client 10-0

[clncut89]

I had one of my clients pass the other day. Not only did I maintain her lawn but I have taken her to the hospital numerous times. I work full time as a firefighter/paramedic and she happens to live in the City I work for. I would always check in on her when maintaining her lawn and go out of my way to help her out if needed for no extra cost.

My question is, I think the daughter may ask me to do a clean up to get the house ready to sell. The client passed before any contract was signed for 04. Should I discount my price for the clean up because I feel bad for the loss for the family or give the family a the price I would if the client was still alive?

P.S. Sorry for those who may be confused with 10 codes. 10-0 = DECEASED

[Jbyrd485]

Deceased/Ethics

Clncut89
I have an ethical question? I am also a Firefighter/paramedic in Mississippi and we worked a code (cardiac arrest) the other day and nobody else lives in this house except this old guy. I feel sorry for him his sons died his daughter and wife died all he has left is one other daughter who is in her 50's and doesnt live there. I thought about putting a flyer out for my lawnservice but I feel like that it is unethical. He may already have somebody that does his yard. I am a very ethical person and I dont want to cross any bounderies. Its not like I am taking advantage just offering a service. Any advise fellas.

JByrd

[Phillip Baker]

Jbyrd & clncut89, you know what I do full time, so heres how I work it. Last year I had a very good customer pass that i had been taking care of for two yrs, I tried to discount the last few mows of the season for his wife and she would not stand for it, she is on the books for this year at an increased price do to the cost of business and she is good with it. As far as approaching a new cust. that is also a Pt. I see nothing wrong with it if they really need the service and if you feel the need to discount the work then do it. I personally offer them the same rate as every one else, now only because of the experience with the cust that passed, they did not or do not want charity. If your department is ok with it, then go for it. Heck Ive done work for the chief and assistant chief and guys on my shift all at full price. Because they know I'm in the business to make money!

[CrissBrothersLLC]

id talk to your chief or chaplin about it, see what they suggest.

[clncut89]

I agree, we are in this bus to make money!! I also have clients on the dept. and they are charged just as anyone else and dont have a prob. with it. In this senario I believe I will offer a discount to the family. The yard is rather small and wont take much time to clean it up. I have a gut feeling that the family will probably offer to pay a normal rate as Mr. Baker has stated.

As for your question jbyrd, If you feel that this gentlman is unable to maintain his own lawn now, I see no problem at least offering your services with a professional letter. Me personally would probably wait just awhile, Im sure he is not worrying at the moment how he is going to take care of his lawn!

[Jbyrd485]

Thaks guys

Yeah I plan on waiting which it will be about a month and a half before the grass starts to grow in this area. Thanks for the help guys. I just didnt want to be taking advantage of anybody.

Jbyrd

[MSL, INC.]

Well what about this point of view. I have a client who's husband passed a couple of yrs. ago. We had a great relationship when he was around, but ever since he passed she has just been a PITA!
I feel you need to charge the same as U would any other day w/ any other customer. Its not your fault the client passed and your business should not be expected to pay the price. Maybe the client had a nice little bank roll and now b/c you've been so "conservative" on your pricing someone else who you've never met will benefit from that. I wouldn't be very happy if someone else made out well b/c of my generosity.

[RRS]

MSL, I had exactly the same thing happen to me. The lady is 85 years old. Her husband passed away, and she is a major pain. They are very wealthy people, and I've done a lot of work for the over the last 3 years. He passed away after the first season. I feel bad for the lady because I've never seen any family around, and she's sometimes a little "out of it". I think he handled all of the finances, and she's having a hard time with it. She complains about every price I give her, but I just deal with it. I have the next three houses down from her as well. She is always having us do extra stuff for her like hang up her flags, put away the lawn furniture, fix stuff in the house, etc that I don't charge her for. She's senile, and sometimes rude. She's said things to me before like "I'm glad you don't have any blacks working for you". I don't even answer, I just try to go about my business. She called me the other day and told me she's got a laptop, and that she "rewired it" and now it doesn't work, so when I'm in the neighborhood could I stop by and help her with it. I haven't been by there, but I'm sure it's going to be interesting.

I think if you're going to be a success in the residential market you just have to deal with these things. Dropping the old lady after her husband died, and then going to her neighbors' houses every week would have made me feel awful, so I just put up with it.

[edrenckh]

Do it for free if she was that good, otherwise charge.

You can charge her a bit more, but give a discount too. Unless you already had a set price.

For example. Normal price is $100. Charge $125, but give a 20% 'good customer' discount to equal $100. Everyone feels good, you get your price.

I usually have an hourly rate, but I also know what each job is worth. Sort of like a minimum drop gate fee. I won't do certain things for less than a certain amount. Sometimes it depends on how busy I am and how much time I have to fit the job in. I try not to be too cheap, while still giving good value.

[RRS]

Yeah, the old people love to think they're getting something for free, even though they aren't.

[Smokeeater 38]

Well to start one of our fulltime F/F’s does HVAC & electrical work on his days off. He was at on house working on the furnace in the basement and found out later that the owner was dead up stairs in the bathroom. The vehicles that were around the home at the time made him think that no one was home. This is creepy to think about even when you are around dead or dieing people as part of your job.

Clncut89,

Now as to the charge for the clean up. Along as the family is not desperate for money I would not see any need to lower the price. If you are charging a far price then you should not feel bad. And after typing all this I would probably give them some kind of discount anyway.

Jbyrd485,

I see nothing wrong with putting a flyer on his door along as you don’t say something about saving his life and that he owes you are or if you don’t get the job he better not need help again.

[edger]

P.S. Sorry for those who may be confused with 10 codes. 10-0 = DECEASED

10-67 or F-frank

Chris

[Phillip Baker]

10 Merry 3 remember that one? Paunch and John

[Jbyrd485]

check this one out

Charlie Foxtrot = Cluster F%$#
we only use that code after we are back at the firehouse where nobody else can hear us.

[VALLEYWIDE]

i have a few elderly people on my acct and once every 8months one dies but oh well i move on but when i have a customer i dont raise rates on them for 2yrs. my first 15 of 25 customers are all getting a rate hike this yr so i wonder how many i will lose. by the way i thought it was 10-45 not 10-0. i never had to request a 10-52 yet, only 10-48, 10-50 & 10-51. im back at my 10-20, 10-8, 10-17 at 10-36 of 19:19hrs