You gotta love these past few weeks. I’ve fighting the rain which never seems to end, doing my absolute best to work on the dryer days – though, they are pretty rare this time of year. Customers all want our ‘leaf removal’ service, which has been nothing short of complex. It’s difficult to get these jobs done when each customer wants first priority over the several other jobs, yet it’s totally understood and pretty much expected.
To know how our ‘leaf removal’ service is being orginized, there are several things to factor in;
We are seriously short on time, and we could actually run into a problem where few customers may actually not recieve our end of season service. Knowing this, what is the right way to keep this business functioning? I have several ideas;
1. Complete work for customers who have respected the ‘set’ payment due date, with no remaining balances to pay off.
2. Complete the smaller jobs first, keeping the ‘majority’ of customers satisfied.
3. Complete the bigger jobs first, once they are out of the way I can quickly complete the smaller jobs.
4. Follow my lawn maintenance route, keeping everything seemingly orginized.
5. Complete jobs for the more aggressive customers, granted the other customers will be understanding with me. Higher chance to have reoccuring customers.
6. Complete jobs for my most honest and peaceful customers, as they should be treated the same way as they have treated me – and may feel betrayed if saved for last.
7. Complete jobs furthest from my starting point, and end on jobs closer to my starting point. These jobs will be closer, which makes them easier to get to with time restrictions and the weather becoming worse with every passing day.
That’s not all of it, as a promotion – these jobs aren’t too profitable and making sure I don’t go over budget is pretty risky. ‘Leaf Removal’ jobs can take anywhere between 25min- 2:30hrs, and knowing how much time I have to spare before dark or predicted rain is crucial. I have to be able to choose which properties I work on during each day in order for me to avoid getting stuck. Meaning, I may only be able to complete 3 big jobs and one small job, which is a little less than 8 hours of work (not including travel time or unloading/loading of the trailer!).
Now with rain, I’d usually stick to doing several small jobs – so I don’t get stuck in the middle of one big job, and not being able to complete it. The outcome is justified by the amount of properties I had maintained before the rain – using my time wisely.
So understand, lawn maintenance in general doesn’t consume that much time during the day, 25-40 minutes is usually the maximum amount of time it takes per property to maintain. Though, ‘leaf removal’ is a completely different service which requires a very different strategy. Unfortunately, customers expect the same consistant service on which they have experienced previously. It’s like comparing apples to balloons…
So for all my customers, know that any moment now – I will be appearing around the block from your house, ready to give your property a well deserved end of season service.
If not, blame mothernature – see you in the spring!
To know how our ‘leaf removal’ service is being orginized, there are several things to factor in;
We are seriously short on time, and we could actually run into a problem where few customers may actually not recieve our end of season service. Knowing this, what is the right way to keep this business functioning? I have several ideas;
1. Complete work for customers who have respected the ‘set’ payment due date, with no remaining balances to pay off.
2. Complete the smaller jobs first, keeping the ‘majority’ of customers satisfied.
3. Complete the bigger jobs first, once they are out of the way I can quickly complete the smaller jobs.
4. Follow my lawn maintenance route, keeping everything seemingly orginized.
5. Complete jobs for the more aggressive customers, granted the other customers will be understanding with me. Higher chance to have reoccuring customers.
6. Complete jobs for my most honest and peaceful customers, as they should be treated the same way as they have treated me – and may feel betrayed if saved for last.
7. Complete jobs furthest from my starting point, and end on jobs closer to my starting point. These jobs will be closer, which makes them easier to get to with time restrictions and the weather becoming worse with every passing day.
That’s not all of it, as a promotion – these jobs aren’t too profitable and making sure I don’t go over budget is pretty risky. ‘Leaf Removal’ jobs can take anywhere between 25min- 2:30hrs, and knowing how much time I have to spare before dark or predicted rain is crucial. I have to be able to choose which properties I work on during each day in order for me to avoid getting stuck. Meaning, I may only be able to complete 3 big jobs and one small job, which is a little less than 8 hours of work (not including travel time or unloading/loading of the trailer!).
Now with rain, I’d usually stick to doing several small jobs – so I don’t get stuck in the middle of one big job, and not being able to complete it. The outcome is justified by the amount of properties I had maintained before the rain – using my time wisely.
So understand, lawn maintenance in general doesn’t consume that much time during the day, 25-40 minutes is usually the maximum amount of time it takes per property to maintain. Though, ‘leaf removal’ is a completely different service which requires a very different strategy. Unfortunately, customers expect the same consistant service on which they have experienced previously. It’s like comparing apples to balloons…
So for all my customers, know that any moment now – I will be appearing around the block from your house, ready to give your property a well deserved end of season service.
If not, blame mothernature – see you in the spring!
Comment