Say what I'll do and Do what I said.
Explain to everyone that there are 4 list
1 emergencies-no power-no heat-no hot water-
2 large planned jobs over 8 hr jobs
3 service calls for existing cutomers
4 small jobs-4 hrs. or less
And then tell them they are on which list.
if its two weeks it two weeks.
Most everybody is an existing customer and refers new people all the time, just tell the truth, if they don't like that then they don't call back and I'm better off for it.
If they can wait I get there, If they can't then they didn't need me.
There's a little competition for residential around here but not much for the service work like I do. The little add ons are so much easier to get to and the homeowner is allways more generous for the fix you provide than a homebuilder you need to get an extra few bucks out of. The builder will call four or five trying to save a nickle a foot, and the homeowner just wants it done and you gone. They'll pay extra to get you out of the kitchen by dark.
Not a secret just a plan that pays the bills around here.
