Time management....

[secret squirrel]

I was looking at another response to a post this morning before I start my day and was wondering about time management.

The post was a plumber having to do 3 jobs that were booked in on the same day, here's my question.

We all know that very rarely jobs go as planned and normally take longer than we think, need more parts, valves are problematic etc.

So, lets presume you book in two sets of taps in two different parts of town, you think 1.5 hours first set 2.5 hours for second set incl travel, electric shower swap is the third job you think 3 hours incl travel.

If for whatever reason the first job is 3 hours second is 5 hours because of traffic and other problems etc. (unrealistic, maybe should have chosen different jobs) would you cancel the 3rd job and put it back or do it and finish later?

How many times in the course of the week do you run late? cancel jobs? parts not turn up? As a percentage how many jobs do you have in the course of the week that do not go to your plan?

I'll explain a little further for non-trades people reading this:

Running late: because of traffic, customer asks you to look at something else while your there.:90:

Cancel Jobs: not because you can't be bothered but your restricted on time.

Parts not turning up: Obvious really, customer ordered a set of taps from my supplier last friday, still waiting. Customer will not believe that I'm still waiting!:sad_smile:

 

[boblydon]

This can be a nightmare at times, i am a 24hour fast response callout heating engineer, i am on call for quite a few blue chip companys (hotels/fire stations/office blocks etc.).

Having done this for a lot of years you have to juggle things about and most customers understand this, when i leave home i have a plan (sort of) but every day it changes, jobs are added, postponed etc as required.

Worst time ever was year, in Sunderland we had Take That playing, ever hotel for miles around was fully booked. The 3 major hotels in Newcastle city centre developed boiler problems at the same time.........was a nightmare!!!

You can only be in one place at a time, customers have to accept this unfortunatley

 

[Mrs Tara Plumbi]

That will be the time you call your wife and ask her to call the customer - Why doesn't Mr TP phone the customer himself?

Because of the range of work we do and local geography it doesn't happen often but it does happen. not daily but perhaps a few times per month.

 

[armourer]

If I am running that late I normally phone the customer and give them the choice eg sorry I am stuck on a job and I cannot get to you untill 9 pm, is that OK?

At the end of the day it money coming in and I think the customer understands if you at least keep them informed.

The very least I do is turn up and make safe then explain I will have to return the next day. It normally keeps them happy.

 

[SimonG]

Winters a nightmare, regularly get caught with more jobs than hours available. 99.9% of customers are quite happy as long as you keep them informed. The other 0.1% get somebody else but don't tell you until your on the doorstep. Leave em a bill and onto the next. It's one of the reasons why I won't do a job if the cust says I've no htg or hot water but you can't come between 07.00 and 18.00 because I'm at work. They get the if you won't put yourself out then I'm not, there's a slot between 3 and 4, take it or leave it.

Summers better, longer jobs and services. Easier to plan.

The 'while your here' brigade depends on time available, if there's no time then it's have a look and book it in later.

Either way it's a fine balance between making sure you have a full day without working until daft o'clock.

 

[obseen16]

had a really bad one not long ago, had to wait a whole month for a boiler part for an ideal icos. i wouldnt have minded but merchants kept feeding me bull about when it was due in, think i had to apologise and reschedule my customer 4 times, she and i were not very pleased towards the end of it but glad i got that one out the way.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

had a really bad one not long ago, had to wait a whole month for a boiler part for an ideal icos. i wouldnt have minded but merchants kept feeding me bull about when it was due in, think i had to apologise and reschedule my customer 4 times, she and i were not very pleased towards the end of it but glad i got that one out the way.

would have used another supplier

 

[Dannypipe]

As said, in the summer its not so bad. In the winter, its a different game. If your first job of the day goes over the time you planned, the knock effect on can be bad.

Last winter I couldn't even skip lunch as it was taken while driving from one job to another if at all.

I love the rush though. Not just as there is more money to be made, but also because its more interesting. Through the summer its more installs, and services. There's something satisfying about sorting burst pipe, or repairing a boiler when its causing the client no end of grief. Servicing a boiler doesn't quite hit the same spot!! Bring on the ice and snow!! Ha.

Actually stuff that, a little more sun would be nice please.

 

[SimonG]

As said, in the summer its not so bad. In the winter, its a different game. If your first job of the day goes over the time you planned, the knock effect on can be bad.

Last winter I couldn't even skip lunch as it was taken while driving from one job to another if at all.

I love the rush though. Not just as there is more money to be made, but also because its more interesting. Through the summer its more installs, and services. There's something satisfying about sorting burst pipe, or repairing a boiler when its causing the client no end of grief. Servicing a boiler doesn't quite hit the same spot!! Bring on the ice and snow!! Ha.

Actually stuff that, a little more sun would be nice please.

Agreed, satisfaction is the key, especially like the ones that a couple of people have looked at and couldn't get them going and then you work your magic and hey presto! Downside to the winter is it's very rarely warm 'inside', and just nice to defrost a few times in the van with the heater on full.

 

[Hybrid]

There's something satisfying about sorting burst pipe, or repairing a boiler when its causing the client no end of grief. Servicing a boiler doesn't quite hit the same spot!! Bring on the ice and snow!! Ha.

Last winter I had 13 bursts and 4 condensate freezes in one day. T'was a good day lol

 

[Dannypipe]

Hybrid, that's an amazing day. No way I can top that!!

@ Si, the worse part is cold hands. I suffer with them in the winter, and as said you go inside and most of the time its just as cold as outside. When those rads start warming up they're actually happy to part with their cash. Thats a rare thing in any job!