whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on Sept 24, 2012 22:45:56 GMT -5
Oh lordy, are you serious???
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Sept 24, 2012 23:18:12 GMT -5
Our busy family is looking for help around the house to clean and keep things organized three days a week for approximately six hours per day. The hours are flexible and can be during school hours. In addition to routine maintnance, weekly tasks will vary based on the household needs and could range from helping with the herb garden to running errands. Some outside work may be required. $12 an hour. Very concise. kgb, DH and I also worked opposite shifts for years when the kids were really young. It was worth it. We both got to pursue what we wanted/needed to professionally, while being there for all the things the kids needed us for. Our current lifestyle is a choice. I don't have to coach as well as work. DH likes his classes 4 nights a week. DS would be scheduled full time at his job, as well as going to school if he'd let them. And he teaches classes at karate twice a week as well as taking 2-3 classes. DD has cheer practice every day for three hours plus tumbling classes, extra practices and games. And still tries to get to two or three karate classes every week. Your day will come when you are busy because you want to be, not that you have to be. I clearly remember how clean my mother's house was. I want my kids to remember that they always had a ride to practice, that someone was there for every game, that their friends were always welcome. We all pitch in and do the best we can to keep up. And everyone does laundry-the most important thing being to gather socks and wash some with every load, because inevitably, someone will need them tomorrow. T-shirts? Eh, we have a million of them... Good point malarky. My grandma had someone tell her after she relaxed her housekeeping standards that they were afraid to come to her house before. It may not be magazine worthy anymore but we have a great time and there are always clean clothes/towels and food to eat. I will never remember a cobweb or two. I will remember the great times we had.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 4:25:16 GMT -5
Would you be responsible if they have an accident while running errands for you? Do you want them to handle any child related duties? Yes, as a practical matter, any employer would be responsible if an employee had an accident while running errands. Our risk is mitigated somewhat by the fact that I'd cover them under both my business worker's comp policy and also our umbrella policy, but there's still risk. At this point, I'm not looking to have them do any child related tasks, but depending on the person and what happens in the future, that's possible. Heck, around here anything is possible.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 4:32:34 GMT -5
Yes - a part time housewife/househusband is exactly what I'm looking for.
The problem is that some of the work is worth less and some is worth more. To keep things a little less complicated and fair, I'm trying to come up with a wage that's in the middle. My best estimate is that 80% - 90% of the weekly work is standard housekeeping stuff and would fall in the $10 an hour range around here. But then there's the random stuff that would happen every once in a while and command a $15 - $20 wage, so I'll offer a salary higher than the $10 and ask them to deal with all of it.
With as hard hit as the area was in the economy, many housekeepers lost their work and if I advertised a housekeeping type job for $10 an hour, I'd get a big stack of resumes. No problem. But I want a little more than that - I want someone who will also do tasks as needed. Sometimes those tasks will be outside. Sometimes those tasks will be dirty. Sometimes those tasks will be easy. Sometimes those tasks will be interesting. Very random grouping and tough to determine pay and description.
This may be a different animal, but in our manufacturing business, we've had luck attracting good people when we've been willing to be flexible with hours and scheduling. Hopefully this will be the case here. Maybe this will appeal to a parent who only wants to work while her kids are in school, for example. The flexibility is often considered a big benefit for people.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 7:26:33 GMT -5
Milee, you have suggested at different times that you are paying 12$, which is above the normal house cleaning rate, beause 1) you are asking for more than normal housecleaning and so want the compensation to be higher and 2) because you are paying legitimately and will deduct taxes which is probably not the norm for house cleaning postions.
I don't know that 12$ an hour covers both.
Not that you couldn't look at that rate, but it might take a bit more to find someone good for what you want.
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michelyn8
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Post by michelyn8 on Sept 25, 2012 7:27:08 GMT -5
Personally if it were me, I'd be willing to do the housework, light gardening, organizing, and some errands for that wage and those hours but forget the boat or detailing any cars. That's a job for a different type of professional IMHO.
Have you looked into having one of those detailing businesses come to your house to do the boat. We have one in my area that has done so well (even during the recession) that they've been able to expand to having a mobile service and they advertise that they will detail boats. I'd prefer to have someone like that work on my boat than a standard housekeeper/PA type person since that's their "specialty".
