Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Simon Blades on October 12, 2012, 01:19:52 pm

Title: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 12, 2012, 01:19:52 pm
  (http://img227.imagevenue.com/loc221/th_040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG) (http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG)

When I quoted this job the neighbour was not in. When I did the the jon the neighbour was not in. I've leaflet dropped the neighbour. Does anyone think i'll get the call???????
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Blast Away on October 12, 2012, 06:27:57 pm
I think you're giving the address away there mate for anyone who would do a bit of digging.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Neil Jones on October 12, 2012, 06:58:37 pm
Just got me a job at Beckside Lodge, cheers pal  ;D
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 12, 2012, 07:15:21 pm
hahaha. I'm not that daft lads
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: davep on October 12, 2012, 08:25:34 pm
You may have to go back anyway as the border is all wonky  :P
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Michelle F on October 12, 2012, 09:31:15 pm
What am I supposed to be looking at?










 ;)







Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Garyj on October 13, 2012, 01:57:17 am
I think it looks bloody stupid and wouldn't have carried the job out to be honest.

Makes you look amateur, clueless, desperate and shoddy.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Garyj on October 13, 2012, 02:16:55 am
this doesn't work with out the image! Bloody uploader! Try this one

  (http://img227.imagevenue.com/loc221/th_040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG) (http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG)

or this:


     http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG
   

How can you say the neighbour isn't in?? The car door is open on the Lexus you half wit.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Griffus on October 13, 2012, 09:22:17 am
this doesn't work with out the image! Bloody uploader! Try this one

  (http://img227.imagevenue.com/loc221/th_040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG) (http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG)

or this:


     http://img227.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=040593720_063_122_221lo.JPG
   

How can you say the neighbour isn't in?? The car door is open on the Lexus you half wit.


A bit strong that.

It would have made more sense to speak with the neighbour first and do both at the same time. That said, they may have opted out any way.

I would prefer not to have a result like this as it does look odd. The person you worked for may not be happy either.

One final observation, it looks as though your sanding straight after cleaning. This will lead to problems as the sand won't fill the joints. When it dries the sand will drop and you'll get called back to refill.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Matt Gibson on October 13, 2012, 10:09:31 am
I would have just cleaned the neighbours anyway, and then put the invoice through the door.

(http://www.smiley-lol.com/smiley/metiers/fermier-cowboy/lasso.gif)


A bit of roof batton, or a bit of ply cut down gives you a straight edge too..
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 13, 2012, 02:56:49 pm
I think it looks bloody stupid and wouldn't have carried the job out to be honest.

Makes you look amateur, clueless, desperate and shoddy.

How can you say the neighbour isn't in?? The car door is open on the Lexus you half wit.


Gary,

I do not know what your problem is my friend but to be honest your comments offend me!

Firstly, your telling me if a customer wants a shared drive cleaning and the neighbour does not want his half cleaning you would tell your customer your not doing his job???? I've been in business for 14 years now and thats not the way I have learnt to make money!

I am quite new to this forum and until today I have been very happy with the responses to posts, I have met some interesting, helpful and informative professional business men and women on here all happy to help me with any questions I have. You, my friend are not one of them.

With comments like the above mentioned, quite frankly, I would describe it as pot calling kettle black. Not one of my business colleagues would ever dream of calling someone a "half wit" "amateur, clueless, desperate and shoddy" on a public forum! 

If you feel the need to call me in such a way, here's my mobile number (07540892202). Give me a ring and have the balls to slag me off in person. We could even arrange a meeting at my office and you could have another go if you like.

The picture I posted was intended as a bit of fun and I was expecting a few comments. I was not expecting to be slagged off in such a manor. I suppose I was being a bit nieve in thinking that 100% of the people on this forum were kind, helpful and friendly. You nearly always come across one complete idiot!

Just to clarify, the neighbour contacted me last night and the drive has been cleaned this morning. Both drives have been sanded in and wacker plated and I have two very happy customers. The owner of the second drive has recommended me to two other potential customers which I will be quoting on monday. Both customers gave the lads a £20 tip! The Lexus you mentioned was the owners brothers car.

Anyway Gary, please feel free to contact me, I look forward to your response with anticipation.

