Someone wrote me a very long but detailed email yesterday on some ways I can improve our automated system, and found most if not all to my liking. I will slowly get them implemented as time permits. Not much time during the season to do it because I am lucky to get 3 hours of sleep per night as it is, but will definitely make some improvements based on her suggestions.
Yesterday went quite well for Justin in the 83642 and he was able to finish his route. I on the other hand wasn’t so fortunate. EVERY morning I get bombarded with texts with various questions, and they all pop up on my computer screen and I feel like I am playing a game of Asteroids with them all. Most of the questions have already been answered in this blog, on our site, or in the terms of service. Because of these texts, I did not get out of my office until almost 11 a.m.! Throughout the day I got hit with even more texts, keeping me from getting my job done. Add in a few system issues, valve boxes sobotaged by gophers, valve boxes I could not find, etc., I was only able to get about half of my route completed. If you have a question, PLEASE see if it is already answered either in this blog, in the comments, on our site, or in the terms of service. You would be surprised how many times we get asked how they can pay us since they won’t be home during the day. Well, truth be told, most aren’t home during the day because they work the same hours we do. It clearly states in #9 our terms of service, ” I understand that if I am not at home during my sprinkler blowout an invoice will arrive at the email address I listed when I signed up for the service.” Of course, we like checks under mats as well. Customers have been quite creative on where they leave checks for us. 🙂
Justin will be working in the 83709 today, and I am having Jesse cover for me on my route in the 83709 as well so that I can TRY to get caught up on paperwork. Since he is less than half my age, he is quite a bit faster than me, so that will be an advantage out in the field. If I could, I would have Jesse run my routes all the time, but then I would miss visiting many of my long-time customers that I only see once a year. Many of our customers have become friends over the years because we have provided service for them for such a long time.
There are some newer ones that have come in the 83709 that are on city water that have backflow preventers, but unfortunately we have others that have been waiting for a longer period of time so in all fairness we need to work those areas first. Doing so we will no doubt complete some newer ones, but if they are in the area we are working on where some have been waiting a long time, they will get done as well while we are in the area. If you recall, when we first started the season we went through and tried to get all of the ones around the valley that have backflow preventers since they do not hold up as well in the cold as those without them. Backflow preventers will generally be fine until we get there if they are underground, but ones above ground need to be pre-winterized as per the instructions on our site. Same for irrigation filters that are above ground. The ground is still well above freezing, and will remain that way for another month or more, so no worries there. It wouldn’t hurt for all those with backflow preventers pre-winterize them just to be safe.
Below are the routes that Justin and Jesse will be on today:
Good morning! I am just wondering when you will get to 83642 again? I’m not sure you made it to our area off Victory and Locust Grove. We live in the Normandy neighborhood. We don’t have a permanent fence up and just keep taking the temporary fence down daily to ensure access for you guys.
Hope you are all staying warm! Thanks!
As stated in several blog posts recently, we will be bouncing back and forth between the 83709 and the 83642 for what is now at least through Friday
When will you be on 83712? I can’t find it anywhere in your site. Thanks
We haven’t posted that yet because we have to get through the 83709, 83642, 83713, and 83704 before we go anywhere else
Love all the communication on your blog! Any idea when 83702 will get taken care of?
Not until we get through the 93709, 83642, 83713 and 83704
Are you finished in Nampa 83686? I totally spaced my own rental house at 1319 Cattail St when I scheduled mine and both my daughters. Firmercrenter had done it for 5 years and I just forgot. Please let me know if you can do it or not.
We aren’t finished with anywhere until all blowouts are complete that is in our database. It will be a while before we get back to Nampa however because we just left there recently and have to make our rounds through other areas first.