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Sept 25, 2012 7:30:16 GMT -5
I hope to hire someone like this eventually! I think the wage seems okay since it will be for several hours a week. You could offer a bonus when heavy work is required, but even your outside work seems like the normal everyday stuff.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 7:41:40 GMT -5
A few months ago, I stopped doing all the stuff around the house. DH has done some things and the boys are trying to help as well, but the house is looking ragged. I want to essentially hire a stay at home mom, but it's not PC to say that, so help me write the ad. Here's my first draft: Busy Family Needs A Super Organizer – Perfect Job For A Mom With Kids in School With a growing business and two boys, our family doesn’t get much free time and since we’ve been choosing to spend that free time on family activities, our house is starting to look neglected. We’re looking for a super organizer to come to our house three days a week for approximately 6 hours per day (flexible on the timing, can be during school hours) and clean, organize and keep the house up. Tasks will vary depending on what’s grubby, and might include work inside the house, outside the house or even light cleaning on the boat. $12 an hour. Questions - best place to put the ad. I'm thinking maybe the paper for the district elementary school? Maybe that will help me find a mom who wants to work while her kids are in school. Contact methods - I like to do everything via email. Hate the phone. But I'm worried that not everyone has email and I'm missing a good portion of the potential employee pool. Suggestions on how to do the contact? Any other ideas on how to get a good person? Hi Milee, Just starting this, so I may be repeating stuff....but for once, I can give you the benefit of my experience . What you really want is a professional cleaning woman coming weekly to clean. A good one will do a bit of organizing as they go along each week and this will accumulate over time. A good one will want at least 20 if not 25/hour (chicago prices). Professional organizers, on the other hand, charge about 60-100/hour and come help you set up new "systems" I haven't ruled that out yet as a one time, large expense - but I now have my great cleaning woman come every week and progress is being made in all directions (I'm trying to get everything "perfect" before going back to school). You are probably a pretty organized person already, so I think a good cleaning woman 4-5 hours per week would be more than enough. If your family gets out of sorts quickly, maybe 3 hours 2 x week. For gardening or painting, get a separate service provider. Around here - a handyman charges 65-85/hour, gardeners, 35-40. Use these services sparingly as needed. I'll read up more on what the thread went through and see if I have other comments. I think she wants to avoid having to interview and hire multiple people and split the tasks up between them.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 8:20:57 GMT -5
Yes, I've thought about a cleaning person or cleaning service to do a weekly clean. Had several over the years in Phoenix with mixed results. If it's a service with multiple people it's good because they don't miss dates when things come up in their lives, but the overall quality is not as good. If you have a single lady, the quality - if you find the right one - is good, but you also have to deal with sometimes her not being available and the awkwardness if it's someone you've known and liked for a long time that starts not performing as well. I'm thinking by getting one person who just does the tasks on the list for that day would both give me a better result and also let me decide whether I wanted the bathrooms scrubbed, the kitchen deep cleaned or help tidying the den after the kids did a big art project. Given the general feedback on the thread, sounds like a bump in the offered wage would help. The tricky part is finding the right person who is open to different tasks. We're not a union shop here. I want to be really clear about the fact that I'm paying more than I would for cleaning because I will sometimes be asking the person to do something outside the standard housekeeper job description.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 8:22:39 GMT -5
As the resident cleaning lady on PB, here are my suggestions :
Either get a cleaning lady who's willing to turn up three times a week and get a handyman who's available maybe not exactly on call, but who can help on an as-needed basis
OR
hire a versatile live-in housekeeper and pay a salary.
Where to find one or both? Maybe on Craigslist and do phone interviews first, then meet the applicants at a public place like a coffee shop. Until you've zeroed in on two or three seemingly good candidates, do not reveal your phone number or your address. Do background checks.
Best way? Word-of-mouth. The absolute best reference is a third-party reference. One housekeeper blabbing to another? OMG! Nothing professional about that. I wouldn't dream of revealing one word about a client's house or habits or anything I'd overheard or seen. Never. Never. Never. It hasn't happened and never will. Not even to family.
Finding the right person (or two of them) isn't likely to happen quickly. Be patient. And when you find her/them, remember that good help really is hard to find, and treat her/them accordingly. I've fired clients who treated me as though I belong to some sort of sub-culture and/or who assumed that because I do what I do that I'm unintelligent and need to be supervised every second and worst of all, obviously didn't feel as though I could be trusted.
Every one of my clients is someone who's found me by word of mouth. The third-party reference is a two-way street. I won't give the time of day to anybody who's referred to me by someone I didn't respect and like.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 8:33:54 GMT -5
Although your suggestion for hiring a versatile live-in housekeeper is closest to the mark, unfortunately, we have no room for a live-in. Also not sure if I need someone quite full time. Good suggestions, though.
