How do you organise this , im working everyday (trying to live in-between)!
Im getting all jobs done and out of the way (besides bank holidays, and odd rain, and running the business/vehicle).
But i still have a full month inc regulars every fortnight and variety of clients.
I usually try and 'fit' jobs in if space/time/weather allows, but time is pressing and
jobs need doing in priority now (levelling with digger,stump grind, turfing eventually, border wood edging, shed base, gravel parking/digging.
Ive refused jobs where i am working away fortnightly or small/silly/unapropriate jobs/astro turf quote last night?! (wont be done & maybe to high cost )
SO - How do you approach this by way of answer on the phone as i must now do this next 10-14 days work without interruption/quoting or being sidetracked?
I have help in the way of labour from 2 people and when needed ( as i will)
but hate refusing or losing work. but at the same time ive never wanted a bad reputation with 'letting people down'. so try and keep control?
Any help needed (from the bigger guys?) please..
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She was fine and said she'd get back to me if no-one else could help.
I hate turning down work but i've got to be realistic, theres only 2 of us and one van.
I need another van and team...
As i do a lot of paving and hard landscaping work the garden maintenance stuff is often difficult to schedule. Its only takes 4/5 projects booked in and your looking 6 weeks ahead. People will wait for hard landscaping but not for general maintenance.
I will always tell people on the phone the minimum wait time as there is no point wasting more evening quoting on jobs you'll never get.
If its a new customer and depending on what they are after i may try and squeeze it in but there is no point getting your self stressed about it.
I know from a personal point of view nothing stresses me out more than having numerous, i'll get to it as soon as possible jobs and a full diary plus 9 voicemails to return. You can only do so much and can very quickly find yourself physically or mentally ill if you carry on like this for too long.
My advice is try to be ultra professional about it. I have had numerous people in the past who were a new customer and I spoke with them breifly but told them i am too busy but given them the name of someone else local and decent and they have come back to me again because I was honest about it.
The same would not be true if i had said 'oh yes asap i'll get to that this week, oh sorry it'll be next week, oh sorry got held up on a job it'll be later this week......and so on.
If things are that busy i would over quote on jobs
if you lose it you dont have to squeez time to do it and if you win then working in the extra hours of help from others your still on a win situation
Neal Barker @ Etesia uk said:
Roy Parker said:
We have been in this situation a number of times and the way out has been either to be honest with the customer or re-organise the business to cope. Reorganisation means your business will evolve and reach it's potential. Turning customers away by any way (including overpricing) will mean your company can only stagnate.
The ‘easy-out’ of whacking in inflated prices has never sat comfortably with me for a number of reasons, some professional and some ethical – but that’s me.
Roy Parker said:
I have used many agency workers on a daily basis in my previous career and know all about the pro' and con's. Like any staff issues, you need to find the right person. But by using an agency they (supposedly) vet out some of the less suitable beforehand.
We'll see!
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