raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Apr 21, 2011 16:39:40 GMT -5
We pay our cleaning lady $15 per hour, and she comes in for 3 hours every week. She won't move heavy furniture to clean under it, but does everything else (including windows, deep cleaning kitchen/bath--she cleans for one of our friends also and even changes her litter box ) We provide all cleaning supplies. I love her and can't imagine going without her. My son follows her around like a puppy when she's here, so when we ran into some daycare needs, she became our nanny for a couple months too.
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mddoug
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Post by mddoug on Apr 21, 2011 16:44:43 GMT -5
We pay $80 every other week for a 2,000 sq ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3 dogs in Phoenix. We coould get it much cheaper given the location, but we trust our people with the key. They also pick up mail when we travel.
They mop floors, vacuum, dust, clean the kitchen and bathrooms. They will do windows, baseboards and wash the walls when reminded. A good example is we had company this week 2 days before they came so the house was already clean. Instead of not having service, we will have them wash all of the walls, windows,etc. to make the best use of their time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 16:50:30 GMT -5
I pay my cleaning service (so obviously the people doing the actual cleaning are making less) $109 every other week. It's 3 people and they are there for 2 hours. My house is 2200 sq. ft. but I don't have them clean the first level family room or either of the kids' rooms. They do 2 full and 2 half baths, master bedroom (including sheets), laundry room, LR, DR, kitchen, hallways and stairs. They rotate the areas they deep clean each visit. I am int he Baltimore/DC area.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Apr 21, 2011 17:18:41 GMT -5
I was assuming this was supplemental income but if you clean even one house daily, you can make decent money and still have hours left in the day for other things. Trouble is they can get lazy/complacent so you either have to let them go and hire another or let it ride. I had a friend tell me she resented her housekeeper making more per hour than she did. Never thought of it that way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 17:29:26 GMT -5
I'm underpaid! Well...by choice. I don't do it to keep a roof over my head, just to have something to do. My biggest house is 4500sf, 5BR, 5.5BA, a kitchen as big as a dance hall, entire ground floor is hardwood, absolutely NO clutter; it takes six hours. The smallest is 2BR, 2BA, 1300sf, takes 3 hrs because it's loaded up with antiques and doodads that take forever to dust.
I don't do windows, but I do wipe fingerprints off glass doors and sidelights at a front door. I also don't move big furniture but reach under as far as I can to Swiffer or vacuum...the smaller, light stuff, gets moved to clean under and behind. I vacuum upholstered furniture, lampshades, hard-to-reach areas with a handheld vac. And I do baseboards and blinds.
For some of my clients I change bed linens and throw their dirty linens in the washer/dryer and fold them. It's not like it's extra work to launder them. They wash and dry while I'm doing other things.
I use my own cleaning rags and trust me, they get washed with bleach every day! Mostly my clients provide the cleaning supplies but ask me for a list of the products that I prefer to use. I have one client who has an Oreck vacuum with no attachments. For her, I take my own vacuum. And for her I use my own cleaning supplies because she's stretched so thin for time that it's rare that she even has time to shop. She pays me for 4 hours, but it only takes 3 to clean her house so it balances out...my supplies and vac for an extra hour's pay.
I also clean floors on my hands and knees...can't see the dirt if you're not down there to see it...and polish hardwoods the same way. My clients all know to not start their dishwashers so that I can put the knobs from the range and vent filters from the range hood or OTR nuke box in to wash. If the client has a gas range, the burner grates go in the dishwasher as well. I put the dishes away (nobody has to hunt them because they get put back where they belong). If there are dishes they want washed by hand, I do that, then clean the sinks.
Except for windows and moving big pieces of furniture, I do whatever the client wants done.
For $10/hour. Sometimes I do two jobs in a day if they're short jobs of not more than 3-4 hours, and I have 11 regular clients. Only two of them are every week. I have a waiting list as long as Will and Ariel Durant's Story of Civilization.