Given no room for a live in and not sure if I need full time, how best to structure the offer? Don't want separate housekeeper/handyman. And honestly, I really don't think we're talking about handyman stuff here. It's all cleaning and organizing, just some of it is done inside and some is done outside. I'm not asking anyone to repair roof shingles or fix plumbing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 8:42:36 GMT -5
Although your suggestion for hiring a versatile live-in housekeeper is closest to the mark, unfortunately, we have no room for a live-in. Also not sure if I need someone quite full time. Good suggestions, though. Given no room for a live in and not sure if I need full time, how best to structure the offer? Don't want separate housekeeper/handyman. And honestly, I really don't think we're talking about handyman stuff here. It's all cleaning and organizing, just some of it is done inside and some is done outside. I'm not asking anyone to repair roof shingles or fix plumbing. you want a general helper to perform housekeeping (but beyond the regular mopping/dusting/etc), organizing, light gardening, and other tasks (maybe a list of some others) as necessary. I don't think you want a housecleaner as they won't organize the file drawer or the pantry.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 8:48:53 GMT -5
Although your suggestion for hiring a versatile live-in housekeeper is closest to the mark, unfortunately, we have no room for a live-in. Also not sure if I need someone quite full time. Good suggestions, though. Given no room for a live in and not sure if I need full time, how best to structure the offer? Don't want separate housekeeper/handyman. And honestly, I really don't think we're talking about handyman stuff here. It's all cleaning and organizing, just some of it is done inside and some is done outside. I'm not asking anyone to repair roof shingles or fix plumbing. you want a general helper to perform housekeeping (but beyond the regular mopping/dusting/etc), organizing, light gardening, and other tasks (maybe a list of some others) as necessary. I don't think you want a housecleaner as they won't organize the file drawer or the pantry. Yes, exactly. The challenge is how to word the ad so that this is clear and I don't attract someone who will be unhappy if I ask them to not mop the floor that day and instead help clean and organize a closet. What I really want is a wife.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 8:51:55 GMT -5
What about writing the ad for a personal assistant with a focus on cleaning, organizing and attending to the needs of the boss.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 8:56:53 GMT -5
I like the idea of the personal assistant, but to me that has more professional connotations. Not sure if that's setting them up to think this is a clerical type role? When I think personal assistant, I think someone making phone calls, doing file organizing and office type tasks, but maybe my perception is wrong.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 8:57:32 GMT -5
Well, drat If I didn't live here and you there, I'm just what you need. It would make for a long commute, so that's out! I guess you should start out by stating that the hours will vary but that you can be flexible. You may need many more or many fewer than you think you need right now. When I've visited the home of a potential new client, I've done a walk-through with them to determine what needed to be done and told them that a first-time cleaning (especially if they haven't had someone before) takes one to two hours longer than being there on a regular schedule. The length of time between visits also determines how long it'll take to clean. For instance, I had a 5000+sf home that took six hours every two weeks. I have a 3500+sf home that takes 4 1/2 hours once a week. A lot depends on the way the house is laid out and, of course, the habits of the family. I'm sticking with word-of-mouth as the best way, Craigslist or a classified ad as possibilities, and just say that the length of time required has to be determined. Somebody who does this for a living can give a pretty good guesstimate after seeing your home. Without even seeing it, judging by your comments I'm thinking that there would be many more hours required in the first few weeks than later on when the deep cleaning has been done and can be kept up with. BTW, I charge $12/hour, way less than independents here charge, but I don't need the money to keep from circling the financial drain and keep a roof over my head. And I'll soon be 72. No medical problems, no arthritis, no aches and pains...so far So if you find a likely person who's older, don't rule her out. An older person who's healthy is far preferable to a younger one who spends way too much time "doctoring" and calling in sick. Don't know what to tell you about email/phone. Maybe a throw-away email address on yahoo! or hotmail for the ad, or for a classified in a "real" paper a blind box number.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 9:00:12 GMT -5
well - maybe detailing a boat is common stuff in FL - not so much here in chicago. Detailing is just a fancy way of saying "deep cleaning". It's been almost no mechanical work (and I'd want to do the mechanical work myself anyway), just scrubbing, waxing, polishing, etc. She's a 4 year old boat and in nice shape, but I like to keep them shiny. Again, this is not something that would be regularly done, I just threw it in there as an example of the one off stuff that will come up from time to time so the person isn't thrown when there's something on the list other than dusting, mopping, etc. Good ideas on not limiting the pool by targeting moms. A retiree or college student would also be great.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:01:17 GMT -5
