Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jay moley on November 03, 2021, 03:30:51 pm
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Anyone experiencing more customers keeping their gates locked even when they've been texted the night before? Don't know whether people are more security conscious.
Doing my head in. Wastes time and if I can only do the front lost money.
Then you get people calling back asking you to go back to do the back!! ....errr NO
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Anyone experiencing more customers keeping their gates locked even when they've been texted the night before? Don't know whether people are more security conscious.
Doing my head in. Wastes time and if I can only do the front lost money.
Then you get people calling back asking you to go back to do the back!! ....errr NO
Brexit.
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Anyone experiencing more customers keeping their gates locked even when they've been texted the night before? Don't know whether people are more security conscious.
Doing my head in. Wastes time and if I can only do the front lost money.
Then you get people calling back asking you to go back to do the back!! ....errr NO
i cant say ive noticed a difference...i do occasionally get a customer who forgets.....but i just clean what i can and reduce their bill...
it doesnt bother me one bit...im well past caring these days! ;D ;D
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Probably just one of them days. Ive had it before when 3 or 4 forget and it is frustrating but normally its just the odd one here and there, like Daz i dont really care that much but wouldnt be going back thats for sure.
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I climb over them,thats when a little A frame ladder comes in handy.
It's not the end of the world ;D
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We don’t take on work with access issues unless we are given a key or a code saves all this hassle , jobs like that offer a fronts only service like Mike Kent does it’s a very good earner we love fronts only work quick and easy .
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I climb over them,thats when a little A frame ladder comes in handy.
It's not the end of the world ;D
Not that easy when you employ with H &S theses days , why bother with this type of wirk it’s just not worth doing , I used to climb over gates 20 years ago but saw the light and stopped doing it it’s just not cost effective
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I climb over them,thats when a little A frame ladder comes in handy.
It's not the end of the world ;D
Not that easy when you employ with H &S theses days , why bother with this type of wirk it’s just not worth doing , I used to climb over gates 20 years ago but saw the light and stopped doing it it’s just not cost effective
If you have to get your A frame ladders out because the customer forgot to unlock (if it's padlocked) the side gate, then the o/p could add a couple of bucks to the bill for the inconvenience. The customer will either accept it, reject it, or remember next time. ;D
When we quote any new cleans now, I make a point of checking how they secure the side gate before I quote. If its padlocked then we quote fronts only and quote backs as one off's as and when they are in.
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its extremely rare for us to get a locked gate ( padlock or key ) as they have the next clean date in advance - gates with a draw bolt are opened using a pole with a hook - then locked again
any others are front only - as per splash we won't climb over due to H&S (in fact I have 3 customers that specify not to climb over and if they forget will pay full clean price
Darran
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When we quote any new cleans now, I make a point of checking how they secure the side gate before I quote. If its padlocked then we quote fronts only and quote backs as one off's as and when they are in.
this is a good idea. may start doing this myself .
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its extremely rare for us to get a locked gate ( padlock or key ) as they have the next clean date in advance - gates with a draw bolt are opened using a pole with a hook - then locked again
any others are front only - as per splash we won't climb over due to H&S (in fact I have 3 customers that specify not to climb over and if they forget will pay full clean price
Darran
So any that forget you make pay full price?
How is that received?
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its extremely rare for us to get a locked gate ( padlock or key ) as they have the next clean date in advance - gates with a draw bolt are opened using a pole with a hook - then locked again
any others are front only - as per splash we won't climb over due to H&S (in fact I have 3 customers that specify not to climb over and if they forget will pay full clean price
Darran
So any that forget you make pay full price?
How is that received?
Same, I just explain at the time of quoting that I offer the service of texting the night before, but this means that if the gate is not unlocked I clean what is accessible but the price remains the same.
Had one yesterday and she’s still paid full price just now and text an apology to me also.
Aslong as you are clear from the outset there’s no issue.
