Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: pt on September 09, 2006, 06:01:18 pm

Title: How far behind are you?
Post by: pt on September 09, 2006, 06:01:18 pm
I am five weeks behind on my round since starting with my wfp (spending time on first cleans,the really hot spell, the wet weather etc ) I should reach week one again in about 1 1/2  weeks. Everyone is ok about it but it has jarred me to get so far behind. Just a question, how far have other members been behind on their round before people got fed up ?

Many Thanks,

Paul.
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: Clear Vision on September 09, 2006, 06:03:38 pm
Im 2 weeks behind at the mo.

First cleans take ages >:(
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on September 09, 2006, 06:06:25 pm
I'm probably on time about 5 days a year!

Wouldn't panic mate.

If I was 4 weeks to the day, people would say "You here already?" ;D
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: macc on September 09, 2006, 06:29:50 pm
Hi Paul.

Dont worry mate, i switched to wfpend of last year, days off all the time now.

In 6 months time it will be totaly different, up to date, short days & flying through the work. I read other posts saying this & thought " RECKON", im no wfp expert like a lot on here, a long way to go but its the best move i made.

I love my job now.

Macc
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: chris@c.m.s on September 09, 2006, 10:28:55 pm
I'm allways behind and I dont even have a full round, I dont like getting more than 4 weeks behind though and of course its all lost profits when you do, as you get to know your customers you will remember the ones that like you to be on time I have one guy getting on in his years bless him, who rings me up and asks me if I have given up if I'm more than a week late  :D Then another who is only in on mondays has a locked gate wants me to ring on the eve before then complains when I'm late, I love dealing with the general public sometimes ;) most are understanding when you are late though and I would say a good 80% dont even notice.   
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: james cairns on September 09, 2006, 10:58:44 pm
meant to say guys if you go fortnightly then it will tie you up when you come to expand into commercial, if you are happy with domestic fine, but if you are developing a business then you need to be available for all types of work and if a commercial job comes in that takes 4 weeks then you are 2 cleans behind

ok you say take on staff but if it is only for 4 weeks would you take on staff

so the delemma is do you take on the good paying commercial job or do you bypass

food for thought

jinky
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 10, 2006, 11:05:29 am
My wife has just had a baby, so I am well behind, about 3 weeks I think. But I explained this to my customers in advance and they are all quite happy, I have had a couple of phone calls but that was from little old ladies to make sure that I brought a photo of the baby when I call to clean their windows! :)
I do have one customer who insists that I come every 4 weeks on a wednesday at 9 oclock, I have tried to explain to her that with over 300 domestic customers it is impossible to be that exact, but she was having none of it. So I do as she wants, but I have put her price up to £20 (it was £12) and she was fine with that as long as they are cleaned at 9am every 4th wednesday! It takes me about 12mins trad ;)
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: ronaldo on September 10, 2006, 11:44:56 am
Congratulations on the baby Groundhog.Seems a good enough reason to be behind to me, dont worry to much about it you,ll soon get caught back up again once you get going again.  ;)
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 10, 2006, 12:31:51 pm
Thanks Ronaldo, the customers are fine about it, they know that i'll get to them sooner or later despite the sleepless nights! :o
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: P®oPole™ on September 10, 2006, 02:37:24 pm
Groundhog congrats on the new baby, when I opened this topic I was going to put a little narky comment in but thought "what is the point of carring this on" you seem like a normal guy and I have sort of grown to love you and your posts (well a little bit anyway) I dont know if its the fact of I now see you as a family guy or not I never did have a vendeta against you its just things you say wind me up and I disagree with certain points you make but have found it ammusing, I know that when I saw squeaky's pics in the other non related topic it totally changed my veiw on him.