ETA: Zib, there's this thing called personal integrity. If I ever feel like I'm getting lazy or complacent, I'll quit. I would rather do nothing than do a bad job. Heck, I've got a client who told me that if I die before she does, she's gonna kill me ;D
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stats45
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Post by stats45 on Apr 21, 2011 17:35:20 GMT -5
This is helpful. We want to hire someone to come in every other week. We don't make much of a mess, but it would be nice to pay someone to do some cleaning to capture a few extra hours a week.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Apr 21, 2011 17:53:22 GMT -5
You are a dream and a steal!!!! I only wish you lived close!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 18:03:01 GMT -5
Aw, shucks, Zib. That's what they all tell me One more thing...I take out the trash before I leave
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stats45
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Post by stats45 on Apr 21, 2011 18:11:04 GMT -5
Miss Rigby, if you have a waiting list of people and provide such an awesome service (and it sounds like you do!), it might be time to raise prices. Don't sell yourself short!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 18:43:59 GMT -5
Nope. Not gonna raise my rate except if when gas gets to $4/gallon. Five of my clients live 10 miles from me, and they'll be paying $11/hour. They already know this. The other six all live either in my neighborhood or less than a mile away.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 21, 2011 18:56:06 GMT -5
My wife and I are considering having someone come in and clean the house either bi-monthly or monthly. This will help us out since my wife has two young children to run after and sometimes the baseboards don't get cleaned as frequently as they used to. Does anyone here use cleaning services? If so, how often do you have them come, what services do you have them perform and most importantly, how much does it cost you? I'm in a slightly above average COL area; Baltimore metro area. Thanks, Expat I don't have anyone in Florida, but in Chitown, I had a tri-level townhouse- about 2,000 sq ft (3br / 2.5 bth) and we paid $80 every two weeks.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 21, 2011 18:58:25 GMT -5
You are a dream and a steal!!!! I only wish you lived close!!! Amen to that! MissRigby- you could DOUBLE your rates and you'd still be priced just about right.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Apr 21, 2011 18:59:37 GMT -5
I don't tip her every week, because she is self employed. I don't understand this. why does it matter that she's working for herself? y'know, I've thought about cleaning as a side job. this is helpful for me, but from the other side. my Nana lived with us when I was a kid, and she cleaned our house daily like what Miss Rigby described above. I clean my house the same way, although weekly for most things, monthly for others. I routinely take a feather duster to the slats on the doors to my laundry and utility closets, the baseboards, and the blinds. my kitchen counter sees direct contact with straight bleach monthly, and you very rarely see dust on any of my black-painted wood dining room set. a "thorough" clean for me generally happens twice a year, over a weekend. I'll work probably 5-6 hours each day, and relax on Saturday night. this includes cleaning cabinets - inside and out, wiping out the window frames, washing/ironing curtains, getting the comforters cleaned, bleaching the (white) tile floors, cleaning the washer/dryer and vent lines, cleaning out the garage. I can actually (and have recently) "company clean" my house in about 2 hours, not including washing the bed linens in the spare room. my dryer is slow.... anyway, my house is 1250sf - 2BR, 1.5BA, 1-car garage. no pets/no kids.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 21, 2011 19:00:49 GMT -5
The only thing I would say is ask for recommendations. Pretty much every service type provider I've chosen blindly in this town has been a big giant mistake from the oil change to the drycleaner.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 21, 2011 19:02:13 GMT -5
I guess this is the same rule that says you don't have to tip your hair stylist if the stylist is also the salon ownera?
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Apr 21, 2011 19:10:48 GMT -5
I guess this is the same rule that says you don't have to tip your hair stylist if the stylist is also the salon ownera? I don't get that, either. you're still getting a service that is generally tipped.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Apr 21, 2011 19:19:34 GMT -5
I don't get it either but I've seen it covered many times in articles on tipping.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 21, 2011 19:27:09 GMT -5
I don't tip, either. It's the woman's business. But I did send her to my attorney who helped her incorporate, and to my CPA who got her $2,100 back because she wasn't even taking the milage deductions, let alone other things she can deduct. She was just doing the 1040 EZ and getting creamed. Now, she's a sub-chapter S corp- saving on the payroll tax, and lots of other things.
I also wrote her about a $3,000 direct mail piece with one of the best headlines I've ever written: There are two hot women in my master bathroom right now, and my wife could not be happier. (the other less "offensive" headline was: Naperville Housewife Resigns, Vows: I'll Never Vacuum Again...thanks to...)
Before that she was sending out generic postcards with "cleaning service" on them. My first headline got a 16% response-- which is absolutely walk-on-water insane.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2011 19:31:47 GMT -5
Yeah, Windy, I know that, but I only do it because it beats sitting around moping. And I only work for people I like. I had three clients--all from the same family but with separate households--that I really didn't like much. They were patronizing and condescending so I fired 'em all. I'm surprised they didn't offer me their old clothes or leftovers from their fridges. Nitwits. It embarrasses me when a client wants to tip me. Remember me at Christmas, and I'll be happy. The family that I fired? They didn't bother with me at Christmas except that two of them were ticked off that I was already committed to other clients during Christmas week--their week off--and the other was annoyed that his day, Thursday, was also Thanksgiving and his house wasn't going to be cleaned that week. Most independents around here charge $18/hour. The cleaning services all seem to have a two-hour minimum for a two-person team and charge $95-100/hour. And pay their hired help $8.50/hour. Even after insurance, workmen's comp, whatever all else, nice profit when you consider that there are any number of teams out all over the area at the same time.