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its extremely rare for us to get a locked gate ( padlock or key ) as they have the next clean date in advance - gates with a draw bolt are opened using a pole with a hook - then locked again
any others are front only - as per splash we won't climb over due to H&S (in fact I have 3 customers that specify not to climb over and if they forget will pay full clean price
Darran
So any that forget you make pay full price?
How is that received?
Same, I just explain at the time of quoting that I offer the service of texting the night before, but this means that if the gate is not unlocked I clean what is accessible but the price remains the same.
Had one yesterday and she’s still paid full price just now and text an apology to me also.
Aslong as you are clear from the outset there’s no issue.
Will give it a go. Thanks
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I had one today,first time they've ever forgot.....I just knocked a fiver off their bill....personally I couldn't charge full price for half a job.....
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I had one today,first time they've ever forgot.....I just knocked a fiver off their bill....personally I couldn't charge full price for half a job.....
Slightly different circumstances Daz. Mine was a stand-alone that I’d drove to especially.
I’m sure yours was next to a few others so it’s no big deal to charge half and just do the fronts.
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this forum is great , and this thread timely.
just had an old customer ask why I hadnt been for a while .
I explained that she had on the last 2 occasions forgotten to unlock the gate
(iv always just dropped these types in the past )
I explained I was happy to continue , and if she forgot I would clean the windows I could access
she has just replied greatfully, and also said if in future she forgets , I can carry on and she will pay the full amount .
so , I am glad this topic is being discussed .
It is a stand alone property that i drive to ;D
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I had one today,first time they've ever forgot.....I just knocked a fiver off their bill....personally I couldn't charge full price for half a job.....
Slightly different circumstances Daz. Mine was a stand-alone that I’d drove to especially.
I’m sure yours was next to a few others so it’s no big deal to charge half and just do the fronts.
It’s good that you get the customers to pay full price don’t blame you , we wouldn’t take on odd houses hear and there and don’t txt either , once well established you can afford to run a business how you want rather than taking on all jobs , customers have to fit a list of our criteria or we won’t take them on , that’s not being big headed but a common sense way to run an expanding business maximising profits and making work uniformed for all staff .
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I had one today,first time they've ever forgot.....I just knocked a fiver off their bill....personally I couldn't charge full price for half a job.....
Slightly different circumstances Daz. Mine was a stand-alone that I’d drove to especially.
I’m sure yours was next to a few others so it’s no big deal to charge half and just do the fronts.
It’s good that you get the customers to pay full price don’t blame you , we wouldn’t take on odd houses hear and there and don’t txt either , once well established you can afford to run a business how you want rather than taking on all jobs , customers have to fit a list of our criteria or we won’t take them on , that’s not being big headed but a common sense way to run an expanding business maximising profits and making work uniformed for all staff .
Fair enough, I am well established and love the stand alone jobs tbh, as long as I’m hitting my set hourly rate I couldn’t care if my jobs are together or a few hundred yards apart. Some of my best domestic work is all stand alone jobs.
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i just do the front and in the quote give them 2 prices one for front and one for front and back very rare people forget
i have one who is in the navy she goes away a lot so i email and text first if no answer. i will go anway get the small ladder out and straddle but thats just one ::)roll theres always one
its always the monday morning crew who forget as i have texted them friday or saturday
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I had one today,first time they've ever forgot.....I just knocked a fiver off their bill....personally I couldn't charge full price for half a job.....
Slightly different circumstances Daz. Mine was a stand-alone that I’d drove to especially.
I’m sure yours was next to a few others so it’s no big deal to charge half and just do the fronts.
I don't blame you mate....I don't have access issues for larger stand alone properties as I have their gate codes....
The only access issues for me are compact estate jobs so it's no problem to just clean the fronts and move onto my next job,it usually balances out anyway as some front only jobs will ask me to clean their backs occasionally(access through their garage)
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i just do the front and in the quote give them 2 prices one for front and one for front and back very rare people forget
i have one who is in the navy she goes away a lot so i email and text first if no answer. i will go anway get the small ladder out and straddle but thats just one ::)roll theres always one
its always the monday morning crew who forget as i have texted them friday or saturday
I would never text a customer on a Fri or Sat in the hope they will remember to leave their gate unlocked on a Monday morning! ::)roll ;D
It's always the evening before the clean at around 7pm....
