Most of these calls have to do with bats but they can be about anything and everything. Your obvious choices would be.....

We answer every phone call and either respond immediately or at least make a later appointment.

We let every call, hopefully, go onto the answering machine and respond in the morning.

We let them go on the answering machine but we do listen immediately and call back those that we deem are emergencies.

We put our phones on "mute" and pray that we get a good night's sleep for a change.

We charge an arm and a leg to go out at night. Our motto is: "If you got the money honey, I got the time."

So what do you guys do?

Answer Every call or they will call someone else, so I have learned. No voicemail, by the time I listen they may have moved on. "if you got the money honey, I got the time".

If I am awake I answer, if not it goes unanswered. But even if I am awake they are getting a pep talk and do it yourself tips. If they want to schedule for the next day fine.

Take this one step further, I am usually not setting jobs on Thursday or Friday because I know I will be picking up animals on the weekend. It has to be in my backyard or the attic restoration almost needs to be pre sold over the phone for me to do set on Friday. You would be surprised how few jobs I lose.

This business will own you if you let it.

I use to take all the calls and have done my share of service calls after midnight but as the years rolled on I don't take those late calls.

I return them first thing in the morning 7-8 AM. Most don't answer at that time but some do. Some got it handled and some didn't. When you are hungry you take what you can get but when you get comfortable and have enough work, you select your choices more carefully.

Quote

This business will own you if you let it.

I have been owned long enough so if a tech wants to work the midnight hour calls they get the forwarded calls. If not they get an early morning call back.

I usually let it go to voicemail then listen to it right away
And determine if it's deemed an emergency! Then charge
Accordingly.

x2.....BUT, the cell fone is off at night, only landline gets answered...so maybe twice/yr.

All calls go to voicemail after 5 pm then get screened as to importance. When I go to bed the phone is off. I will call back in the morning. I used to answer every late night call but I got sick of non payers waking me up only to say they can't or won't pay to have me come out. I turn down work 9 months of the year so I don't need late calls. I also don't work much on weekends unless it's a pick up that I can't get someone else to grab. I keep reading of guys working long hours and weekends with no vacations and I guess I am doing it all wrong. I am always home before 5 and I like to be at my cottage by early afternoon on Fridays if possible and I still manage to make a great living.

I used to jump at the ring..not any more! .. As said this type of business will own you if you let it...I thought I would lose a bunch of work doing this, but I havn't... and not being 20 anymore, leaves me with the.. theres always tomorrow thought ! I think it's a ..to each your own kinda thing..

Might be that I am 21, and a little hungry that I answer the phone. I cant imagine not answering after 5. I dont always go out, but i get calls from people getting home to call after 5. Plus I work later sometimes because I may be with my daughters mid day.

Stupidly I used to think that i needed every job that came up,now i know that no matter how hard i try i cant be in two places at once, last summer i ran myself ragged trying to keep all the customers happy, 14hrs a day 7 days a week is not good for anyone.
The customers think that you are sat next to the phone waiting for them to ring you. i was talking to a mate the other day who said to me, if your so busy, why not put your prices up?, you will still get plenty of work, i think its time they were going up.


Brian

YUP ! I used to work every night until about 10/11 o'clock...not good for your body or mind...I missed out on a lot of good time ..like going fishing in the evening with my own kids and grand kids... You cant get it back!

Let machine get it after 5pm. I will call back until 9pm. I don't usually do emergency calls. I try to work 8 - 5 (6 - 5 summertime), just like normal people. I don't usually miss dinner with family.
If they leave a message, I get back to them first thing in AM. If not, I figure it wasn't important. I don't lose any sleep like I used to. The busy season is coming and I'll have plenty to do.

I still take the "after hours calls". I go on about 15 - 20 a year and at an average of $500 its not a bad bit of change in the pocket for about an hours work. Plus it usually leads to additional work.

Keith, glad you chimed in. I was thinking if one our guys wanted to be called for these midnight runs, we always give the guys half

for going out at that hour, so he could make as much for one job as he made all day.

I run off the cell phone and answer it when ever it rings and its on 24 hours a day. Not sure I know how to turn it off.
But, I have no cell service at my house
If it's really that important Game and Fish, Law Enforcement, and Fire Department know how to contact me 24/7/365

Around here most late night calls are the non-paying types....I quote them a price usually double of a normal job. Funny how quick the emergency status changes....

I do during bat season,,,,,,the phone all the time,,,,,.I never start a job on Friday unless i can finish it.....

I am going more and more "green",,,,, If I capture that animal I make money once,,,,,If i chase it out the monetary gains will be 4-5 fold......

I will answer until 8 or so, but unless it is close I wait till morning to go out. I work most weekends. I get my kid on and off the bus during the school year, and back and forth to camp in the summer. Normal day for me is 8:30-3:00 and if need be 5:00 PM until I get done. Weekends I will work 12-16 hrs Sat, and half of a day on Sunday normally pickups, and easy to set jobs Sunday. Planning on taking one day a week when my son does not have camp and spending the day fishing or something. Like Swamp Donkey says you can never get that time back. My son does ride along with me when he is off from school. Great to be able to spend time, while teaching him a work ethic. The greatest perk of working for yourself is being able to manage your schedule to fit your life.

Even taking a summer vacation this year for a week. During maternal bat season, but my wife does not know I scheduled it that way:)

"The greatest perk of working for yourself is being able to manage your schedule to fit your life." Great quote, Rich. Our family

works its butt off but we can still always find time for each other. ( Nice work on the vacation scheduling. by the way )

I take the call but i dont leave my driveway for anything less than $300 when it is middle of night