Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian Mason on February 18, 2009, 03:03:21 pm
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Hi all,
I have hit a snag regarding scheduling of work, & wondered if anyone has a fix?
Basically, how do you schedule work around customers, that want their windows cleaned at different frequencies, such as monthly, 6 weekly, 2 monthly? I just have visions of possible work building up 2 months ahead, & all on the same day?
Many thanks,
Ian.
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Try using George, Window cleaner pro....failing this try a quick search on yahoo...
or you could write your self a little excel spreadsheet or just use a diary.
Cheers
Dave.
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Window Cleaning Pro is exactly what you need, it will work your work out in days, weeks months years etc, give the trial a go and Ian the designer is very quick to help if you have any probs.
http://www.windowcleanerpro.com/
Chris
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Hi,
Thank you for the replies, I shall have a look at these programs.
I just don`t want to have work building up, & then end up in a situation where it is not possible to fit regular people in & kind of double booked.
Thanks again,
Ian.
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Ian,
I don't think you were asking how to manage your work!
But with regards to frequency of clean, do it either every-four-weeks or every-eight-weeks (or every month or every-other-month). Ensure you have a higher price for the longer frequency, and DON'T DO INCREMENTS; such as every six weeks, or you'll be back-tracking on yourself; unless it's a big well priced property.
You're the boss; not the customer; just explain what you do and won't do.
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Hi Tosh,
Thanks for the reply, & putting my question into better context, that is exactly what I mean`t to say, although I can see how useful the programs would be, the way I organise things!
That is a huge help regarding not doing increments, & I think clearly a bit more self confidence is in order.
Thanks again.
Ian.
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Ian,
I don't think you were asking how to manage your work!
But with regards to frequency of clean, do it either every-four-weeks or every-eight-weeks (or every month or every-other-month). Ensure you have a higher price for the longer frequency, and DON'T DO INCREMENTS; such as every six weeks, or you'll be back-tracking on yourself; unless it's a big well priced property.
You're the boss; not the customer; just explain what you do and won't do.
we do 4 weeks or 8, monthly and 2 monthly will cost you money in the long run, and if you always want to clean to the day you will be working sundays every now and again if working monthly or bi monthly.
4 weekly and 8 this does not happen. we work monday to friday, saturdays if big jobs come in that cant be done during the week,
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Hi,
Stan, are all your customers residential, & if so, how on earth do you manage to get them to agree to a 2 weekly clean?
Ian
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all my work is 2 or 4 weeks,used to have a round of 3 weekly but it kept cocking the system up so sold it on ;D
Every two weeks! ???
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Got to disagree with you Tosh :) I take any frequency the customer wants. I have weekly, 2 weekly, 4 weekly, monthly, 5 weekly, 6 weekly, 2 monthly, 8 weekly, 10 weekly, 3 monthly, 4 monthly and 6 monthly. Obviously I don't allow a 5 weekly in the middle of a bunch of monthlies for example. What happens is I get a lot of jobs all landing together and then a slack period. I like this because it makes me work extra hard at times and if I get weather probs then I have scope to fit those jobs not done in without getting too far behind. Bear in mind that if you get 2 biggish jobs landing together and one is 6 weekly and the other is 2 monthly, it's a while before they meet again. Works for me :D
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I take any frequency the customer wants. I have weekly, 2 weekly, 4 weekly, monthly, 5 weekly, 6 weekly, 2 monthly, 8 weekly, 10 weekly, 3 monthly, 4 monthly and 6 monthly. Obviously I don't allow a 5 weekly in the middle of a bunch of monthlies for example.
Do you charge more for a longer cleaning frequency?
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Hi,
Stan, are all your customers residential, & if so, how on earth do you manage to get them to agree to a 2 weekly clean?
Ian
it not hard if you only charge £2 a house
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Stan, are those prices serious?
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Hi,
Stan, are all your customers residential, & if so, how on earth do you manage to get them to agree to a 2 weekly clean?
