I do the same as Blaine. 2 hour appointments, tuning, pitch adjustment as necessary, repairs, and any left over time goes to improving the regulation and voicing as necessary and reasonable. I think I only have one piano in my database that truly only needed a tuning and nothing else, so being done extraordinarily early really isn't an issue for me.
For new clients, I ask them to check a box on Gazelle that says "I'm a new client" which adds half an hour to their appointment. Sometimes I don't need it, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. This helps keep me on track with the rest of the day's appointments.
I usually start trying to wrap it up around the one hour forty-five minute mark. Fifteen minutes is plenty of time to put things away, reassemble the piano, accept the check, schedule additional work or the next appointment, and say goodbye to the client.
I've been doing it this way long enough that I am usually really close to knowing exactly how long things will take and am able to be on time for my next appointment. Gulp, I can't believe I just said that out loud. Now Monday's appointments are going to be crazy….
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Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 11-20-2021 02:30
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: 1, 1.5, 2, 3 hours
Officially I schedule 2 hour appointments, that accounts for greeting the customer, assesing the piano, cleaning inside and key tops, tuning, perhaps with a pitch raise and minor repairs and adustments. I often go over, but I account for the missing time in my schedule.
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Blaine Hebert
Duarte CA
626-795-5170
Original Message:
Sent: 11-19-2021 21:33
From: Cobrun Sells
Subject: 1, 1.5, 2, 3 hours
I had previosly asked about how long it takes to tune, but now I want to ask: How long is everyone here in a customer's home? Do you have standard appointment lengths like: 1 hour for tuning and dusting? Or maybe even 3 hour standard appointments for tuning, minor voicing, minor regulation, minor repairs, evaluation, more thorough cleaning than just a dusting?
Mine is about 1.5hrs and if I have a long drive then I shorten it to 1.25hrs in a customer's home. Do you offer multiple appointment length options or just a set amount like "1.5 hours for every standard appointnent?"
My secondary question is: how much are you able to and would you like to get done in (including Tuning 1 pass through):
1 hour?
1.5 hours?
2 hours?
3 hours
Don't forget to include greeting, talking with customer, collecting payment, and heading out the door in all those times...these times are in-and-out of front door times.