Round adjustment advice needed.

[rjacandwc]

Hi! I am looking for some advice from someone who may well of been in a similar position to this.

When I started four years ago I spent the first couple of years building up the round. I went every MONTH... But, a few customer's thought this to regular. So, I'd clean them BI-MONTHLY...

The round has now grown and I do the Monthly customers every 6-7 Weeks and the Bi-Monthlys every 12-14 Weeks....

Come spring I am feeling I either need to carry on the way I am or do all of my customers every 8 weeks...

If any of you experienced Windy's went through this situation your thoughts would be most welcome.

It is always hard to know what do to for the best!!!!! Cheers and A Happy New Year to ya!!!!

 

[mrtaytay]

I am in a similar position.....too many customers, so monthlys end up being 6 weekly and 2 monthlys end up being 2 month and a couple of weeks, or even longer. Far from ideal. My plan is to have another customer cull, though easier said than done..

Personally, I think its folly to have all your customers on a eight weekly basis because:

1) in my experience lots of customers wouldnt particularly like it.....I have loads who are keen to get them done every month, so they are kept looking nice.

2) windows are much easier to clean on a monthly basis rather than two monthly. I find that after two months they have become quite grimy, which means its a tougher and more time consuming job to get them clean (and the frames and sills).

3) Even if you make them all 8 weekly, you will still end up taking on more customers....and then what?....start doing them all 10 weekly?

Having said all that, I really do find it hard to drop customers.

 

[rjacandwc]

Cheers Mr Tay Tay... Sound.... 90% are 6-7 weekly so, in a way, if it ain't broke.... I think I might give the every others the option and if not wack the price up. As I feel they are getting a better deal at present in comparison to my regulars...

 

[TolishAPurd]

Get rid of some of the bellends maybe to make a little room?

 

[Pickingpaul]

Another way of putting this situation is to say you are always late as u first i tended to be every four weeks?

I have found that some people get confused with four weekly amd per month as if u clean the. Say on dec 1st u are next due dec 28th right? So a five weekly round sounds nice, and u can condense ur 6/7 weekly worth of work into 5 nice weeks dumping any u desirable customers which may well be also the bi monthly brigade, but i wouldnt apply any hard rules to everyone as some of ur bi monthly customers are probably very good ones and they even the rou d out anyway if u have equal amounts in month A as month B.

I sugges this five weekly round as u will never be twice in a calendar month, u may well still get behind or late but at least it wont seem to late to the people who actually want u every month if that makes sense.

 

[Dave B]

I don't do 4 weekly i do monthly

Well i do week 1-4 the first 4 weeks of the month but i don't have work booked for the last days of the month

It means i always have time to catch up if i have had a day off for the weather etc

And the custys seem happier monthly than 4 weekly even though sometimes it is only a couple of days difference

If i have had a good month the last few days are used for 1 off jobs like gutters etc

 

[rugbywolf]

I don't do 4 weekly i do monthlyWell i do week 1-4 the first 4 weeks of the month but i don't have work booked for the last days of the month

It means i always have time to catch up if i have had a day off for the weather etc

And the custys seem happier monthly than 4 weekly even though sometimes it is only a couple of days difference

If i have had a good month the last few days are used for 1 off jobs like gutters etc

I don't think that's the right way to go. As pickinpaul says, go to a five week rota and try and stick to that, if you fall behind you just have to do whatever is due, it might mix your work up a bit, but if that's a problem, break it down to small rounds: for example, you have a large round on 'High Street', break it down to 'High Street 1', and 'High Street 2' etc it makes life so much easier. I've been five weeks for years and it works very well.

 

[Pickingpaul]

I don't do 4 weekly i do monthlyWell i do week 1-4 the first 4 weeks of the month but i don't have work booked for the last days of the month

It means i always have time to catch up if i have had a day off for the weather etc

And the custys seem happier monthly than 4 weekly even though sometimes it is only a couple of days difference

If i have had a good month the last few days are used for 1 off jobs like gutters etc

Ive actually considered this myself once or twice, so u actually plan and do every customer each calendar month, so twelve ti es a year all being well?

Its interesting dave, so does your round start on the 1st of every month no matter what the day is? For example u got all your work done by 26th sep for example and u got four days free to do other jobs if u wish, lets say the 26th of sep is a saturday, so u wait u til the 1st of oct which is a thursday, what do u do when the 1st falls on a sunday? Do u work the same on sunday i mean?

Im genuinely interested in this as i think its a good idea, tell me the pros and cons u have found?

Do u work every day from the 1st until the rounds complete?

 

[Pickingpaul]

February 1st is a sunday and march 1st is a sunday, so what will u do dave mate?

 

[cheapncheerful]

hi you seem to have the same sort of spread of work as me rjacandwc




its never easy to keep it all square with days for weather off and new jobs in and out , before you turn round you have to make a choice...

if people ask me twice for monthly they get on my monthly list.....that is the first week of every month as ...i dont like to have too much work xmas week time.....

monthly work gets done what ever the weather as i have to fit it in the first week..

at the mo some which think they are monthly are drifting off to when i feel like it and if they say oh i thought you were coming monthly then monthly they will be...its easier to clean clean windows...

but...me likes to be free...and also i like people phoning texting emailing a booked slot in as they know i am coming and i know i will be there....

last year was a real mess so this year i am going to get it right no new ones clogging up the day that never get me back again....and double for all first cleans...i want more time at home to do jobs and more money in to pay off the credit cards...

mind you....i am not working at the weekends ...full stop....i am a battery not mains and need to recharge.

i tell them i will call the first working days after the first....

