Customer not home ?

[cleancutlawncare5382]

When your customers aren't home during your visit do any of you leave a card ? I was thinking a card with my logo on the front and something like this on the back. Mowed while you were away on _______Date and time_______. Next scheduled visit (weather permitting) on _____Date______. Is this a good idea or over kill?? Thanks

[stevef1201]

Lawn care business tips

If you are doing such a bad job as to announce to your customer you were there then yes. Since i am sure this is not the case, I dont think you need to. He will see the yard has been mowed. Only leave a card if you see something that yu can do that needs to be done, and give him an estimate for the work. he may not have even noticed it or not thought of you for that work. remember the more you can do the more money you can make

[justin_time]

Originally Posted by stevef1201

If you are doing such a bad job as to announce to your customer you were there then yes. Since i am sure this is not the case, I dont think you need to. He will see the yard has been mowed. Only leave a card if you see something that yu can do that needs to be done, and give him an estimate for the work. he may not have even noticed it or not thought of you for that work. remember the more you can do the more money you can make

I actually think this is a bad idea. I've had customers call me before to ask if I performed their grass and it was already performed. Maybe it is a good idea to have something like that on the back of your business card or something

[Steve]

You know this is a really interesting topic. If you do a search you will see that this has come up many many times in the past and it can cause big problems.

There are plenty of customers who love to play games like this.

As you put this together, what do you feel would work better for you, a card or preprinted post it notes?

[cleancutlawncare5382]

As this is my first year in business and this week marks my first return visit, the biggest question I had was when to return. The customers and I talked about this while servicing the first time but the answers were unclear. I got 3 different response – “ no more then once a week – every couple weeks – when needed”. So I was thinking if I scheduled them before leaving this would in a sense create a contract between us. They would understand my intent. Be it 7 – 10 – 14 days between cuts.

To prove I was there isn't the intent. To agree on a return date would be the goal.

[jasonw]

All I do is leave an invoice with someone there or on the door. Our schedules are set up during the agreement to do the service so they know and I know I will be there every 2-3 weeks. If anything is different I will call later that day and let them know.

[Steve]

I got 3 different response – “ no more then once a week – every couple weeks – when needed”. So I was thinking if I scheduled them before leaving this would in a sense create a contract between us. They would understand my intent. Be it 7 – 10 – 14 days between cuts.

Do you try and get most of them to sign up with weekly cuts? I would think the 10 and 14 day customers would be a scheduling pain and not as profitable.

[jasonw]

Originally Posted by Steve

Do you try and get most of them to sign up with weekly cuts? I would think the 10 and 14 day customers would be a scheduling pain and not as profitable.

Steve. I personally schedule everyone for at least every 14 days. In fall we go to 21 days and back to 14 in Spring and have no scheduling or financial issues.

[cleancutlawncare5382]

Of the only 3 customers I have right now, They are more inclined to go 14 days between cuts. This is very hard on my machine and not the best for the lawn. As I grow I will be trying to replace these accounts with weekly ones. Gettin started you have to start somewhere.

[psparaco]

I dont worry if my customers are home or not. Every single one of them are explained that we come out once week and they are not required to be home as stated in the general service agreement (contract). If it needs it, we cut it. If it doesn't, we normally dont cut it until the following week. I explain that bi weekly cuts are charged at normal rate times 1.5. per the contract customers have 5 days from the date the lawn was serviced to pay if paying weekly. if paying monthly, they are issued an invoice the last week of the month for the upcoming month and have 7 days or until we cut it to pay for the month. i have never done the monthly prebilling before. this is something new this year. i have the gopher software and trying to figure that out now. since i should be issueing monthly bills this week. last year i didnt need the software since i only had 15-20 clients. this year i have 30-35 clients and increasing as the weather gets warmer.
we are considering putting post it notes on the door saying we were there since when i go to collect money i have already had clients say "it doesn't look like you cut it. what did you do?" no sh** sherlock. we cut it 5 days ago. it has grown since then. i mean does every one lack common sense. each client knows which day i am scheduled to service their yard. if it rains, its postponed until the next clear day. usually i drop an invoice in their mailbox after i cut it so they know i cut it and how much they owe and when the money is due. that usually stops the complaining phone calls. most of them. 90% of my clients won't call. i call them the day before the money is due and remind them and 99% of them have the money on time.