Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: scrimit2 on April 27, 2006, 07:05:34 pm
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Hello all, I could do with a bit of advice please
My round has more than doubled in the last year (which is good) but I just can't get all the work done, I'm the kinda person who likes to help people and I find it really hard to turn down new work, but I have almost double the work I need, at the minute Im four weeks behind!!!!!!! 99% of my work is good, I like 99% of my customers, but I know I will have to cut my round down before I loose the work in areas I don't want to, Ive tried having someone working with me but, its not really for me on a permanent basis.
So I know what Ive got to do! but Ive got this insecurity thing, that if I turn work away or cut my round that I would end up with not enough, has anyone done this and regretted it?
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whats your location scrimit ?
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If its a monthly round turn it into a six weekly round thats what I did.
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lincolnshire, I did tell the last lot of new customers that it could be every 6 weeks instead of 4,
I like my job, but I spend too much of my time stressed about being behind
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Hi Scrimit
I am also in Lincolnshire, where are you?
steve
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Spilsby Steve, how about you?
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Scrimit
I am in Spalding, I may be able to come and help you a couple of days a month if you are interested.
Marc
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Or even buy some work off you if thats what you want - you can email me at marcaluzzi@aol.com.
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Small world isnt it? I will keep you posted on what I do, Ive got your email address now, I often get asked to go to Boston or Woodhall spa, is that too far for you? if not I can pass on your details,
I only go as far as half way between boston and spilsby, anything further away I could pass on
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Scrimit, sounds to me you need to sell some & put your prices up.
macc
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Scrimit2,
I'm in Louth and been in this business 20 years.
In that time I've tried every thing.
My advice would be:
This is YOUR Business!! YOU MUST TAKE CONTROL!! Hard to do when you are a nice chap and like to help.......That's why you have so much work!
But at the end of the day:
YOU must decide what you want from your business and learn to say NO THANKYOU!!
Don't take anyone on, more hastle than its worth.
Sit down one this weekend and plan out your round. Decide which areas you are to keep and stop doing the rest. Tell the customers personaly and honestly. You could look at Marc al's offer to buy some.
It won't be easy but it's better than worrying about it.
Ring me on 07815106363 if you want a chat I am only too pleased to help
David Salkeld
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bump up the prices move them to 6 weeks, then you lose a few but earn more
simbo
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thankyou all very much, I will take your advice,
What I want from my business is too earn a bit more than enough, have a good relationship with my customers, do a good job, and be able to easily keep up with 3 good days work a week (does that sound relalistic?)
there seems to be lot of us in lincolnshire, thanks again
scrimit2
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hello scrimit2,im from boston lincs,why dont you keep the ones which are compact,so no travelling and pass the other costomers to somebody else,then in future if any new customers ask you to clean there windows add a couple of pound to the price you are now charging,if on one street you were charging £6 your new price will be £8,are you traditional or wfp.
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Im traditional, I suppose another option could be wfp to get around them quicker, yes Ive got some houses that are out of my way and it frustrates to think I could be doing the ones bunched up or closer to home, when Im driving around, I guess ive got to toughen up and make the most of this strong postion, do you other guys have such a demand in other areas of Lincs?
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hi as you are traditional you could easily change to wfp that would eliminate some customer's and also you could easily cover the work you have now ;D
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scrimit2,there are a lot of window cleaners in boston,at the moment there are 9 of us using wfp with three others about to change and probably twenty using ladders,best paid jobs are in the sticks,spilby would be excellant for wfp because of the big farm houses,have you any big houses to clean?
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What we did was to write to the lowest paying and worst jobs saying that they were on a 'call out' service and to phone if they needed us but prices would be going up by 25%. Obviously it was written in the appropriate way.
Some never phoned, some declined but a number did (and still do) phone us when they want us.
It seemed a simple solution and fitting in a few extra jobs each day is quiet easy.
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Microsoft recently said that to keep the company fresh they aim to "let go" 10% of staff per year.
Sounds like you need to do that with your customers.
I moved from monthly to 6 weekly and get round in 8.
It's not much of a service to my customers, so I'm looking to let £1k worth go.
You must cultivate really good customers, but let others go.
You can tell good customers, if you raise prices by 50% see who you loose!!
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I recently wrote to a few of my "out of the way" customers saying basically that I had lost a commercial contract nearby (true - depending on your definition of "nearby" ;D) which meant that with rising fuel charges it was no longer viable to do them and a few other customers away from my main round.
These were nice people but it did my head in to fit them in especially during winter.
I feel a similar letter coming on to a few others soon.
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My conditions with my customers is that I clean their windows every 4 - 6 weeks.
This covers me when I'm behind due to weather etc.., works fine had no
complaints to date.
Doug
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I do some big houses but also i do some estates how easy is it to jump house to house with wfp? Ive never seen wfp in action I will have lurk around Boston to have a look,
price rise is really a must and now should be the time I keep saying to myself, but keep trying to get caught up first, doesnt look like Im going do that anytime soon
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99% of my work is good, I like 99% of my customers
Would getting rid of the 1% that you don't like, be a start? :-\
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Tell your customers that it is no longer viable for you to continue at the old price. And tell them that you would be prepared to do them every 8 weeks for a 50% increase in price. That way they save on their annual window cleaning costs and you would have a return that would make it economically viable. I have done this on two of my estates and they went for it , no problem. Dai
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You say that taking on someone to help you is not for you, I think you should look at this again and give it a proper try.
By the sound of it if you are 4 weeks behind, then in reality you have 8 weeks of window cleaning work GUARANTEED!! You've obviously worked hard to build it up and sound as if you have a good reputation in your area, SO WHY LET IT ALL GO?
Take someone on, get them to work with you doing the bottoms whilst you do the tops. Within a week, if you have spent a bit of time with them, training them in correct techniques and standards, they will be doing a good job and keeping up with you. I can guarantee you that 2 good people working together are more than twice as fast as one person working by themselves.
You can either take them on the books or get them to go self employed. If you pay them a fair wage based on daily earnings then they will stay with you.
Within no time your worries and stress will be a thing of the past. I can now go on a two week holiday and am assured that the work is still getting done and money is still going into the bank whilst I'm away.
If you want to discuss it more, drop me an email at ian@lionheartcleaning.co.uk
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I can guarantee you that 2 good people working together are more than twice as fast as one person working by themselves.
Lionheart, You must be the only one on this forum that has enjoyed this experience. I have had a couple of very good guys help me over the years. The best we ever managed working together was 160% of what I earned alone,and that was sending him down one side of the street whilst I did the other. Dai
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One does tops either with ladders or pole, other does bottoms and collects money or leaves tickets, each person is only carrying one set of gear, on average turnover per man is up by between 10 - 20%
BUT you have to have good men to start with, and they need to be trained properly and working for one objective, to earn money!!