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::)roll
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Anyone experiencing more customers keeping their gates locked even when they've been texted the night before? Don't know whether people are more security conscious.
Doing my head in. Wastes time and if I can only do the front lost money.
Then you get people calling back asking you to go back to do the back!! ....errr NO
we just charge them full price if we have come on the stated day and not able to access due to locked gates or something.
never been an issue and means we dont loose out on earnings
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its extremely rare for us to get a locked gate ( padlock or key ) as they have the next clean date in advance - gates with a draw bolt are opened using a pole with a hook - then locked again
any others are front only - as per splash we won't climb over due to H&S (in fact I have 3 customers that specify not to climb over and if they forget will pay full clean price
Darran
So any that forget you make pay full price?
How is that received?
Same, I just explain at the time of quoting that I offer the service of texting the night before, but this means that if the gate is not unlocked I clean what is accessible but the price remains the same.
Had one yesterday and she’s still paid full price just now and text an apology to me also.
Aslong as you are clear from the outset there’s no issue.
Will give it a go. Thanks
sorry if the post was confusing - I have 3 customers with padlocks on gate that have neither given us a key or combination
they also specify that no climbing over is permitted - THESE pay full price even if we only clean the front
Off the top of my head 99.9% of my cleans have a draw bolt
if we do, and I cant think of the last time we came across a rogue locked gate then yes we adjust accordingly
Darran
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I Jump over, don’t even use a ladder, just pull up and hoist over, Rambo style.
Won’t be doing that when I’m older though.
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
well i have got common sense for your information
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
I agree
Complete madness texting 2 or 3 days before, most of my lot would definitely forget.
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
I agree
Complete madness texting 2 or 3 days before, most of my lot would definitely forget.
i will say this i didnt ask for your opinions and its true about this platform. not much help and just brag and bully dont cry too much . ???
goodbye
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I Jump over, don’t even use a ladder, just pull up and hoist over, Rambo style.
Won’t be doing that when I’m older though.
Lol I remember those days well but sadly they are no more 😂😂😂😂
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes f
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
I agree
Complete madness texting 2 or 3 days before, most of my lot would definitely forget.
i will say this i didnt ask for your opinions and its true about this platform. not much help and just brag and bully dont cry too much . ???
goodbye
goodness ??? you have been given great advice .... you did ask for opinions and you didnt like the answer ::)roll
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
I agree
Complete madness texting 2 or 3 days before, most of my lot would definitely forget.
i will say this i didnt ask for your opinions and its true about this platform. not much help and just brag and bully dont cry too much . ???
goodbye
I’m sorry but what Daz said makes perfect business sense, no bragging or bullying involved whatsoever.
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I Jump over, don’t even use a ladder, just pull up and hoist over, Rambo style.
Won’t be doing that when I’m older though.
Lol I remember those days well but sadly they are no more 😂😂😂😂
Comes to us all!
I’m just not there yet ;D
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I have a small ladder 6 section that splits into two up one side down other job done
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
I agree
Complete madness texting 2 or 3 days before, most of my lot would definitely forget.
i will say this i didnt ask for your opinions and its true about this platform. not much help and just brag and bully dont cry too much . ???
goodbye
It's not an airport. No need to announce your departure. ;D
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::)roll
What's the rolly eyes for? ;D
Anyone with a bit of common sense would text a customer the night before not 2 or 3 days before their due round! ;D....no wonder they forget!
Not just that but what if I decide the night before I want the following day off :D
Whole point of being self employed is flexibility I wouldn't want to book jobs in 3 days in advance.
It's as bad as those who give a next clean date, what's all that about ? No idea when I will be round next.. when I get there!
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I Jump over, don’t even use a ladder, just pull up and hoist over, Rambo style.