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Post by rumples on Apr 21, 2011 19:40:37 GMT -5
We had a 3-4 person team come in once every other week in our old house. $80 for a 2500 sq ft house and it took them about an hour - no windows. We haven't had a cleaning service since we moved over 4 years ago... we really need to get one again.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 21, 2011 20:11:50 GMT -5
We had a 3-4 person team come in once every other week in our old house. $80 for a 2500 sq ft house and it took them about an hour - no windows. We haven't had a cleaning service since we moved over 4 years ago... we really need to get one again. My girl has an aunt in Delray. I keep telling her she should move down and go back to school (aunt offered), but I really just want her to clean my house here...is that wrong?
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Apr 21, 2011 20:30:45 GMT -5
We had a 3-4 person team come in once every other week in our old house. $80 for a 2500 sq ft house and it took them about an hour - no windows. We haven't had a cleaning service since we moved over 4 years ago... we really need to get one again. My girl has an aunt in Delray. I keep telling her she should move down and go back to school (aunt offered), but I really just want her to clean my house here...is that wrong? delray is not that far from palm beach....she could still clean your house. you are actually in palm beach, right?
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 21, 2011 20:39:06 GMT -5
I'm in Delray. Palm Beach County, though- hence the screen name. I'm a wannabe Palm Beach guy for sure. Nice up there. But then just about any place is nice down here compared to Illinois.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Apr 21, 2011 20:49:41 GMT -5
so why would her moving back home impede her being able to clean your house? fwiw, I know your area pretty well for someone that doesn't live there - I've got a very good friend that lives in Boynton Bch. I get down there a few times a year - we find our way down to Boston's when there's a big game on.
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Post by straydog on Apr 21, 2011 23:34:25 GMT -5
Washing windows takes practice, but once you get it right, you should be able to breeze right through.
The way I've always seen it done is with a squeegee/sponge with an extension handle and a bucket of Ammonia/water.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 5:48:48 GMT -5
Right...and I'm gonna climb around on a ladder to get to the outside? Or on a ladder to get to the inside, for that matter. Nope. Need your windows washed, hire a service that does windows!
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on Apr 22, 2011 6:27:20 GMT -5
Wow, this is perfect time timing. My FIL is looking for someone to clean his house. Twice a month. I found someone who is going to give him a price. Not a lot, just vacuum and mop, I think clean the bathrooms. Should take 2 hours. The guy will probably say $10 bucks and my FIL will pay him and tell me to call him and tell him never to come back, it was highway robbery.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 22, 2011 12:06:02 GMT -5
When I was working in CO, it cost me $100. When I was looking for someone here, she quoted me $100 after she came to see the house. This was for living room, kitchen/dining room, bathroom and one bedroom. She also made me use Amway. Very unhappy when she couldn't figure out how to enter it in Amway's site and I realized she was a dealer. I fired her after one time. Found another woman who has lost her job. $50 for the same thing once a month. Much happier now. I have always hated to clean. Always. So it doesn't get done if I don't hire someone. It is in the budget.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 22, 2011 14:04:58 GMT -5
How do you guys know if your cleaning person is trustworthy, especially if they're unattended? Do you lock away your valuables before they come, or do a background check before hiring them? That has always been my biggest concern.
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Post by illinicheme on Apr 22, 2011 14:12:55 GMT -5
How do you guys know if your cleaning person is trustworthy, especially if they're unattended? Do you lock away your valuables before they come, or do a background check before hiring them? That has always been my biggest concern. At the end of the day, we don't know for certain. There is always some risk involved in inviting someone into your home. We tried to mitigate it by getting references from other happy customers. Also, we don't have a ton of valuable stuff in the house (not much jewelry, etc.) We have some electronics and whatnot that could be walked off with, but it would be noticeable, and we'd have a pretty damn good idea of who did it and call the cops immediately. I believe that the vast majority of the housecleaners, illegal immigrants or not, are good people just trying to make a living the best way they can. It seems doubtful that many would be willing to risk a steady gig in order to steal and pawn some jewelry, etc.
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