[Caleb Morley]

Hi all,

Im having a few issues with managing my round and so wanted peoples advice on how they best manage things. Im using Window Cleaner Pro which is excellent. My problem is more with arranging my days.

Ive been going for 4 months. Initially when canvassing i said i would call/txt the next time i was coming round after the first clean. That has worked ok but i have had some people that just dont reply to the call/txt and others more recently have put me off for a month saying the usual "not this time, but next".

I then tried a couple of weeks of just turning up without calling ahead. This resulted in alot of people not being in, so less money earnt and less collected, which obviously isnt good for cash-flow.

Any tips?

Cheers,

Caleb

[britishwill]

I always email them a week before they are due, so if there are any thats say not this clean I have time:

1. to email them (the I offer 4-6weekly cleans and cannot afford to have someone who only wants a clean now and again!etc etc) I know you might be scared of loosing some custies but if they are like that now you will never be able to rely on them. You will be suprised at the amount that do not think about and once they realise never muck you about again!

2. Replace any any work with other work so you can maximise your days and then maybe have a clear day to do some door knocking.

3. It gives the client a few days to think is there anything else that needs doing like gutters etc! (I always add this on the bottom of the email!)

[supernova77]

Hi mate

Avoid having to text/ring ahead if you can, unless they have a gate that needs to be left unlocked.

If anyone starts to ask me to ring/text before I usually end up dropping them as I know they will start saying "not this time" etc...

Andy

[Caleb Morley]

Thanks for the tips.

Would it be best then to diarise the next date with them there and then?

That way i can change it if i need to later and for them they know when im coming next.

Cheers,

Caleb

[supernova77]

Do you have to tell them? i.e. do they need to leave the gate unlocked?

If there are no access issues I wouldn't pre-arrange any cleans... I like to keep things as flexible as possible - I always put my days together a day or 2 before but don't let any customers know (unless they need to unlock the gate).

Andy

[Carl67]

We've been operating for nearly 2 years and never e-mail or text, just turn up and clean. If the customer's not in we split the ladders to get over the fence (with their consent). We never chase money by door knocking, just post self addressed envelopes with slips and out of hundreds of clients only 4 or 5 haven't payed, of which we haven't chased just got more customers. Definately put gutter clearance and fascia cleans on your envelope - it works a treat.

[Caleb Morley]

Some need to be told to leave the gate open yeah. Not all though. I will persevere with just turning up and see where that gets me.

I think its just obviously not having enough customers at the moment that is making it a bit funny and work a bit all over the place. In the future im sure I'll have enough that just trying to get them all done will be the issue.

Do you still leave envelopes when people aint in?

Been knocked for money much over the years?

[Carl67]

Always leave a slipped envelope, perhaps we're lucky with our customers but we make a point of telling them thats how we do it along with paypal etc they seem to like the system, by the way a ruler is best for posting leaflets.

[Caleb Morley]

Thanks for the response. Do you put your address on a sticky label on it (thats what im thinking of doing)?

btw - most of mine are good payers with paying into the bank. Maybe I should set up paypal aswell then

[Carl67]

Hi Caleb, we put our envelopes through the printer. I have read some posts where they only leave the customer owing money for 1 clean, we have a 3 clean policy on anything under £15 and a 2 clean policy anything above of which we state to new customers, after all they want you, they contacted you and sometimes they just plain forget, we are only secondary thoughts to most but we give them a fair chance. It works for us but not for others, some of our clients have stated, they aprieciate us not calling for money especially during teatime. But we all do things differently.

[Ian101]

Some need to be told to leave the gate open yeah. Not all though. I will persevere with just turning up and see where that gets me.

I think its just obviously not having enough customers at the moment that is making it a bit funny and work a bit all over the place.