Won’t be doing that when I’m older though.
I used to do this as well on occasion.
Last time I did it, my belt got caught on the fence ..rived my trousers up my arse and snapped the panel in half ;D
I stuck it back on and never went back lol
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I Jump over, don’t even use a ladder, just pull up and hoist over, Rambo style.
Won’t be doing that when I’m older though.
I used to do this as well on occasion.
Last time I did it, my belt got caught on the fence ..rived my trousers up my arse and snapped the panel in half ;D
I stuck it back on and never went back lol
Proper lolz 😂
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Not wanting to sound militant but my policy is the price is for the whole or part of the house. I run 8 weekly, after each clean the invoice is sent with the following date on the invoice, t&c's on each invoice.
We don't txt prior to cleaning, the following date is on the invoice, means they have around 7 weeks and 6 days to forget. I am very clear, responsibility for access is the customers, not mine.
Everyone like to put the responsibility on others, why ? Its easy, I just make it very clear its not mine.
My advice this way is to do what you say.... First time gate/access to not available bill them.
This may not work for you but having a scheduled service does mean if I cannot clean, I lose money on the day and cannot make it up.
I am friendly and polite but I run a business and the vatman wants his money as does the wife and a hundred other people each month.
I schedule the date, customer ensures what they want cleaned is accesable....its a fair system. In the event the customer really wants me to return, I am happy to do so provided time and travel costs can be met.
Again this is not meant to come across all bolshy, merely have learned what works best for me. I have tried the cheeky-chappie 'doormat' approach .....give an inch and they'll take a mile was what I found.
Cheers Dave.
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I try to avoid picking up work with locked gates unless they are electric or I have a key or the number for the combination and give them two prices in case they should forget but if locked backs won't be cleaned again until next duration.
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Not wanting to sound militant but my policy is the price is for the whole or part of the house. I run 8 weekly, after each clean the invoice is sent with the following date on the invoice, t&c's on each invoice.
We don't txt prior to cleaning, the following date is on the invoice, means they have around 7 weeks and 6 days to forget. I am very clear, responsibility for access is the customers, not mine.
Everyone like to put the responsibility on others, why ? Its easy, I just make it very clear its not mine.
My advice this way is to do what you say.... First time gate/access to not available bill them.
This may not work for you but having a scheduled service does mean if I cannot clean, I lose money on the day and cannot make it up.
I am friendly and polite but I run a business and the vatman wants his money as does the wife and a hundred other people each month.
I schedule the date, customer ensures what they want cleaned is accesable....its a fair system. In the event the customer really wants me to return, I am happy to do so provided time and travel costs can be met.
Again this is not meant to come across all bolshy, merely have learned what works best for me. I have tried the cheeky-chappie 'doormat' approach .....give an inch and they'll take a mile was what I found.
Cheers Dave.
How can you possibly keep to a next clean date esp 8 weekly work year after year?
I think it's absolute madness to set up a work schedule the way you do...
What about bank Holidays?,xmas,van in garage for a service/MOT,holidays abroad,long weekend breaks,sickness or injury,etc,etc.....🙄😄
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Been doing 8 weekly schedule since 2006.... it works, just have to be organised but aworka enables it.
Am lucky I now work 3 days per week on a 8 wk cycle, 8th week off..... in the main most work gets done on the day stated. In the event bad weather, sickness, mot's etc well these are exceptions and treated as such.
Haven't actively sought new work for approx 5 years, most work is customer recommendations and the points that customer tell me are important, in no order.... regular/reliable on the day stated, GC payments, good job done.
I appreciate that for many, being 'free' is their goal but for me being 'too free' would not be good, I like order, schedules, frameworks. Without, I would not function well.
I started in 2006 saying I would go with 8wk sched, take bank payments only and wfp everything.... plenty told me it would not work, yet here we are.... 6 years till my pension.
* ps I don't work in the UK, these Dutchies would have no issues telling me their thoughts & feelings.
