Thanks for the advice Charlie!
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I have a few that go twice a year but most are monthly cleans. I also clean two properties once a week. All on the the beach. Some people just like it to stay clean. All residential. I don’t do store fronts or commercial.
Castle Keeper’s Maintenance Inc
Wow you southern guys are cleaning houses monthly or bi monthly… Those homes down south have to be easier to clean to be able to do that. Totally different geographic than us northerners… If I had a person ask for monthly I’d tell them to buzz off in the most nicest possible way. Or go bi yearly. I have to many accounts to give them that kind of priority…
In 2013 she cancelled day of appointment.
In 2014 she left a message night before canceling.
Today she cancelled appointment a week out.
I don’t think we’ll ever be cleaning this lady’s windows unless she someday forgets to cancel her appointment.
And like I tell my guys, “white carpets don’t hide the dead bugs under the couch.”
- once the check clears, it doesn’t matter to me what was leftover in the account.
I have never had too many or if any cancelations. But the other day I had two bids and one house job and nobody was home and no phone was answered. Good thing I had other work backed up to deal with…
In the last 2 weeks I’ve had 3 nice jobs cancel, only 1 asked to reschedule at a later date… $1100 of work gone in two phone calls, I was a little upset. One was the day before, the other was while I’m knocking on the door the morning of the job and called because there was no answer onsite.
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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She keeps cancelling…what would you do?
[I]Maybe she’s just not that into you…[/I]
Just kidding and LOL.
Sorry, this thread is only 2 weeks old, but I HAD to say it. I was able to hold my breath until all the real answers were given, so whew. I’ll go back under my bridge now.
That is amazing. How long have you been in biz?
That’s sux dude !! That is so inconsiderate, an just a lack of judgment on these peoples part. No respect !
The money is one thing the time wasted is another. Bullshit !!!
I would use that just to motivate me !
I had one 3 weeks ago 5 year customer. 200.0 dollar job. So no big deal. But the day of no answer. Called her hat day an the day after. Haven’t herd from her. Ya she isn’t into me anymore. That’s ok. Scram I got bigger fish to fry
^^^
I wouldn’t be saying that if it were anything over 500. I would be bummed out also
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They were both nice power washing jobs, pretty simple too… Easy money
Easy come easy go, I just went and put out fliers all day instead
Mike Radzik
Pro Window Cleaning
Central Massachusetts
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I admire your hustle. I’m at the point in the season where I would probably just take the day off if someone canceled.
I’m a big advocate of taking deposits. There have been no downsides that I can think of, and plenty of advantages. Besides curbing last minute cancellations, I believe it also helps to legitimize our business, and puts us in the league of HVAC and other skilled trades, instead of being seen as an over-glorified housekeeper.
Got to agree I admire his hustle too. I would of called it a day also. I’m not against deposits I think there great. I would definitely implement them if I felt a need.
For the most part people don’t cancel. I always call a day or two ahead to remind/confirm.
My customers that are repeats get called a month in advance an the day before.
The lady that I mentioned early will now have to give a deposit if she wants on my schedule again.
I agree with the legitimizing also. It one way of legitimizing there are others of course.
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If I have a cancelation or scheduling falls through for some reason, I’m on to the next mark… I’ll root out business in any way possible…
Bubba,
That made me laugh! I have no idea what it means, but that sure is funny.
Charlie
Eh, more than anything, it’s anecdotal…
But yes, it’s meant to make people laugh/smile.
It’s the Posturing we do.
- putting on shoe covers, and watching them turn black as we work.
- or taking our shoes off, dreading walking around in our socks.
- throwing a dropcloth down next to a pile of cat puke that’s is yet to be discovered
- pretending not to notice they haven’t cleaned the backyard dogshit in a week.
- and… the pile of dead bugs under the couch.
Most important, the immediate visible areas are/may be spotless.
So we keep it to ourselves… And we pretend that we don’t notice.
"[I][B]You have SUCH a lovely home[/B][/I]." 
I’ve been in that house. Shoe covers are handy for dealing with dog poop whether inside OR outside the house. I don’t like that stuff on my shoes.
Cleaned this one farmhouse and the big dog was outside rolling in the ditch, then came in and sat on the couch. I moved one couch to get to a window and little dog had left some bombs.
I cleaned a house last week, moved the bed and there was a diaper under the bed… the kid was probably a year out of diapers.
Oh, and I don’t care how nice your house is, there is no excuse for the kitty litter stinking that bad. Dang.
The one house I go to smells like a perfume bottle mixed with stank dog hair and the lady wonders why shes always so sick.
Plus, she said the last guy wouldn’t come back. I wonder why? I don’t mind though, I throw a blue towel around my nose when shes not looking. Makes the time go by much easier. Too bad the last guy didn’t think of that because its a $140 job that takes two hours. So, yes maam…
Well I started in 2009 but did not get serious about it till I found the WCR-WCRA in 2013. The last two years have been great. The stuff I’ve learned from the guy’s here have change my business big time. Thanks Everyone!
Castle Keeper’s Maintenance Inc
Update… The same client I started this thread about just sent me a text that she wants to cancel her mirror cleaning for July 6th. Job takes me 2 1/2 hours and pays really well so I was not happy!
My text back to her… No problem. I will put someone in your spot. They will take your Jan & July mirror cleaning spot. I will get you back on for mirror cleaning when I can.
She said…no problem.
I am also going to tell her in August when I clean her windows(unless she cancels again) that starting next year I will only be able to clean her windows twice a year. She will not be able to book a year in advance anymore. I will call her the month before to schedule. If she calls to cancel, I will put someone in her spot and she will go on my long waiting list.
