scottish cleaning service
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- Location
- Paisley
Most old retired folk are lonely so when they see fresh ears they jump aboard.Here is an example of my day today and it highlights the problems you get and highlights why you have to be realistic with what’s possible as things regularly don't go to plan. Three of the jobs are due to be increased in total about £12 to £15.
Job 1 £20 – arrive 13:25
3 bed 1950’s semi with small conservatory – Relatively straight forward, slightly under-priced. Finish at 13:55, car gets in the way when trying to turn van around, 1 minute delay.
Job 2 £18 – on same road, under priced overdue an increase, park van 13:58.
3 bed semi with extended back, same as one above but velux windows and no conservatory. Old dear from across the road who I clean who always tries it on saying she hasn’t got any money, comes out claiming the same. 1 minute delay, she then comes back out and when I start the job opposite hers and says she has got the money… blah blah blah another 1 to 2 minute delay. Job itself fine, do it without problems.
Job 3 £20 - opposite (old dear), wheel the trolley over at 14:18.
Crack on, she has already given me the money. She comes to the door several times saying she’s thinking of going for a walk… blah blah blah, it is a distraction but I carry on, maybe slightly knocked me off my rhythm. Finish job then as I’m packing up she comes to the door, starts complaining that water is on the inside of the door, because of all the comings and goings she had not closed the door properly and I didn’t check (distracted), a pool of water is on the inside of the porch carpet, I go over with a microfibre and soak it up while listening to her talking about getting a new carpet (it was a carpet small section over a tiled floor, the carpet was filthy full of bits). I soak up the excess and explain that the rest will just dry off (it was only two puddles about 3 inch by 4 inch on the very edge next to the door), she says don’t worry but keeps going on and on... eventually get away, 3 to 4 minute delay.
Job 4 £30 – next road, on a quite long road on the way to other jobs. Park van 14:48.
1920’s Victorian styal semi. Usually straight forward, today they had workmen there, one doing the garden at the back, one doing the drive at the front, car in front of house in the way, work van in the way, makes it harder to clean the front windows, knocked slightly off the rhythm as a result. Generally get through it ok only for the workmen (both foreign) to start asking me questions about the trolley, this then leads to one of them saying that he’s giving up gardening and wants to do drive way cleaning, pulls out his phone and starts showing me pictures of the kit he is interested in getting. Starts telling me you can make £500 per day… at least 5 minute delay and probably additional 2 minutes because of vehicles in the way. Finish back in van for 15:25
Job 5 £30 – other side of village several roads away. Slightly underpriced. Arrive 15:29
For once there is only one car on the drive which means I get the front done quick. Do the back relatively ok but on finishing owner comes out chatting. 2 to 3 minute delay. Finish 16:06
Job 6 £20 – 1950’s semi, on the next road about 30 houses away. Park van 16:08
Straight forward, car in way of front windows but generally ok, just got to be careful so slows me down slightly. Finish 16:30.
Job 7 and 8 £20 + £20 – Arrive 16:38 1960’s 3 bed council houses both next door to each other but a long way from job 6, in pretty much the next town at least 2 miles away. Both underpriced as due an increase, priced in June 2020 and not increased since.
Both retired, both always chatting, make me brews etc. Job 7 I have a brew and biscuits and and done onto job 8 for 17:08. Job 8 (next door) get through it without problems, finish for the day at 17:28.
Total time from start of job 1 to finish of job 8 = 4 hours 3 minutes
Total water used = 225 litres
Total petrol cost = about £7
Days turnover = £178
Hourly rate = £44
Delays =
car in way - 1 minute
Old dear - 6 minutes
Gardener / workmen - 7 minutes
Job 5 chat – 2 minutes
Total delays = 16 minutes (on the lesser estimate)
Travel between jobs = 19 minutes.