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Calling before cleaning

Messages
50
Location
Devon
Hello. I'm fairly new to my business and wondering if people can give me some advice. I find that I need to call/text my customers before arriving so they can leave side access open. However I tend to get a lot of people either re-arranging me (which is just a little annoying) or asking me to skip that month. Do you call/text your customers? Is there a way to clean without calling? Any advise or tips for me? Thanks. Jessica.

 
Hello and welcome, I had this problem and what I did was when they replied to my message I simply advised that I offer the price I do based on the regularity that I come round, of course I will be able to miss tomorrow for you but please bear in mind going forward prices may differ, did not have a single person quibble to date and it works, still get the odd one now holiday or whatever but not taking the mick.

Hope that helps[emoji106]

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only time I text is if they're access issues. If they say leave I accept it if they give a valid reason otherwise its 3 strikes and they're binned

 
I have some customers that will mess if I text so I don't tell them anymore I have a bar I've fashioned for opening most side entrances that are not padlocked. It's a pain and it's why manny with established rounds would drop them and replace them with better behaved customers. I feel your pain!

 
I text all customers that I am coming.

If I get there and gate is locked I do what I can and put the full bill in.

If I get a text reply that they are on holiday (or other excuse) they get a pass once. Second time they get a lecture (polite) about regular pricing.

If I get some B.S. excuses more than once they get dropped.

Perhaps 1 in 10 will need 'coaching' as to how you work, however once they have been 'taught' (politely) they are usually fine.

 
Hello and welcome, I had this problem and what I did was when they replied to my message I simply advised that I offer the price I do based on the regularity that I come round, of course I will be able to miss tomorrow for you but please bear in mind going forward prices may differ, did not have a single person quibble to date and it works, still get the odd one now holiday or whatever but not taking the mick.Hope that helps[emoji106]

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I've been in this trade now for 40 years and there's not a surefire way of dealing with this problem in my experience. However, I think Hunty has a good method. I may well give that a try myself. I don't get too many but when I do it's is frustrating. But this seems a good way to educate unreliable customers.

 
It's impossible to run a business properly in this game without some sort of contact regarding access, I don't know why anyone would want Customers who are messers, I text/phone any BS dropped/ replaced job done:coffee:

 
Fortunately I send texts through Cleaner Planner and they can't reply but all my customers that require prior notice are not messers and for any reason such as been on holiday then i just clean the front and charge a £5.00 minimum .

 
I find giving me a key helps.....I have 11 locked back gates and keys to 7 of them.

The other 4 are nearly always in and if not realise I can't do backs and accept it.

 
We are able to get over 99% of gates with this A framed ladder which locks in at the top.

Aluminium Telescopic Ladder 2-Section 2 x 7 Treads 4.43m

Little Giant make a better equivalent but they are 4 times the price.

Little Giant 24 in 1 Ladders

These ladders are heavy and so require strength to put open across a gate. Saves us having to text.

I think we have 4 customers we need to phone/text on the day of cleaning due to steps leading up to the gate.

TBH most gates just have a bolt that we slip across. A pair of steps at the side and lean over and slip the bolt with a hook on the end of a dedicated pole. The hook in this case is a long roofing screw held onto the end of an ali pole with 2 nuts.

.

 
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