Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: matty72 on March 05, 2012, 05:04:45 pm

Title: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 05, 2012, 05:04:45 pm: Hi there, sure this happens to every window cleaner once in a while, new customer dirty windows but not terrible , clean them and explain I do them every six weeks is that ok with you, they say fine, second clean done all good, then drive past today forsale board up, oldish couple that seem honest but why do they think it's alright to mug off window cleaners,they know what there doing, should i carry on doing them until sold but very quickly or would you just drop them, oh and a dird has done a big crap on the top window, justice, ha.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on March 05, 2012, 05:08:02 pm: Quote from: matty72 on March 05, 2012, 05:04:45 pm
Hi there, sure this happens to every window cleaner once in a while, new customer dirty windows but not terrible , clean them and explain I do them every six weeks is that ok with you, they say fine, second clean done all good, then drive past today forsale board up, oldish couple that seem honest but why do they think it's alright to mug off window cleaners,they know what there doing, should i carry on doing them until sold but very quickly or would you just drop them, oh and a dird has done a big crap on the top window, justice, ha.

the exact same thing happened to me last week, i decided to keep driving.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Steve Sed on March 05, 2012, 05:13:02 pm: I almost always charge extra for first clean so not too bothered if it happens.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Erithwc on March 05, 2012, 05:13:52 pm: Hi

happened to me a few weeks back turned up and sold sign was up same net curtains up so they had not moved yet so I cleaned the windows sent the invoice and also sent the owner a email regarding cleaning the new new home if its local and she said yes please and she has put my name and number in the booklet she has done for the new owners ;D ;D

happy days ;D ;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 05, 2012, 05:15:51 pm: yea maybe i will give them the benefit of the doubt you never know
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: AuRavelling79 on March 05, 2012, 05:16:20 pm: Houses don't move that quickly - I've cleaned three times in six months one of mine that has a for sale board up! ;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: CLEANCARE WC on March 05, 2012, 05:16:54 pm: Quote from: Erith Window Cleaning on March 05, 2012, 05:13:52 pm
Hi

happened to me a few weeks back turned up and sold sign was up same net curtains up so they had not moved yet so I cleaned the windows sent the invoice and also sent the owner a email regarding cleaning the new new home if its local and she said yes please and she has put my name and number in the booklet she has done for the new owners ;D ;D

happy days ;D ;D

that would of been a better way to do it really, but just have a feeling i wouldnt retain this particular custard.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Erithwc on March 05, 2012, 05:19:06 pm: Quote from: Gold on March 05, 2012, 05:16:20 pm
Houses don't move that quickly - I've cleaned three times in six months one of mine that has a for sale board up! ;D

This house was sold within 6 weeks i know this because i was there when the for sale sign went up six week earlier ;)
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: wpclean on March 05, 2012, 05:27:44 pm: I would continue cleaning, and when they move you could end up cleaning the new address and also the existing house with the new owners ;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: rosskesava on March 05, 2012, 06:11:53 pm: Quote from: Gold on March 05, 2012, 05:16:20 pm
Houses don't move that quickly - I've cleaned three times in six months one of mine that has a for sale board up! ;D

Generally houses don't move at all but sometimes the owners do though.

;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: bravo20 on March 05, 2012, 06:12:16 pm: Had the same last week. Been cleaning house for about 18 months, for sale board appeared last month, went last week and sold board up. Started cleaning as I thought it would be a while before they actually move, fronts first then got to back and noticed all furniture moved out, Thought I might as well finish and hope they pay, always pay on line, if not I've only wasted 15 mins.

Phone call this morning asking to quote for new house, went round to quote this afternoon, going from a 10 monthly to 25 monthly. Glad I finished the old house instead of leaving half done.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: rg1 on March 05, 2012, 06:23:43 pm: Personally, it wouldn't bother me. I would just make sure that I'm still cleaning the windows when the new owners have bought the property.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Granny on March 05, 2012, 06:26:31 pm: Bravo20
What's this about "pay online?"
How does this work?
What do you need to get it setup - sounds better than driving back at night to collect only to find they're not in!
g.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: AS Window Cleaning on March 05, 2012, 06:53:00 pm: I've had customers ask me to keep cleaning, and promise to let me know when they move. but they always forget. it's ok if you can get a forwarding address from New people.....tho once the new owners rented it out so didn't get chance to get new owners address.