This is from the website: domestic-concierge.com/our-services/Sounds like what you are looking for Our Services Think about all the chores you do and how much time they require: grocery shopping, picking out a birthday gift, doing laundry, housecleaning, having a prescription filled, getting that leaky shower head fixed. Then there are the to-dos that are big enough to be called projects: selecting a new couch, managing your finances, researching which computer to buy, prepping the nursery for a new baby, figuring out what to wear to a friend’s black-tie wedding. Now think about time spent in traffic, searching for a parking space and waiting in line. Yes, it keeps adding up. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a personal assistant, errand runner, professional organizer or household manager? With Domestic Concierge, you can have all of those things at once – as well as a lot more free time. What we do Domestic Concierge is your dedicated team for dealing with those tasks, errands and projects. Whether you’re a busy professional, an overextended parent, an on-the-go single or a fully booked social butterfly, give yourself a break and bring some much-needed balance to your life. Assist Our on-site concierge services assist you on all fronts. We’ll tackle your to-do list, update your wardrobe and home décor, plan your travel, act as a mother’s helper or household manager, even conduct a full makeover to bring young adults out of the post-college rut. Manage We manage chores, projects and errands big and small. Whether you’re moving to a new home or office, planning a party or embarking on a renovation, Domestic Concierge does the heavy lifting so you can rest easy. From on-site concierge services to green house cleaning, we can handle it. We’ll be your personal assistant, errand runner and professional organizer, all in one! Organize We organize your space – from a single closet to a whole house or office – and give you strategies for maintaining order by yourself so you can cut the clutter for good. Clean We clean using all-natural products that won’t leave your home smelling like a chemical factory and won’t leave behind toxins that can harm kids or pets. We’re experts when it comes to green house cleaning, whether it’s for the home or office.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 9:01:29 GMT -5
Miss Rigby, I'm sorry you're too far away. You sound great.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 9:02:42 GMT -5
OK, I'm convinced. I need a Domestic Concierge. Where do I sign up?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:04:12 GMT -5
Household assistant rather than personal assistant?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Sept 25, 2012 9:05:41 GMT -5
Or a part-time sister-wife with no husbandly benefits. Are you/Mormon?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:10:59 GMT -5
Miss Rigby, I'm sorry you're too far away. You sound great. I am great! Just ask my clients <MissRigby is nothing if not humble> ;D ;D ;D
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:14:27 GMT -5
I think Archie nailed it for you.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 9:15:35 GMT -5
Or a part-time sister-wife with no husbandly benefits. Are you/Mormon? I'm not currently Mormon, but if converting allows me a sister-wife who will do all this stuff, I will gladly convert.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:19:54 GMT -5
One more thing, then I'm off to work.
When you find this person, pay her for time scheduled but not worked because YOU had to cancel and remember her at Christmas. Remembering her on her birthday is a completely unexpected bonus but a nice touch.
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milee
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Post by milee on Sept 25, 2012 9:21:24 GMT -5
One more thing, then I'm off to work. When you find this person, pay her for time scheduled but not worked because YOU had to cancel and remember her at Christmas. Remembering her on her birthday is a completely unexpected bonus but a nice touch. Gotcha. Will do. Already was on board with the pay and Christmas bonus, the birthday is a good thing to add to the list.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Sept 25, 2012 9:25:37 GMT -5
I think you need to consider skillsets as well when you describe the job. Someone can be a great cleaner/organizer but suck at gardening or painting a door. A job that you consider simple because you are a DIY sort of person may not be simple to someone else (for example I've never waxed a boat). And I don't know that I would trust someone with little gardening/painting experience to do those sorts of jobs. So even if they say they are willing to take them on (especially if they really want the position) it may not be in your best interest to have them do some jobs if they end up doing it poorly.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 9:39:40 GMT -5
I think Archie nailed it for you. booyah!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2012 10:13:23 GMT -5
I think you're going to have to pay $15 if you want it on your taxes. Otherwise plenty of people will work for $12 under the table. I don't think that's underpaying if a lot of the housework is general. I pay my housecleaner $25 an hour but she doesn't do dishes or laundry. It sounds like you most of the hours are going to be spent on light clean up - doing the dishes, laundry, putting away toys. They are not going to be scrubbing the toilet every day, more like once a week. Have you considered an older woman? Someone who needs income to supplement their retirement but also has a couple of decades of household management under their belt. edited: I'm totally prejudiced but older people seem pickier about cleanliness and are more apt to wash down cabinets and trim.
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