[The Great One]

Hi Colin

Ah yes, the secret stuff, I use that too

Regards

Martin

[M.Acorn]

Vanquish is good, but burns like hell

Sure does ! usually end up with it all up my arms,did have a pair of elbow length black rubber gauntlets,but gave them to a mate for his blasting cabinet,as he was doing a load of parts for me 

The last oven clean i did ,the bloke was there with his very inquisitive son,had to keep telling him to keep him out of the kitchen,but he kept coming back.
That`s why i no longer do oven cleans,too much to go wrong.My bro in law fecked a brand new wooden worktop,by placing the oven shelves in black bags with chemical,then leaving them on the work top,numpty .It cost him !
I used to soak them all in a big platic tank,and like u guy`s used a windy cleaners blade to make short work of the gim on the bottom 

[Neil Williams]

I'm disappointed
Where are the usual suspects telling us they're working 8 days a week, 23 hours a day, charging £23 per square foot booked up until July.....2012

Back in the real world quiet here on the domestic enquiries and bookings.
Luckily I have a good link up with an office cleaning company which will bring in several thousands over the next few weekends.
As for letting agencies that's another we won't be dealing with following being messed about yesterday.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I'm fully booked but I am just about all year may be it's time to put my prices up but I don't care if you believe me or not, I have got people ringing me up for next week practically pleading to get it done but I pack my jobs and I'm in a position to turn it away or hopefully move them onto another day.

Shaun

[M.Acorn]

If it wasn`t for all the work i am getting from the letting side of things,i would be out looking for another job !
Normal jobs have been low on the ground,and have mostly just been little bits,just a lounge ,or stairs and land.don`t see the point of making up fairy tales 
Got bookings in next week,some for the end of the month,had to call letting agy yesterday and ask them to pay me for some of the stuff i have done,as need to pay for some chemicals

[dave123]

Works good for me at present steady stream coming in .Did a job last night only small but if they are happy with it they would like the building cleaned every six months . Got another 2 buildings also every 6 month clean and every 3 months for traffic lanes ..So things are definitely looking up .

[Joe H]

2 very quite days, Mon & Tuesd were good days, have job this afternoon.

Day off Monday, off to Sheffield to visit my son, the phone will ring by then so I can add to the work already booked.

So far this year, only Jan and Feb were worse then last year - and I know the reason why.

[richy27]

I'm fully booked but I am just about all year may be it's time to put my prices up but I don't care if you believe me or not, I have got people ringing me up for next week practically pleading to get it done but I pack my jobs and I'm in a position to turn it away or hopefully move them onto another day.

Shaun

fully booked is a term i hate because how can you say that it all depends on the time frame you work within you maybe only book up 2 weeks in advance or 3 months. And depending on how and what hours you like or choose to work.

Here is a question if someone called you today 250 sq m of commercial and need it done pronto you would say no can do would you.

I had a month in aprill where i really could not do any more but i always penciled in 4 hours on a fri to survey jobs tend to customers needs etc etc.

I think when some people are flat out busy others with the same work load may feel they are on a jolly.

Anyways not aimed at you shaun general statement cause i honestly believe no one is constantly booked up only in their own time frame.

LOL ( with a hint i am jealous)

[daysdeepclean]

Richard,

Are you going to the Royal Cornwall Show tomorrow? I'll be in the "Sharps" beer tent once I've shook the wife and kids off

[richy27]

afraid not colin am goin on stag weekend its goin t be a messy one.

[Andrew Briscoe]

Just ticking over here at mo, can be busy 1 minute, quiet the next.
Off today, been re-jigging my van mounted Recoil/scorpion, need today and weekend to sort it.

Recently got a new ghost/geographical number and worked on google maps for that area and got quite high up for the area.
Need to get leaflets out into the area, Kev Loomes is building me a website and although not finished yet, is bringing in enquires
for the new area.

Andrew

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I had a lady call from drop out centre approx 150 sq m of carpet needed cleaning in 3 days time I just cannot do it, I am fully packed out, I try not to move customers around as they get p off and I like to look after my domestic customers as they always come back and recommend.

Shaun

[Griffus]

I had a lady call from drop out centre approx 150 sq m of carpet needed cleaning in 3 days time I just cannot do it, I am fully packed out, I try not to move customers around as they get p off and I like to look after my domestic customers as they always come back and recommend.

Shaun

And they pay straight away, or in any case near as damn it!

Not the 60 to 90 days that we are all used to via contracts

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Because I don't look for commercial work I always ask for payment on completion, there should be no problem with this as someone has to lock up so I let them inspect the work but a cheque is usually made out before I leave (not always but on most)

Shaun

[clinton]

On my comercial work i get paid a week later or on completion for the contract work but one off,s maybe a few weeks or so later.

I do a fair bit of contract work and it takes a while to build up a relationship with the clients and quicker payments :

Nothing worse than waiting 2 or 3 months :

[terrymaloy]

Compared to previous years...QUIET
Last year (2008) was the first year my sales took a dip.
We're now into June and this year aint looking much better !
I've been in this industry for 10 years...so what could it be ?

Credit crunch ? Possibly. More people setting up in the Carpet Cleaning business ? Who knows.
I've read some of the threads on here and they say they cant cope with the amount of work they've got...so could be geographical.
What I do know is you have to ride the storm. Its a funny old game carpet cleaning. Last week was my busiest week this year...this week looks like it will be my quietest (so frustrating) !

[simbo]

am reading this just after reading another post about charging £400 for suite clean, something don't add up here!
paul

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

doing bugger all here , one tm as never moved in a month and the others only doing two days aweek but i dont care at all saves them getting dirty

enjoying the time off getting loads of calls still but they poop themslef when i quote them lolololol

[robert meldrum]

Interesting comment Susan / Justin wondered how you were doing considering the strong business you guys had built over many years at low end prices.

Never expected you make such a big change in pricing policy and your post suggests it might have been too much of a change.

Going from ( I think ) four vans working flat out to two T/M's doing zero does'nt sound like good business sense.

I know you have ( other fish to fry ) but if someone who depended entirely on c/c followed the same advice they'd have gone down the tubes

[daysdeepclean]

Well I'm quiet because of the problem with my motors.... But there's plenty work next week when I can book it all in. I've recently advertised in the local rag and things are looking positive, especially on the oven cleaning front!