LETS NOT GET ALL MUSHY HERE, I STILL DONT LIKE TOM_CURRIE

And leave out all the boy comments groundhog if you would be so kind not that they botherd me its not very profesinal wouldnt you say, what got me more was old tommy_currie saying im not a profesinal who is he to say that, with his non baffled tank and poor knowledge of wfp, My system compared to his says it all, I will say no more.
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 10, 2006, 04:25:47 pm
Thanks ProPole, lets shake on it and make up :) Perhaps I was a little hard on you at times, sorry mate.  :-* ::)
Its good to see a hard working young man make a go of it, well done :)
Am I going soft or what? ;D
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: ronaldo on September 10, 2006, 04:51:05 pm
Tell me about the sleepless nights Groundhog on on them again with our 4th one now  :o

I thought i,d got away from all that till the latest edition to the clan appeared, good fun though enjoy it while you can because it doesnt last for long, before you no it theyre all grown up and doing your head in.
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: neil100 on September 10, 2006, 05:15:23 pm
Wow pt that is so slow. Are you still on first cleans? If so I think you might be a tad to fussy on how you are cleaning them.

I know its a nightmare first cleans, My round is based on a four week cycle, when I started wfp in Jan this year it took me 5 weeks to do 4 weeks work. I was about 5 mins a house slower with wfp on first cleans then trad w/c. If they where relly dirty about 10 mins a house.

From second cleans onwards I was faster with wfp.

Though I went a week behind in jan I have been up to date ever since. That includes me taking a lot more work on as well.

I never did what Tosh did on first cleans, which was clean all frames first and then come back and clean the glass. I cleaned the frames first of windows at front of house then the glass.

It will come good.

Nel.
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: edd on September 13, 2006, 03:45:49 pm
well too be honest some work is 15 weeks behind we just keep getting more and more different jobs too do .IE: con roofs twice a year gutters the same carpet cleaning offices and the poor old customers just have too wait but not lost any yet .It doesnt help being off with SHINGLES either you definitely don't want that mate!!!! :o :o i have an ionics thermopure which zips through anything quickly so well catch up one day   maybe?
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: craig jwc on September 13, 2006, 10:16:26 pm
I don't bother trying to catch up.

I have no idea how behind i am, but as soon as they are done i try and keep them on their 4 or 8 weekly cleans.

I've never had a complaint, but all my customers know i live on my own with the kids and have to be flexible for them.

I think this is the most stress free job i have even done and don't see the point of worrying about been behind.

I have days where i just can't get myself motivated but once i start i'm ok.

Congratulations on the Baby Groundhog

Craig
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: pjulk on September 13, 2006, 10:25:49 pm
A freind of mine is still doing work that was due the end of april.

He did employ a couple of chaps but they were not reliable enough and did as little as possible.

He is always 4 or 5 months behind and he does not lose many jobs because of it.
He works 10 hours a day six days a week in all weathers even heavy rain.

He has sold some of his work off several times but still get inundated with calls for window cleaning.

And he does try to put them off and says he is not reliable but will come back.

I am always a week or so behind but my customers have got used to me and never lose jobs because of it.

If i turn up on time they will say are you early this month.

Paul
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 13, 2006, 11:29:24 pm
4 - 5 Months behind! :o That makes me feel much better :)
Thanks for all the congratulations about my new son lads :)
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: matt on September 14, 2006, 10:13:43 am
im on time, the first time in ages and i mean ages, normally a week or 2 behind

Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: pt on September 14, 2006, 11:08:01 am
Hi All,

Some of these post are making me feel better. Thanks for all the replys.

Paul.
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: shammy davis jnr on September 14, 2006, 03:03:44 pm
about six light years  ;)
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: Moderator David@stives on September 14, 2006, 04:14:23 pm
I have been bang on time for the last 12 months at least always 4 weeks to the day.

I cant understand why so many of you are late, to stay on time simply drop your worst paying jobs and that way you will get around to the better jobs quicker.

I gained an extra £5000 at least last year by being on time compared to the year before where i was anything up to a week late.

Do the maths and see how much you are losing

Dave
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 14, 2006, 11:48:12 pm
Don't drop your worst paying jobs, put the price up ;)
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: Moderator David@stives on September 14, 2006, 11:52:56 pm
I was on about the ones where you know the prices are on there last legs and the customers wont stand another rise, or else they would be your good jobs.

Any way if you put them up it would do nothing to help you run on time

Dave
Title: Re: How far behind are you?
Post by: groundhog on September 14, 2006, 11:59:12 pm
I always put the price up to a level were it would make them well paying customers, you may lose them, but who cares, but you will be surprised at how many will say yes ;D