[Marc Stock]

I also work all weathers.

Get your waterproofs in the van ready.

Steel toe wellies.

And your ready.

[Steve Newres]

Unless it's for obvious building work I never get asked to leave till next time.
Then again I don't clean in high winds, driving rain or snow....makes you wonder.

Possibly why you only need a 210 litre tank. Part timer.

[JandS]

Most of my work is within half mile of home so refill at dinnertime.
Yes I am a part timer at 3 days a week the rest is carpet cleaning.
But I also know what my customers don't want.

[Steve Newres]

Most of my work is within half mile of home so refill at dinnertime.
Yes I am a part timer at 3 days a week the rest is carpet cleaning.
But I also know what my customers don't want.

Have you undertaken surveys then? I can't recall ever losing a customer for cleaning in the rain.

[slap bash]

Unless it's for obvious building work I never get asked to leave till next time.
Then again I don't clean in high winds, driving rain or snow....makes you wonder.

Possibly why you only need a 210 litre tank. Part timer.

So what if he is a part timer he would clean just as good as you do and should be afforded the same rights and respect as any of us. Your statement is derogatory and not called for. Implying part-time is somehow not as good.He might just fill up 6 times a day.

[Steve Newres]

Unless it's for obvious building work I never get asked to leave till next time.
Then again I don't clean in high winds, driving rain or snow....makes you wonder.

Possibly why you only need a 210 litre tank. Part timer.

So what if he is a part timer he would clean just as good as you do and should be afforded the same rights and respect as any of us. Your statement is derogatory and not called for. Implying part-time is somehow not as good.He might just fill up 6 times a day.

He might also have a lot more flexibility to choose the days he works because he doesn’t have a full customer list. It’s also daft to suggest he NEVER gets cancellations because he doesn’t clean in the rain. He was taking an opinionated stance so he got a reply appropriate to that so keep your nose out.   

[robbo333]

I had a funny one before Christmas, normally very good custy.
I phoned the night before and she said she was busy and could we skip (she did sound harassed). Also she didn't want to leave the gate unlocked as it was so close to Christmas and she was worried about being burgled.
She then said that if I was really busy, she wouldn't mind if I missed her (obviously doing me a favour).
I jokingly replied that I was skint and needed the work.
Her whole attitude changed!
She said she would leave the gates unlocked in the morning but be back at lunchtime if I needed to see her. Couldn't have been more helpful.
I was only joking 

[Stoots]

I had a funny one before Christmas, normally very good custy.
I phoned the night before and she said she was busy and could we skip (she did sound harassed). Also she didn't want to leave the gate unlocked as it was so close to Christmas and she was worried about being burgled.
She then said that if I was really busy, she wouldn't mind if I missed her (obviously doing me a favour).
I jokingly replied that I was skint and needed the work.
Her whole attitude changed!
She said she would leave the gates unlocked in the morning but be back at lunchtime if I needed to see her. Couldn't have been more helpful.
I was only joking 

It's always nice when you get a customer like this, makes up for the miserable, self centered gets .

[Steve Newres]

I had a funny one before Christmas, normally very good custy.
I phoned the night before and she said she was busy and could we skip (she did sound harassed). Also she didn't want to leave the gate unlocked as it was so close to Christmas and she was worried about being burgled.
She then said that if I was really busy, she wouldn't mind if I missed her (obviously doing me a favour).
I jokingly replied that I was skint and needed the work.
Her whole attitude changed!
She said she would leave the gates unlocked in the morning but be back at lunchtime if I needed to see her. Couldn't have been more helpful.
I was only joking 

It's always nice when you get a customer like this, makes up for the miserable, self centered gets .

What, charity givers?

[dazmond]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

I believe many people come into this game thinking it's easy work for easy money. They become disillusioned when reality hits them and many either give up or trudge on, seeing it as drudgery (albeit well paid drudgery).

I believe it's what you make it. I went into it with low expectations (I started off part time working for a friend).  When I went it alone I kept my sights relatively low and to this day (21 years later) I don't expect too much out of my business other than making a living from it.

I have enough work, I earn enough from it, but above all, I am content.

John

The frustrating thing is it should be easy work for way money.

You agree a monthly clean, you go out and do it and the money appears in your account. Of course we know it's not that easy, the weather will stop you cleaning it, the customer will stop you cleaning it and then never pay you.

What we need is contracts.

I think go cardless is the closest we are going to get to a guaranteed income.

But you are right, given all the problems that come with this job I can see why some people just do it part time and choose the cream work. Not a bad idea

1.the weather hardly ever stops me cleaning windows

2.i very rarely get a "not today".if i do i simply move onto my next job.no worries.

3.i wrote off £100 last year out of  £43,000+ turnover.not worth bothering about.(its usually around £40-£50)

I know mate.

But in the flip side

The weather this week has meant it's been my worst weeks earnings for about 2 years! Today is the only day when it's not been sideways rain.