Kind regards

Simon Blades
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Garyj on October 14, 2012, 10:15:15 am
Still won't alter the fact the job looks stupid, you've also given away the address
and are pretty much mocking the person who hasn't had their drive done!

You also say they weren't in, yet the car door is open!
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 14, 2012, 10:25:20 am
Do you struggle with words and sentences Gary? Read the post again mate. If I've given the address away, where is it?
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Garyj on October 14, 2012, 11:56:14 am
Are you saying you have now cleaned the other drive since Friday afternoon?

Bet I can find that address when I can be arsed to look. Can't be that many places called
Beckside Lodge in Lincolnshire with the house number 3 or 7.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Neil Jones on October 14, 2012, 02:29:27 pm
Here's my view, if the person on the left has it cleaned I would have explained how it would look, if they said it doesn't matter I would have done the job regardless.
I would have also asked next door and explained the same thing, if you couldn't speak to them for what ever reason I would have done the job on the left regardless. If I could speak to the neighbour and they didn't want it doing for what ever reason I would have offered to clean up to the gate for a price or then free, I wouldn't of done this without asking obviously.
I don't think you've done much wrong, yes it might look a bit daft but if you have explained everything to both people and how it would look and there have been no complaints then why on earth would you ever turn the work down just because it plays on your mind and doesn't visually please you, you won't be seeing the drive everyday!
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: uans03 on October 18, 2012, 11:28:02 am
just out of interest how much would you quote to do up to the gate. just we always seem to get pricing wrong
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Griffus on October 18, 2012, 04:54:20 pm
just out of interest how much would you quote to do up to the gate. just we always seem to get pricing wrong

How much would you quote?
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: tonyoliver on October 19, 2012, 11:31:00 pm
next door will look, be jealous and stare but will not put  hands in their pocket whatever you say or do. even if its free. they wont nibble.....................  do your custie collect and forget.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Abe on October 20, 2012, 02:35:08 pm
next door will look, be jealous and stare but will not put  hands in their pocket whatever you say or do. even if its free. they wont nibble.....................  do your custie collect and forget.

op has already said other side now done. Both drives are done.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 22, 2012, 09:25:08 am
Both drives were £300.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: BDCS on October 22, 2012, 02:16:03 pm
Have you registered as a charity ?
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 22, 2012, 02:50:24 pm
Ha ha ha. Yeah. Jet washers in need! What would anyone else charge? I don't reckon £300 quid is bad for 4 hours work for 2 blokes. I do 2 areas like this every day. That's over 150k a year turnover. I've tried charging more but domestic customers won't entertain it. I'd sooner have the machine running every day earning some money than it sat in our unit gathering dust.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 22, 2012, 03:53:40 pm
Was that £300 inc vat or without?

Nice to see a 2 man tean earning £150k a year sure would like to know your secret of getting 2 of them a day....every day
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Griffus on October 22, 2012, 04:12:05 pm
Ha ha ha. Yeah. Jet washers in need! What would anyone else charge? I don't reckon £300 quid is bad for 4 hours work for 2 blokes. I do 2 areas like this every day. That's over 150k a year turnover. I've tried charging more but domestic customers won't entertain it. I'd sooner have the machine running every day earning some money than it sat in our unit gathering dust.

Now I have to admit I think you're pulling our proverbials  :o
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 22, 2012, 04:18:44 pm
Do you lot not work everyday?
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 22, 2012, 05:35:22 pm
i work every day.  7 days in the summer months but its a mixture of £120 -£500 jobs

that  job to me would have been a £500 job and i would do 2 or 3 a month, I was wondering how you get 2 a day.

but to be honest I think your '2 a day' was a simplication of your work schedule not a exact number
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on October 22, 2012, 06:29:20 pm
what percentage of quotes do you turn into jobs mike?

Your right, I dont do 2 drives exactly like those every day but I do clean, on average, £550 - £650 per day.

 I've found that keeping my prices low, I obviously get more work. I look at it that the more we and the van are out there the more we get noticed. The more quotes I get asked to do and the more jobs completed.

I think it also depends on your area. In lincolnshire the farmer folks are tight and you have to prise the cash out of there hands! I had a chap phone me for advice the other day and he was charging £5 per m2 for block paving and only getting 20 -30% of his quotes.   