 

[Dave B]

Paul i still just do week 1-4 starting on the first monday each month

Just the extra odd days at the end after week 4 i use for catching up or other jobs

I still work a lot of weekends but on gutter jobs and my handyman work as i do more than just windows

 

[SPCleaning]

I wish I had kept my work monthly. But it grows and grows, you get behind, you take on new jobs. Currently working an 8 week round and still behind, so visits are 12 weekly if i'm lucky.

Not a good place to be.

I have gone through my round and broke it down to 5.5 weeks. (Allowing a couple spare days for odd jobs) All jobs that are low priced or I don't like for whatever reason are being dropped. This is working a five day week allowing Saturdays as a spare day if needed. I have set up George software and feel that a weight has been lifted.

I now feel like I stand a chance of keeping up with everything. I have put a stop on taking new work until April 2015 so I can get everything in line.

Its now a case of a lot less customers to keep happy, but earning at a higher level as the small jobs that are time consuming are gone. My average daily work load consists of 4 jobs. I will not take on any job that comes through now, only if it fits my round and is worth taking.

 

[Dave B]

My daily workload is anywhere between 5 and 20 jobs

Depends on what day and what month as i have a few 2 monthly (smurfed prices of course for the extra work)

I do all sorts of odd jobs too but the windows are bread and butter work

I am not actively seeking new window work unless it would replace a less lucrative job i already have

 

[rugbywolf]

This working to a 4 week month just ties you down, there's no flexibility, and what happens if you have a really bad weather spell. The way I do it is this: all my work is on computer, so the exact amount of my round is always available, which is then divided by five which tells me the amount I have to do to keep straight (this figure sits on my screen). as long as I do that amount or more I won't fall behind. So, as I've already said, my work is broken down into manageable rounds and all I have to do is slot the ones that are due (or overdue) into the coming week up to that amount. I see no point in a software Like George telling me how much behind I am.

 

[Dave B]

I haven't got behind yet due to the spare days i have

I always end up working on them either windows or something else but don't get behind

 

[mrtaytay]

I wish I had kept my work monthly. But it grows and grows, you get behind, you take on new jobs. Currenis thely working an 8 week round and still behind, so visits are 12 weekly if i'm lucky.
Not a good place to be.

I have gone through my round and broke it down to 5.5 weeks. (Allowing a couple spare days for odd jobs) All jobs that are low priced or I don't like for whatever reason are being dropped. This is working a five day week allowing Saturdays as a spare day if needed. I have set up George software and feel that a weight has been lifted.

I now feel like I stand a chance of keeping up with everything. I have put a stop on taking new work until April 2015 so I can get everything in line.

Its now a case of a lot less customers to keep happy, but earning at a higher level as the small jobs that are time consuming are gone. My average daily work load consists of 4 jobs. I will not take on any job that comes through now, only if it fits my round and is worth taking.

Well done on sorting out your round SPcleaning. I must admit, I spend way too much time, planning and scratching my head,wondering how to keep up. This Is the worst time of year though,what with the short days and **** weather. My wife has suggested that she comes out with me one day a week to help out. I used to be a bit reluctant to this idea but I am warming to it now.

Are you still taking on new customers who are neighbours or close by?. To me, it seems madness not to, as we should all be seeking the most condensed round possible. Dont know whats going off this week, but I have gained five new customers already.....all from my ultra condensed areas.

 

[Dave B]

Can't take the missus mr t

How will you perv at the milfs

 

[mrtaytay]

Can't take the mitsssus mr tHow will you perv at the milfs

That was one of my worries Daveyboy.....will have to make sure Its always a blue rinse granny day!

 

[boarcity]

you let the monthlies drift into being 8weeklies you will rue the day . not only financially, but that extra effort needed to get em clean will take its toll on you if you stay a 1 man band, you need to set your stall out and Stick by it .

only today i was discussing a guy i knew,keith gibson, he set up a double decker bus cafe , doin allrite he was on the fry ups. but then truckers askd him could he do evening meals, a choice,so ol keith starts doing spag bol, stews, AND a veggie option - within 6 months Gibbo was in deep sh/t and gave it all up.

 

[SPCleaning]

Well done on sorting out your round SPcleaning. I must admit, I spend way too much time, planning and scratching my head,wondering how to keep up. This Is the worst time of year though,what with the short days and **** weather. My wife has suggested that she comes out with me one day a week to help out. I used to be a bit reluctant to this idea but I am warming to it now.Are you still taking on new customers who are neighbours or close by?. To me, it seems madness not to, as we should all be seeking the most condensed round possible. Dont know whats going off this week, but I have gained five new customers already.....all from my ultra condensed areas.

In truth yes, I would take on a neighbour or friend of an existing customer, so long as it was of similar size or value. A lot of my problem was that I had too many low priced jobs, so any new customers would have to have a larger property.

 

[mrtaytay]

you let the monthlies drift into being 8weekis sies you will rue the day . not only financially, but that extra effort needed to get em clean will take its toll on you if you stay a 1 man band, you need to set your stall out and Stick by it .
only today i was discussing a guy i knew,keith gibson, he set up a double decker bus cafe , doin allrite he was on the fry ups. but then truckers askd him could he do evening meals, a choice,so ol keith starts doing spag bol, stews, AND a veggie option - within 6 months he was in deep sh/t and gave it all up.

I agree boar....8 weeklys are harder work and take longer than 4 weekly........the big thing Is being able to stop that drift.