I'd prob do customer still so can get money worth out of them.....and maybe get a mobile number ;)
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: dazmond on March 05, 2012, 07:04:58 pm: why you getting frustrated?sometimes customers have their houses up for sale for years!!just keep cleaning for them but phone them and tell them to let you know if they sell the house!! ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Cliff perkins on March 05, 2012, 07:11:51 pm: I'd still clean them money is money and they might only move around the corner and still want you.
Just get her mobile or make her pay online after each visit to ensure you get money.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: mgba_78 on March 05, 2012, 07:39:54 pm: We just continue cleaning, why stop????
Just give them a card/flyer and ask them to leave the details for when they go for the new people.
Then when you eventually drive past to do windows or just passing and notice new people in knock and ask if they would like to continue window cleaning?? Simples!

What seems to happen in our case is if they're moving local we get the new old customers house to clean and knock and still retain original house!! Love it!! ;D

Andy
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Londoner on March 05, 2012, 07:53:41 pm: I had one last month, regular customer, been doing them for years. Always had to phone as access was through the garage. This time I got number unobtainable but not too suprised because I thought they may have gone with one of the broadband packages and changed their phone number.

However, their next door neighbour said they hand moved, must have been not long after I cleaned them. No for sale sign ( thats becoming common now) but they never said anything either.

New people are out all day and didn't seem all that interested in having their windows cleaned anyway.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: bobby p on March 05, 2012, 08:35:07 pm: . this reminds me ,a sign erector came knocking at my door wantin to borrow my biggest ladder off my van cos his wouldnt reach a high flat. soft me loaned him it and he never even offered me a drink :o
well id almost forgot about it when he turns up at my home last week while i was out,spoke to my missus ,wanting to know where i got my big ladder with spikes. (but i just know he wanted yet another loan )
so i rang him up once i got home,told him an old guy has a great ladder shop on the ring road out at Norwich ,sells very cheap too

i Really hope he makes the 100 mile roundtrip out to the fictitious shop !
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Steve Sed on March 05, 2012, 10:00:48 pm: Isn't the point that the customer never really wanted a regular clean, just a one off, but at a regular clean price?
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Crystal-clear on March 05, 2012, 10:04:37 pm: Quote from: Steve Sed on March 05, 2012, 05:13:02 pm
I almost always charge extra for first clean so not too bothered if it happens.

thats the way.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: colin purewater on March 05, 2012, 10:26:49 pm: Quote from: bobby p * on March 05, 2012, 08:35:07 pm
. this reminds me ,a sign erector came knocking at my door wantin to borrow my biggest ladder off my van cos his wouldnt reach a high flat. soft me loaned him it and he never even offered me a drink :o
well id almost forgot about it when he turns up at my home last week while i was out,spoke to my missus ,wanting to know where i got my big ladder with spikes. (but i just know he wanted yet another loan )
so i rang him up once i got home,told him an old guy has a great ladder shop on the ring road out at Norwich ,sells very cheap too

i Really hope he makes the 100 mile roundtrip out to the fictitious shop !

;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: Window Washers on March 06, 2012, 01:35:52 am: Quote from: matty72 on March 05, 2012, 05:04:45 pm
Hi there, sure this happens to every window cleaner once in a while, new customer dirty windows but not terrible , clean them and explain I do them every six weeks is that ok with you, they say fine, second clean done all good, then drive past today forsale board up, oldish couple that seem honest but why do they think it's alright to mug off window cleaners,they know what there doing, should i carry on doing them until sold but very quickly or would you just drop them, oh and a dird has done a big crap on the top window, justice, ha.
I see that happened today with some of the canvassed work I got, some people know what they are doing some dont even think about it, more than likely you wil get at least a few cleans from it, why drop it now you have done the hard work, carry on and they may recommend you to new people and take you where ever they go, could be a plus point ;)
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: JRH on March 06, 2012, 07:45:38 pm: Just keep takin' the money Matty

Jase
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: JRH on March 06, 2012, 07:48:55 pm: Dave got van stuck in a muddy grass area today, the van sunk in the mud and they had to get a 4x4 to pull them out

Window cleaning off road

Jase
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 06, 2012, 07:53:24 pm: Will do Jase, just saying a bit annoying, im over it now haha, heard about Dave he still got a good day in though.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: JRH on March 06, 2012, 08:08:31 pm: Just waiting for some printing to arrive Matty, Im going to have a go at leafleting going to try a put out 3000 a month and see what happens, What do oyu think???

Jase
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 06, 2012, 08:14:30 pm: Go for it mate, have to say though im really going of leaflets, put a few hundred out last week, not many i know but not even one call, i used to like the leafleting because customers were good one's when you got them, 3000 a month should bring in some results though, are you using a company or yourself to do.
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: JRH on March 06, 2012, 08:17:46 pm: I'm getting Josh who is working with me, I think you have meet him to put them out. ::)
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 06, 2012, 08:21:05 pm: nice one £5 a thousand ;D
Title: Re: Forsale board,frustrating what would u do
Post by: matty72 on March 06, 2012, 08:22:17 pm: rain tomorrow Jase you out there