I could put my prices up, get less work but earn the same money but my van is sat on the drive not getting a lot of interest.  Thats just my theory anyway. It's going well so far. 
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 23, 2012, 07:14:31 am
Simon, I tend to get less than half of what I quote, but this is becuase I am quite high priced but we are all different and work to different business models,

My primary business is carpet cleaning and I'm busy all the time with this, like I said I work every day I know if I don't have a pressure washing job I will be carpet cleaning. I would actually prefer to pressure wash as I earn more per day doing this but if I put my prices down it would not be comparable to the carpet cleaning side.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Alan McTernan on October 23, 2012, 04:56:34 pm
Fair play to you Simon, that is an impressive turnover.

But i would rather do 30 hours work than 40 hours work for the same money, but thats just me!

And looking back at the previous posts i now remember why i very rarely come on here ;)

Regards
Alan McTernan
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Roger Oakley on October 23, 2012, 09:53:03 pm
Turn-over is Vanity
Profit is Sanity

And as they say cash is King (Dragons Den)
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: BDCS on October 23, 2012, 11:56:25 pm
Turn over is vanity
Profit sanity
Cash is reality

I won't accept cash
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: clive82 on November 07, 2012, 01:52:25 pm
reading all those comments is a laugh and a half!!! yous are all typical blokes in the cleaning industry arguing over whos bussiest and who earns the most its not hard to smell alot of bullpoop, 2 pressure washing jobs aday is the first of many bullpoops goodluck millionaires  ;D
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: BDCS on November 07, 2012, 09:56:00 pm
How do you work that out trigger ? I never said I was busy or earn the most ! in fact I only get by by claiming benefits - I can't wait to finish my youth opportunity course and get out there and become a millionaire Rodney
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: clive82 on November 13, 2012, 12:03:40 pm
bcds did i say bcds??? 5 window cleaners in my area got into rich list in the times closely behind them were bill gates alan sugar and the queen some going!!!
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on November 14, 2012, 08:52:00 am
Cracking job Simon
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on November 15, 2012, 11:00:03 pm
Thanks!
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: johnny bravo on November 18, 2012, 01:25:23 pm
i wouldnt mnd £300 for even a days work here in teesside,   im defo going to get into this pressure washing side,  get lad of dole and let him do the job give him £7 per hour.   ;D ;D  i d  be sat at home eating my cream scone s  and yorkshire tea.,    counting my money.    do you realise how lucky you are to get these jobs ,   especially 2 every day. :'( :'(
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Simon Blades on November 18, 2012, 01:50:50 pm
It's not luck johnny. It's lots of hard work, lots of knocking on doors, ringing people, leaflet drops, talking to people, business club meetings at 6.30 am, more ringing people and more knocking on doors. I think some people on here think that customers knock on there doors and ask them to do some work for them. This is not the case. You have to be constantly marketing. Where ever you are at any time. Everyone I meet is a potential customer.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: RDEAN on January 25, 2013, 12:04:02 am
Simon I like your style and could learn a lot from you.
Im sorry about your original post, it happens on may similar forums, people get the wrong ,essage from some posts.
Im on here to learn from fellow tradesmen and offer advice if I can, but at the end of the day Im trying to earn a living. So anything constructive is a very welcome.
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Donnie Nicolson on January 25, 2013, 10:47:29 pm
I'd want more than £300 for lockblock off that area, cannae see it all but about £500 if your doing Sanding an aw, i get about 1 a week of these in the summer and about 1 a month in winter, ive done a few and sealed with Resiblock , fearfully expensive swag that is  ;D ,
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Total shine cleaning services on March 05, 2013, 07:51:27 am
there are far to many on here who are quick to insult on their posts, shows a huge lack of intelligence and they're just downright rude..!, why don't the mods ever pull their memberships..!

Graham
Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: Mr B on March 07, 2013, 09:40:06 pm
I still can't get over the fact that you only charged £300 to do both driveways, and that you reckon you can get 2 of these kinds of jobs every day all year over.

I smell a rat.

Title: Re: Howto guarantee the neighbour has there drive cleaned!!!
Post by: BDCS on March 07, 2013, 10:10:47 pm
there are far to many on here who are quick to insult on their posts, shows a huge lack of intelligence and they're just downright rude..!, why don't the mods ever pull their memberships..!

Graham

And how many would be left ? Not many  ;)