I had same problem as you but only thought about doing this when I had a fullish round  : .... clean in the morning and canvass the area in the afternoon or other way round if you prefer.

also


NEVER EVER EVER EVER TAKE ANOTHER CUSTOMER ON AND PROMISE TO TEXT / CALL / EMAIL THE NIGHT BEFORE unless its for access issue but get them to leave payment under bucket / table / brick etc etc

as you grow u will find it restricts ur business too much

[Caleb Morley]

thanks for the responses.

I will be leaving envelopes now. I'll only txt for access issues.

thanks for the help

[Perfect Windows]

Well, I hate to be the one to disagree but I text every single one of them every time.

It causes no problems and resolves many (such as leaving gates unlocked).  Customers tell me that they LOVE knowing when we're coming.  I will never, ever stop doing it as it's a major advantage.  And if you do it right (i.e. via PC), it takes about five minutes a night.

So, for tomorrow, someone texted me back very apologetic to say that she's away and won't be able to unlock the back gate.  That's much better than my driving there tomorrow and finding out once I'm unpacked and heading up her drive with my hose in my hand...

I think it helps that I'm six- or twelve-weekly, so I don't get "not this time"s.

Vin

[Caleb Morley]

how do you do it by pc, the texting mate?


cheers

[Perfect Windows]

I have an Android phone and I use a £1 app called EasySMS.  For Nokias there is Nokia PC suite (much easier to use) and probably one for every mobile out there, though I don't know the package names.

For Android, the phone just needs to be in the house; for Nokia it needs to be connected to the PC by its USB cable.

Vin

[britishwill]

Not informing clients that you are coming IMO looses you loads of extra work. I love thew fact I do not have to clean windows every day. I can mix it in with gutters, power washing etc. It also IMO gives you a more professional image and clients really appreciate it. Those that muck you around would do it anyway, ie  not pay bills etc.

[bobplum]

Some need to be told to leave the gate open yeah. Not all though. I will persevere with just turning up and see where that gets me.

I think its just obviously not having enough customers at the moment that is making it a bit funny and work a bit all over the place.

I had same problem as you but only thought about doing this when I had a fullish round  : .... clean in the morning and canvass the area in the afternoon or other way round if you prefer.

also


NEVER EVER EVER EVER TAKE ANOTHER CUSTOMER ON AND PROMISE TO TEXT / CALL / EMAIL THE NIGHT BEFORE unless its for access issue but get them to leave payment under bucket / table / brick etc etc

as you grow u will find it restricts ur business too much

what are you on tonight whats happened to you to put out the public health warning

[Dave Anderson]

I also use wcp and run a scheduled service based around a 8weekly cycle...on our card amongst the other blurb the customer is advised what date there next clean is...many have told me this system does and will not work but 5 years on have only had a few 'not todays'. In the event that I cannot clean for a reason the customer is advised by email as soon as I know...

Horses for courses..for me if the decision to clean was upto to me...I would find many excuses not to 'go out today'.

Cheers
Dave.

[bobby p]

set your stall out and stick to it is my tip. dont be too flexible or customers think you are desperate  for work and then the messing starts i promise you that


 i personally wont text,nor phone  ,i explain on my first meeting that the exact day i arrive is  down to the weather and folk buy that. if they have an especially high gate  over 8feet i ditch them after a while once i have found a more easier house .

[Stevie Behan]

I always get in touch with customers the afternoon/night before I'm due to visit. A lot of my customers have gates which need to be left unlocked for me gain access so its a good reminder, but I also have an arrangement with most that money will be left in an agreed place (door mat , plant pot etc). I very rarely have to go and collect at a later date - maybe I'm just fortunate that most of my customers seem to be pretty reliable.

I have been messed about on one or 2 occasions with the odd 'not this time thanks' - unless they provide a valid reason, I wont deal with them again. My customers have remarked that they do like the contact part of my service, so if thats what they like, I'd be silly to stop.

My messages are just sent via regular sms, using a few templates that I have saved on my phone. All I do is amend the details accordingly.

A few of my customers have said in past that guys used to knock on the door for their money and they were never sure if the windows had been done or not!! I guess doing it this way at least they know when they are going to be cleaned.