Ian
it not hard if you only charge £2 a house
put your claws away ,its £1.70 for oap council bungs, £3.60 to £4.60 council house and £3 terrace ;D ;D
so what happens if a council house is in a terrace, and come to think of it what happens if a council bungs are in a terrance, I think your prices are way over the top. How do you sleep at night Mr
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Hi,
Stan, are all your customers residential, & if so, how on earth do you manage to get them to agree to a 2 weekly clean?
Ian
it not hard if you only charge £2 a house
put your claws away ,its £1.70 for oap council bungs, £3.60 to £4.60 council house and £3 terrace ;D ;D
so what happens if a council house is in a terrace, and come to think of it what happens if a council bungs are in a terrance, I think you prices are way over the top. How do you sleep at night Mr
Hi again,
There has been some handy tips posted on here, but now taking into account the low fees being charged, it looks like the only way I will get customers, is by under cutting, & paying the customers, lol.
Ian.
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Stan would you like a job
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Stan how do you work out your pricing? 70pences and 60 pences!!!
Your Wranglers must be hanging round your ankles due to the tons of coinage in yer pockets!!
I think you are alarmingly cheap, but you know your market and what people will wear in Burnley { Could make a joke at this point but will resist}
;D ;D
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Stan, I'm no wndow cleaning high-flyer, but those prices are nearly as bad as Squeaky's!
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He's having a laugh...no one could make a decent living at those prices.
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Isn't the cost of living cheaper up north though?
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Hi,
Stan, are all your customers residential, & if so, how on earth do you manage to get them to agree to a 2 weekly clean?
Ian
it not hard if you only charge £2 a house
put your claws away ,its £1.70 for oap council bungs, £3.60 to £4.60 council house and £3 terrace ;D ;D
I can’t believe you’re on the internet Stan, next you will be telling me you use electricity. ;)
you want to see his horse and trap, I have told him the payload on it would be fine for a 650l wfp set up, but he still resists as the horse loves his shinny ladders
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About 90% of my customers are cleaned every 8 weeks... I have a few x12 weekly which I fit in with my work as and when they come up, but don't go out of my way to clean them 12 weeks on the dot.
I also have a few x16 weekly customers... But these are big houses that I always phone and book in.
Andy
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stans prices sound low but in all fairness that is the going rate round here and like he said most work is very compact as it is not worth anyone travelling to do one house in your area, when work is compact and you do full rows of terraces at £3-£4 it is easy to achieve £25-£30 an hour even traditionally.
things are changing though and on new estates where a number of cleaners have canvassed then the rounds arent as compact and window cleaners are charging a lot more than the prices quoted especially new windowcleaners who have read these kind of forums. I think the my patch is slowly disapearing which is good for anyone who does have a compact round as they can put the prices up to a rate more in line with ones whos rounds arent as compact .
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I'm building up a growing clientelle of every-other-month customers. I find I can charge more than £1 a window and push the fact that I only clean six times per year.
It's working for me, but I'm going to need a lot more of them.
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I'm building up a growing clientelle of every-other-month customers. I find I can charge more than £1 a window and push the fact that I only clean six times per year.
It's working for me, but I'm going to need a lot more of them.
i honestly think your onto something there tosh, my own windows are only cleaned every other month and unless we get a bad storm they always look clean and the customer mainly looks at what it works out per week so yours feel there getting a good deal, obviously houses near busy roads may need cleaning more often and as said you do need a lot more customers for 8 weekly but still a good idea.
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Trev,
I only usually offer this to the larger houses I do; £20 plus type houses.
Since I work with Wor Lass, we have what may seem strange working practises. She normally just works till 2 or 3 pm, and in places where I have compact work.
We normally work where I WFP tops only and she does the ground floor trad, so I like to have a few £20 plus houses I can do after dropping her off home; normally 100% WFP, rather than tops only.