:25:41 pm »
i guess being charged x3 would be good if the customers are guaranteed for 3 months as a minimum. otherwise what a total rip off

Steve CM

Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2009, 03:26:45 pm »
i guess being charged x3 would be good if the customers are guaranteed for 3 months as a minimum. otherwise what a total rip off

you know and i know Mick what the drop off rate is. at 3x for fresh custys that will cost a lot of bunce!

MSTAV

  • Posts: 366
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2009, 03:31:50 pm »
steve is right. whoever can pay x3 must be fully loaded. Lee why dont you just get your own canvasser from gumtree. there are loads about if you try. thats what i and many others do. and you only have to pay 1 clean to them per custy..saves a fortune

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2009, 03:36:24 pm »
I payed 4 times when i started out, and i have about 5 customers left out of them. There are companies out there that want 4 times for fresh canvassed work, but most is all estate work and priced per hour, rather than per window. I would pay 5-6 times for fresh canvassed work if it is well priced. I would rather have fresh work than pay for an established round, at least i know its priced at what i want.
Im looking at putting a third hot system van on the road within 4- 6 months, so if i was loosing work left right and centre, i would not be taking the risk.
Just out of interest, what is your drop off rate Steve?  

niceandclean

  • Posts: 1897
Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2009, 03:40:06 pm »
steve is right. whoever can pay x3 must be fully loaded. Lee why dont you just get your own canvasser from gumtree. there are loads about if you try. thats what i and many others do. and you only have to pay 1 clean to them per custy..saves a fortune

Im not fully loaded yet, but hope i will be in a few years. I have started to just work 3 days out on the road now though.

Steve CM

Re: anyone used round builders from suffolk?
« Reply #15 on: May 04, 2009, 04:19:16 pm »
i don't wish to disclose the drop offs as its an open forum but if you wanna chat on msn i would no probs! ;)