Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Stoots on December 17, 2014, 10:53:30 am
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Not got that many custies yet just starting to build a round. Ive Got maybe 4-5 custies that insist on being in when you clean or have to be in as they hve them type of properties that you can only get round back thru garage.
Its startng to get on my tits and disrupt my schedule having to be at one house at 10am then another next day at 3pm whenthey are near to each other.then at the time ive arranged it pes it down and we have to arrange again.
Starting to think I should tell them a set day and time and if I cant get round back or gates locked I should just clean fronts and charge them accordingly?
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I have two customers like this one has a massive German Shepard breed to guard and bite lol and the other has no rear access both are gated and over two million each to buy so it's understandable...
Other than that bin them and replace them if they won't come into line ;)
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Not got that many custies yet just starting to build a round. Ive Got maybe 4-5 custies that insist on being in when you clean or have to be in as they hve them type of properties that you can only get round back thru garage.
Its startng to get on my tits and disrupt my schedule having to be at one house at 10am then another next day at 3pm whenthey are near to each other.then at the time ive arranged it pes it down and we have to arrange again.
Starting to think I should tell them a set day and time and if I cant get round back or gates locked I should just clean fronts and charge them accordingly?
If you can't make profit from doing them, don't do them.
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It's the nature of the game. Solution is simple keep canvasing... Then increase these/those customers prices until its a "Better than Brilliant price" you will then feel good about doing them(the goal) or loose them!
(I don't usually comment, but bored at home looking after my daughter, who's watching monsters inc.. again!)
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Generally, I won't touch such jobs. In reality, if it's big enough and well priced enough, I might.
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Well i didnt canvass them so its all experience, i will try to avoid them in future.
i shall aim to bin and replace asap
thanks
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If i get these they will have to pay more. If I have to go over fence or a pre- clean phone call or a pre -book appointment to clean,I will ask these questions before I even make a price. These services I will ask 2/3 quid more. You will learn as you gain more experience.
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If you are giving them a set date and are sticking to it, then, drop them, or do the front only, charge 2/3rds of the whole price.
If your not arriving on the specified day, well no one to blame but yourself.
Best solution for these is no chat with them, agree on a front only service, or ask for a key ( or one to be left, so you can lock up afterwards ) if none of this works, them let them know you will no longer be cleaning them,
Try to keep the upper hand, some will be helpful especially when they realise your prepared to be jerked around, others are just not worth keeping for the aggro.
Darran
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Do NOT have "need to be in when you clean" customers.
Train them - this is what I say to those who say they need to be in.
"Mrs Lady, I have too many customers to fit in to be able to turn up at specified times or to phone you first. I suggest that you either let me have a key or I can do the fronts every time and do the backs when I happen to catch you in."
"If you want to phone me at about the three and a half week/seven week point I might be able to tell you when I am likely to be around within a day or two and you can leave the gate unlocked around that date."
If they do not agree to the above then they can find another window cleaner.
Simples.
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I have two customers like this one has a massive German Shepard breed to guard and bite lol and the other has no rear access both are gated and over two million each to buy so it's understandable...
Other than that bin them and replace them if they won't come into line ;)
I don't care if their property is worth two million or not. I might accommodate the first if the price is right and they phone me; the second gets a "you either trust me on your property or you don't - you choose."
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And the flounce mate, don't forget to tell him about that!! ;)
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I have two customers like this one has a massive German Shepard breed to guard and bite lol and the other has no rear access both are gated and over two million each to buy so it's understandable...
Other than that bin them and replace them if they won't come into line ;)
I don't care if their property is worth two million or not. I might accommodate the first if the price is right and they phone me; the second gets a "you either trust me on your property or you don't - you choose."
Agreed.
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Well then you loose large jobs for the sake of being stubborn, I've never had any issue with them. We text the evening before to get get access as thy have automated gates that you cannot get access to unless you live there.
So in these circumstances there's nothing you can do but work around it.
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I saw a window cleaner carrying a 2 million house down the road last week.It just make me laugh so many of these costumers think there homes are worth pilfering in the first. Try living in a 3rd world country were you turn your back on your lawn mover to get cup of tea and when you get back its gone or the washing of the line is gone.
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I used to have customers like that ... used to being the operative words.
When ur starting out with time on hands then these are better than nowt but eventually you get to a point that easier better paying jobs come along so they get dumped / sold / price increased.
I can remember one January a few years back just dumping all my problem access jobs along with idiots and non payers ... think it was about 60 customers in total and used the time now free to go canvassing ... had the 60 replaced within 2 months.