Cheers Dave.
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Not wanting to sound militant but my policy is the price is for the whole or part of the house. I run 8 weekly, after each clean the invoice is sent with the following date on the invoice, t&c's on each invoice.
We don't txt prior to cleaning, the following date is on the invoice, means they have around 7 weeks and 6 days to forget. I am very clear, responsibility for access is the customers, not mine.
Everyone like to put the responsibility on others, why ? Its easy, I just make it very clear its not mine.
My advice this way is to do what you say.... First time gate/access to not available bill them.
This may not work for you but having a scheduled service does mean if I cannot clean, I lose money on the day and cannot make it up.
I am friendly and polite but I run a business and the vatman wants his money as does the wife and a hundred other people each month.
I schedule the date, customer ensures what they want cleaned is accesable....its a fair system. In the event the customer really wants me to return, I am happy to do so provided time and travel costs can be met.
Again this is not meant to come across all bolshy, merely have learned what works best for me. I have tried the cheeky-chappie 'doormat' approach .....give an inch and they'll take a mile was what I found.
Cheers Dave.
We all do things differently and the most important thing is that your approach is working for you…..however if I were your customer I would probably be looking for a new window cleaner.
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Been doing 8 weekly schedule since 2006.... it works, just have to be organised but aworka enables it.
Each to their own but I like a bit of breathing space/flexibility in my schedule for all of the above mentioned reasons,also sometimes its just not possible due to torrential rain on that scheduled day
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Far too much going on in my life to decide what jobs im doing on the 10th January 2 months earlier, i cant even guarantee what day i will get to jobs this week, if i even get to them this week.... I might decide on weds im having a couple of days off or be forced to who knows what will happen.
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Not wanting to sound militant but my policy is the price is for the whole or part of the house. I run 8 weekly, after each clean the invoice is sent with the following date on the invoice, t&c's on each invoice.
We don't txt prior to cleaning, the following date is on the invoice, means they have around 7 weeks and 6 days to forget. I am very clear, responsibility for access is the customers, not mine.
Everyone like to put the responsibility on others, why ? Its easy, I just make it very clear its not mine.
My advice this way is to do what you say.... First time gate/access to not available bill them.
This may not work for you but having a scheduled service does mean if I cannot clean, I lose money on the day and cannot make it up.
I am friendly and polite but I run a business and the vatman wants his money as does the wife and a hundred other people each month.
I schedule the date, customer ensures what they want cleaned is accesable....its a fair system. In the event the customer really wants me to return, I am happy to do so provided time and travel costs can be met.
Again this is not meant to come across all bolshy, merely have learned what works best for me. I have tried the cheeky-chappie 'doormat' approach .....give an inch and they'll take a mile was what I found.
Cheers Dave.
How can you possibly keep to a next clean date esp 8 weekly work year after year?
I think it's absolute madness to set up a work schedule the way you do...
What about bank Holidays?,xmas,van in garage for a service/MOT,holidays abroad,long weekend breaks,sickness or injury,etc,etc.....🙄😄
I have to agree. Didn't cleaniac work this way too?
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I do - always have done - very straight forward but then I don't have the hang up of "I work for myself"
if it rains then work it caught up late that week or Saturday
Holidays - bank holidays Christmas are hardly a surprise event so the schedule is moved accordingly on CP
I only need to move once a year and thats Christmas either 1 or 2 weeks - otherwise everybody's clean is pretty much on the date given ( we have only had 3 days in the last year where weather has stopped cleaning FYI )
Darran
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Can’t think of anything worse than saying I’ll be round on a definite date in any particular month unless it’s a half or an all day job,I text ahead yes this has been mainly due to Covid and has continued and works well but only a day or 2 before and again not small jobs.
It would do my head in having jobs mapped out for weeks in advance.