Ive had 3 not today's this week and dumped 2 for bring long term Messer's.

I wrote off about 500 quid at least and have about another 100 that will be written off. I don't sent 4 to small claims court, got paid for 3 and the other no response so 25 quid more out of pocket on him.

We can earn good money but to get it with have to put up with a lot of crap, not to mention bookwork, taxes advertising, fixing stuff. The list goes on.

For me the job is still a farce at times, what keeps me going is that I know one day I can be just like you with a nice round and no stress, it's just a matter of time.

BLIMEY!adam!you ve had to write off around £500 in one year?

granted this week has been bad weather wise at times but ive still managed to earn just over £800 for 18 hours "on the glass".(3 x 5 hour days and one 3 hour day)ive started a bit later some days due to the heavy rain/wind but i battled on yesterday afternoon in stormy conditions and dodged the odd heavy shower.

ive had one "not today" all week and most work has been on one estate(70+ houses virtually all right next to each other)and a few bigger stand alone jobs.

[JandS]

£800 for an 18 hour week...why would you need to work in the rain?

[Steve Newres]

£800 for an 18 hour week...why would you need to work in the rain?

He wouldn’t have earned it if he hadn’t worked in the rain. 

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

we have only two tx aheads

yesterday sent a tx out saying were coming tomorrow ect

rely " sorry we dont need our windows clean tomorrow "

me . " we dont need to clean them ever again either "

they never replied boom the gone 

[tlwcs]

we have only two tx aheads

yesterday sent a tx out saying were coming tomorrow ect

rely " sorry we dont need our windows clean tomorrow "

me . " we dont need to clean them ever again either "

they never replied boom the gone

Quality, the best response I've heard

[Walter Mitty]

Had one yesterday do a 'not today' on me.
The reason was a rather generic ' not a lot happening'.

He's normally fine and I know his partner has been very ill, so I'll swallow on that one.  I'm not totally unreasonable.

[dazmond]

£800 for an 18 hour week...why would you need to work in the rain?

if id just sat on my arse looking out the window moaning then i wouldnt of earnt anything would i?

[Steve Newres]

we have only two tx aheads

yesterday sent a tx out saying were coming tomorrow ect

rely " sorry we dont need our windows clean tomorrow "

me . " we dont need to clean them ever again either "

they never replied boom the gone

Quality, the best response I've heard

Seemed unprofessional to me. That’s not to say I’m above the odd snotty reply. I nearly always regret it later though.

[Johnny B]

we have only two tx aheads

yesterday sent a tx out saying were coming tomorrow ect

rely " sorry we dont need our windows clean tomorrow "

me . " we dont need to clean them ever again either "

they never replied boom the gone

Quality, the best response I've heard

Seemed unprofessional to me. That’s not to say I’m above the odd snotty reply. I nearly always regret it later though.

I would agree that if I get a response that grinds my gears, I have to either wait until I have calmed down before replying or not reply at all.

John

[P @ F]

What i tend to do these days if it happens without good reason is just play along as normal , on the next visit i leave them until last , but before i start them i go and ticket / collect , if in they will come out thinking i have missed them , this is when i tell them that i cant fit them in this time as i had not counted on them wanting a clean , then the penny drops for most but not all .
If they are not in i do the same on the all visits until i do  catch them in or they call me .
This then prompts me to tell them that it will be 25/50 percent more as cleans have been missed , then the penny drops again .

I dont get uppity and let them know they are dumped , this just gives them the heads up to get another cleaner asap , my way drags it all out for them and the windows get dirtier     

[robbo333]

Nowadays, I find it much easier to just say 'no problem' and worry about it later; then they usually get dumped.

I think I have only spoken to customers on the phone, whom I have dumped, about 5 times. On each occasion, I have been polite and calm and told them why I can no longer clean for them. Locked gates on numerous occasions (including large electric gates) rude attitude, dogs mess, rubbish and crap down the side access, etc etc. On every occasion it has not ended well, with the customer getting upset, because they think they are in the right. You can explain until you're blue in the face but the custy has excuses for everything; it just causes unnecessary stress.

Now I can't be bothered to explain, so I just politely say 'no problem' and then decide if I want to keep them. If I dump them, I simply don't bother turning up anymore.

If they phone me and ask why I haven't turned up, the conversation goes like this:
Custy: 'Why haven't been for the last 6 months'
Me: 'I didn't think you wanted me to clean for you anymore'
Custy: 'Why not?'
Me: 'Because the last time I contacted you, you didn't want them done'
I then specifically don't say anything and there is a long pause (this is my favourite bit).
Custy: 'Well the last time you text me I had to go to hospital for my lumbago and it was all too much hassle'  (this is usually a lie).
Me: 'Oh that's a shame as I have replaced your slot with a customer who DOES want their windows cleaned on a regular basis' so I'm afraid I can't help, thank you, bye'!