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I think it was just the one custie which was annoying me, really nice bloke, i txt night before he said sorry not in tomorrow can you wednesday, i said yes he said i will be in at 4pm, i said its a bit dark at 4 mate plus i will be finished about 12pm so not going home then going back out in traffic/dark ant 4 pm. i said i can come earlier or how a bout thursday , not in thursday he says what about next week, i just though f*** this b******s lol, driving me mad, i just want to get out get cleaned and get home.
Think i will canvass myself in new year and make sure everythings set up how i want it, all experience i suppose
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I think it was just the one custie which was annoying me, really nice bloke, i txt night before he said sorry not in tomorrow can you wednesday, i said yes he said i will be in at 4pm, i said its a bit dark at 4 mate plus i will be finished about 12pm so not going home then going back out in traffic/dark ant 4 pm. i said i can come earlier or how a bout thursday , not in thursday he says what about next week, i just though f*** this b******s lol, driving me mad, i just want to get out get cleaned and get home.
Think i will canvass myself in new year and make sure everythings set up how i want it, all experience i suppose
The only option I can see is to dump,as when you get busy you really won't be able to accommodate a customer that wants to dictate to you
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I think it was just the one custie which was annoying me, really nice bloke, i txt night before he said sorry not in tomorrow can you wednesday, i said yes he said i will be in at 4pm, i said its a bit dark at 4 mate plus i will be finished about 12pm so not going home then going back out in traffic/dark ant 4 pm. i said i can come earlier or how a bout thursday , not in thursday he says what about next week, i just though f*** this b******s lol, driving me mad, i just want to get out get cleaned and get home.
Think i will canvass myself in new year and make sure everythings set up how i want it, all experience i suppose
Nice bloke but thinks he's your only customer!
I've got about 10 custies where access is thro garage - I text night before..
All are warned when taken on that I charge 'full price' for cleaning, the onus is on them to give me access (leave key or garage open) on the rare occasion that I can't gain access I'll give the garage door a shine but still charge for the full house.
Locked gates - no probs - out with the A frame gate ladder..
Glenn
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If you have a full round then steer clear of them, if you are desperate for work then needs must.
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Well then you loose large jobs for the sake of being stubborn, I've never had any issue with them. We text the evening before to get get access as thy have automated gates that you cannot get access to unless you live there.
So in these circumstances there's nothing you can do but work around it.
You didn't say automated gates - you said gated and worth 2 mill.
Anyway so you text the day before and they say "sorry not in" what do you do then? And why can't they give you the code? Because they don't trust you?
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I used to have a (very) few customers who needed special arrangements. I was happy to accommodate them.
The terms were: "Phone me when you want them doing, I will come straight away subject to finishing the job I'm working on at the time"
The price was: £X (my usual price for that particular spec of house) plus my 'Premium Service' surcharge of £50 per visit.
Most would reject the offer out of hand, a few accepted that special treatment meant a special price and accepted.
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Depending were you live i charge £5.00 minimum even if they only have 3 windows and a door , I wont text these the night before i get their on my terms if they are in good for them if not good for me easy £5 .
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I saw a window cleaner carrying a 2 million house down the road last week.It just make me laugh so many of these costumers think there homes are worth pilfering in the first. Try living in a 3rd world country were you turn your back on your lawn mover to get cup of tea and when you get back its gone or the washing of the line is gone.
There 's definately plenty of dodgey types about though,
only last week I saw a trad cleaner make off with a custies front gate.
I was going to say something but I thought he might take offence.
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I saw a window cleaner carrying a 2 million house down the road last week.It just make me laugh so many of these costumers think there homes are worth pilfering in the first. Try living in a 3rd world country were you turn your back on your lawn mover to get cup of tea and when you get back its gone or the washing of the line is gone.
There 's definately plenty of dodgey types about though,
only last week I saw a trad cleaner make off with a custies front gate.
I was going to say something but I thought he might take offence.
Joking aside, one of my former custies really did have his front gate stolen - a very large wooden one too.
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I saw a window cleaner carrying a 2 million house down the road last week.It just make me laugh so many of these costumers think there homes are worth pilfering in the first. Try living in a 3rd world country were you turn your back on your lawn mover to get cup of tea and when you get back its gone or the washing of the line is gone.
There 's definately plenty of dodgey types about though,
only last week I saw a trad cleaner make off with a custies front gate.
I was going to say something but I thought he might take offence.
Joking aside, one of my former custies really did have his front gate stolen - a very large wooden one too.
Did they catch him? I bet that was an open and shut case.