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I do - always have done - very straight forward but then I don't have the hang up of "I work for myself"
if it rains then work it caught up late that week or Saturday
Holidays - bank holidays Christmas are hardly a surprise event so the schedule is moved accordingly on CP
I only need to move once a year and thats Christmas either 1 or 2 weeks - otherwise everybody's clean is pretty much on the date given ( we have only had 3 days in the last year where weather has stopped cleaning FYI )
Darran
If work is caught up on a sat then you need to notify the customers as you can't keep to your promise of turning up on the date stated on your last cleans invoice....
Rather you than me mate....its madness in my book
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I do - always have done - very straight forward but then I don't have the hang up of "I work for myself"
if it rains then work it caught up late that week or Saturday
Holidays - bank holidays Christmas are hardly a surprise event so the schedule is moved accordingly on CP
I only need to move once a year and thats Christmas either 1 or 2 weeks - otherwise everybody's clean is pretty much on the date given ( we have only had 3 days in the last year where weather has stopped cleaning FYI )
Darran
If work is caught up on a sat then you need to notify the customers as you can't keep to your promise of turning up on the date stated on your last cleans invoice....
Rather you than me mate....its madness in my book
not madness - common sense esp if its heavy rain on the day customers know they will be a day late or the Saturday - no issues
the customers prefer it to some random future day you may or may not turn up at all.....
I come from a an engineering background where everything is scheduled so its just a natural progression
Darran
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Ah working Saturdays they were the days.
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Working on a Saturday? I like my weekend too much 👍
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Working on a Saturday? I like my weekend too much 👍
Same when it comes to afternoons too...
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Most of my customers are really good, so not really a problem for me.
On the odd occasion, if it happens, I just do what I can and charge accordingly.
Customers are always apologetic and usually it never happens again.
I'm a bit like Daz, can't be bothered to stress over stuff any more.
As for working Saturday mornings, I love it. The alternative, is to do the food shopping with Mrs Window Cleaner, which consists of: making a list, Aldi, then Sainsburys or M&S, then butchers, home, unpacking, tidying etc etc.
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Im having a bad run of it.
Majority of gates locked after text is sent the night before last week. Some are in and open it after being asked but its a time waster no doubt. Two today where had to do front only. Definitely switching to full price if they don't leave it open from January.
Also - as I'm still building im taking on stuff with potentially locked gates and garages. Don't feel I can discriminate completely. Don't do through the house or round the back of terraced house. Seems a lot on here just don't bother if access is a bit tricky. Can you afford to be if you really want to build the business beyond one van?
If the customer asks for a front only I normally just half the price but a minimum cost of £15 in the main. Anyone else do something different in this circumstance?
Cheers
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Im having a bad run of it.
Majority of gates locked after text is sent the night before last week. Some are in and open it after being asked but its a time waster no doubt. Two today where had to do front only. Definitely switching to full price if they don't leave it open from January.
Also - as I'm still building im taking on stuff with potentially locked gates and garages. Don't feel I can discriminate completely. Don't do through the house or round the back of terraced house. Seems a lot on here just don't bother if access is a bit tricky. Can you afford to be if you really want to build the business beyond one van?
If the customer asks for a front only I normally just half the price but a minimum cost of £15 in the main. Anyone else do something different in this circumstance?
Cheers
Depending what they are charge £12 for the fronts only nice little earner easily do 8 fronts an hour if in a row
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Im having a bad run of it.
Majority of gates locked after text is sent the night before last week. Some are in and open it after being asked but its a time waster no doubt. Two today where had to do front only. Definitely switching to full price if they don't leave it open from January.
Also - as I'm still building im taking on stuff with potentially locked gates and garages. Don't feel I can discriminate completely. Don't do through the house or round the back of terraced house. Seems a lot on here just don't bother if access is a bit tricky. Can you afford to be if you really want to build the business beyond one van?
If the customer asks for a front only I normally just half the price but a minimum cost of £15 in the main. Anyone else do something different in this circumstance?
Cheers
Depending what they are charge £12 for the fronts only nice little earner easily do 8 fronts an hour if in a row
I do the front only, just better to get the whole lot done obviously.