[d s windowcleaning]

December is usually the month when you pick up the messers as they are after clean windows for christmas .
Do you take on the new custom or get them to wait ?
Over the years i noticed that most of the new work i picked up during december will cancel by febuary .
A loyal customer will allways wait until january or when you are next in the area .
So december for me is a NO for new custom unless they wait .
How to you guys go about new customers in december when they only want a christmas clean ?

[windiewasher]

ive added a few good ones this last week,i was cleaning a hairdressers the other day when a old boy asked me to do his and his neighbours every 4 weeks,turns out his lad was a windy till 6 weeks ago and is now working on the rigs.
 He was gonna sell his round but never got round to it,hes going to ask his lad for details of his houses 132 houses 
 If not i will offer to buy it,seems a right decent bloke!

[d s windowcleaning]

ive added a few good ones this last week,i was cleaning a hairdressers the other day when a old boy asked me to do his and his neighbours every 4 weeks,turns out his lad was a windy till 6 weeks ago and is now working on the rigs.
 He was gonna sell his round but never got round to it,hes going to ask his lad for details of his houses 132 houses 
 If not i will offer to buy it,seems a right decent bloke!

Its not bad when its like that but when you get people who come out there windows are a real mess you get a thought in the back of your head they are after 1 thing and 1 thing only and thats clean windows for christmas .

[DG Cleaning]

I got 4 last week same street only 1 a real mess. Maybe that one will turn out to be a bad un.

[Johnny B]

I canvassed this morning, and picked up 3 new accounts. Two were retired folk, the other a young working lady. All 3 were cleaned on the spot, they all want me to call back in the new year, and they all tipped me very generously as well.  

In addition to these, 3 other potential accounts have asked me to call back, 1 next week and the other 2 in January.

Oh, and finally I got a phone call, price agreed over the phone (I clean identical houses in his road) and will be doing them tomorrow.

All in all, a good day in what has otherwise been a gruesome week.  

John
  

[H S and Son]

I dont understand these paranoia threads. What happens to the kosher customers in December, do they politely go away and hide until January?

[Frankybadboy]

I dont understand these paranoia threads. What happens to the kosher customers in December, do they politely go away and hide until January?

on yer bike you

[Pope vader]

i went knocking on wednesday and got 18,  a messer will be a messer any time of the year, get them now and get the money

[SPE]

so your cleaning regs in a sreet, someone pokes their head out and asks if you have time to clean one more ? do you turn it down out of principle because they just want clean windows for xmas ?
If I am not going out of my way and I have time , for sure, its all money and very handy especially when I like to take some time off between xmas and new year.

[Ian101]

Is it not worth a punt with a new customer in December ?

Picked 1 up yesterday @ £12 monthly right next to 4 others I do so thats £144 over next 12 months, he made all the right noises and asked right questions so dont fore see a Feb cancellation.

Also off to quote and hopefully clean 2 more on Saturday - 1 of which is in a block of 6 other flats who also may need a window cleaner.

If in doubt you can always ask for 2 or 3 cleans upfront as "its company policy" or charge a double on 1st clean.

[dazmond]

I usually take them on after xmas as I'm busy right up til xmas eve.in fact most new customers don't get cleaned right then and there regardless of the time of year.ill make a special case if its a fit blonde or if its a posh house in an area I want more work in though!

[Ian101]

I usually take them on after xmas as I'm busy right up til xmas eve.in fact most new customers don't get cleaned right then and there regardless of the time of year.ill make a special case if its a fit blonde or if its a posh house in an area I want more work in though!

what if its a fit blonde in a posh house - do u do it for free ?  

[formb]

I struggle to get my existing regulars done in December so I make new ones wait.

[AuRavelling79]

If the timing is right I'll do it on the spot - but always always aways at a 1st clean premium.

I say are you looking for a one off or regular. If it's an honest one off right there and then I charge double the regular monthly rate (maybe more if it's a green framed spider encrusted minger). If they say they want regular then lets say I would do it £12 monthly or £15 two monthly I'll say first clean to get them up to scratch £20.

If it doesn't feel right I emphasise that I expect them to be regular.

1 out of ten I get wrong; but hey ... I can live with that what with the first clean premium I charge.

[Johnny B]

Update on the phone call I got (mentioned previously).

I cleaned their windows yesterday (in the rain). Customer paid just before I finished and said could I come back and do them again before christmas. 

Maybe I have been fortunate, but I have up till now I have never picked up a messer in December. However, as I am in my first winter in Ireland this will be no doubt come to an abrupt end!

John 

[Ian101]

OK just got back from pricing a job ... new customer in December.

Phone call other night ... I live at Flat 6 blah blah road can you come out and give me a price please ... Mr Jones of Letsby Avenue says your reliable and do a good job.

so goes over this morning to price the flat up .. chap comes out of the block so I says which windows are yours then ..... he gave a puzzled look and pointed to his windows but then says "Oh no not just mine we need a price for both blocks and all 18 flats"    

agreed a price with him and the other director of the management commitee

booked in for next week and every 3 months - charged accordingly

I love December customers  

The current window cleaner has had to stop due to ill health.

[wezzy32]

had a £40 house confirmed 2day thats make £80 new work this week alone.