Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bobs Window Cleaning on February 06, 2007, 07:07:29 pm
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Hi all.
At the moment I clean on a 4 week cycle rather than monthly.
I seem to be getting a few customers saying "oh yer earlier than I expected" and "is it that time already?".
Ive been full time cleaning now for around 4 months and dont want to to start losing anyone.
Because I clean on a 4 week cycle, I'm sometimes visiting the same house twice in the same month and some customers are starting to make comments. Today one said I will only pay 12 times a year and not 13.
Should I stick to 4 weekly or swap over to monthly?
Bod
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Hi
Why not 6 weeks !
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I have always pointed out to new customers that i call every 4 or 8 weekly.
I'd stick to what you are doing and don't worry about it
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I started out 4 weekly and also got the same comments after a while. Once the winter weather set in I got behind a few days so made an effort to gain some new customers and now clean every 5 weeks with all my working days filled a reasonable amount.
What im saying is go with the flow and don't worry to much. Things will sort themselves out after awhile and if you continue to gain more work it won't make much difference to you earnings if you can't keep to your schedule
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Cheers.
Craig, I know I shouldn't worry about it but I cant help it as I'm still relatively new to this and dont wanna start losing them.
Also i feel that cleaning every 4 weeks means I dont have any leeway when it snow or rains heavy. Where as if I was to go monthly, I could go a couple of days late and nobody would be wiser.
Its seem alot of you guys take it in yer stride and think "if i clean today fine or if I clean tomorro or the next day fine...no worries" and dont seem to be so regimental.
Hope this seem clear and not daft.
Phil.
Thanks for you advice. I may go down that route..
Bod
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I tend to do customers bi-monthly and even then I get the "that time again...it's come round quick". And to be honest it seems only 5 minutes ago that I was last there.
Twice in one month ? Hardly seems worthwhile going home ;D
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I do 3 wkly,no matter what you do people moan,dont let it bother you,it keeps there windows nice and clean,what more do people want,stick to what your doing matey ;D
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I always clean every 4 weeks or 8 weeks and not had any problems but i do make it clear to them its every 4th week not monthly and they seem fine about it but if they do start to moan ill just say to them thats my terms.
Bazz...
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Mines every 4 - 6 weeks.
I used to be every 4 weeks but was often late now i say every 4 - 6 weeks and now i usually get round in that time.
But not at the moment im 5 1/2 weeks behind.
And most of my customers have not even noticed or there not saying anything.
Paul
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im every 4 weeks. a few 8weeks. Explain to customers winter months you might be a bit later than 4 weeks. there usually ok. Id stick with 4 weekly. why wait for 2 weeks more dirt? Plus you need more customers 6 weekly :P
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Mine used to be every 4 weeks but like Paul i was always late, so now i just have one long list and start at the top and work to the bottom and then just start all over again i reckon on average most of them get cleaned about every 5 to 6 weeks.
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Bod stick with whatever your happy with, remember your the boss.
Jeff.
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Cheers for all the replies guys.
Think I will open a bottle of Jacobs creek and think about it.
Bod
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If you take out your holidays and allow a bit of time for being off ill, you'll only be doing 12 cleans a year anyway not 13. Being regular is generally seen as a positive by "Joe Public". Stick with 4 weekly mate,at the end of the day,going monthly is going to cost you 4 weeks work a year!! and you've still got to deduct holidays etc if your monthly.
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You'll find later on that a few of these "thats come round quick" will start moaning you are a day or 2 late. ;D ;D
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Guys.
Thanks for all your advice.
This all came to a head this afternoon when one of my (grumpy) customers said "I'm only paying 12 times a year for my windows, I know what you're up to....trying to get 13 lots of money instead of 12 and Im not paying it".
Im gonna tell her I only clean every 4 weeks and if she wants me to miss her out next time then fine. That way she will only pay 12 times.
I will post her reply tomorrow.......
Bod
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tell her to go fly a kite instead
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Chris
Will that be monthly ;D ;D ;D
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Be careful telling her you will miss her out this month or you will find her telling you to miss another month etc etc.
Like posted already with your holidays and time been unable to work due to bad weather, it won't be 13 cleans in 12 months anyway.
Stick to your guns mate.
If your worried about losing her then offer her an 8 weekly clean but charge 50% extra of her normal 4 weekly clean to make up for the extra time cleaning them due to the increase of dirt.
If you charge £10 (4 weekly) charge her £15 (8 weekly.)
Point out that she will be saving £5 changing to an 8 weekly clean.
Craig
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If some one told me they wouldnt pay me they certainly wouldnt get a clean thats for sure
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Thanks craig.
Good point about missing her out.
Where would we all be without this forum..................................down the pub
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Because I clean on a 4 week cycle, I'm sometimes visiting the same house twice in the same month and some customers are starting to make comments. Bod
I just tell my customers I will call roughly every 4 weeks weather permitting! I am the same as you, where I find myself at the same house twice in the month depending on weather or not i'm trying to catch up or get ahead! It still works out that only clean the 12 times a year so what are they moaning about????
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Tell her you got george and it will only work 4 weekly so tough ;D
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do you tell them it is monthly?
If she complains again tell her that you have given it some thought as it was a good suggestion (complete lie) but it would be impossible to work to because most of your customers expect you every 4 weeks.
She is basically haggling over price and trying to get you to undercut yourself by 8% per annum. Do you really want an 8% paycut just to keep her happy?
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Guys.
Thanks for all your advice.
This all came to a head this afternoon when one of my (grumpy) customers said "I'm only paying 12 times a year for my windows, I know what you're up to....trying to get 13 lots of money instead of 12 and Im not paying it".
Im gonna tell her I only clean every 4 weeks and if she wants me to miss her out next time then fine. That way she will only pay 12 times.
I will post her reply tomorrow.......
Bod
So she thinks you're trying to fiddle her does she? With such a lack of trust, I wouldn't want to work for her anyway.
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Stick to every 4 weeks. Easier to schedule. It is SMART to get paid 13 times per year instead of 12!
If you make $5000.00 each 4 weeks you will make an additional $5 thousand or less $5 thousand per year based on the .3 week per month! :o
Sounds like a great business decision to me!
Hugs,
Texas Girl (Not bad for a blonde, huh?) ;D :-* :-*