topic Re: Housekeeper in Home

Housekeeper

Nightowlz — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:11:52 GMT

What should I look for as far as finding someone honest & not shady? My in-laws need someone to come in once per week to clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust, mop.

I just don't want to put someone in their home that may harm them or try to rip them off etc.

I know everyone thinks I should do it but their house it way too hot. They have the heater on 78° mine is on 63° right now.

I would do some of it if they both go to church so I could turn on the AC & get it done. That's the only time they are not home.

Re: Housekeeper

Fressa — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:18:39 GMT

I would run an ad in you local township paper, check sites like Angies List, etc and get some quotes from established groups like Molly Maids, etc. Check the BBB and do a background check.

My friends who have cleaning help have had the best luck with finding them thru an individual ad or by word of mouth. The established cleaning services are bonded which gives you some peace of mind. Some of the other services may be as well. Each one is different so make sure who has been checked and who has not.

Good Luck.

Re: Housekeeper

software — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:24:01 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
What should I look for as far as finding someone honest & not shady? My in-laws need someone to come in once per week to clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust, mop.
I just don't want to put someone in their home that may harm them or try to rip them off etc.
I know everyone thinks I should do it but their house it way too hot. They have the heater on 78° mine is on 63° right now.
I would do some of it if they both go to church so I could turn on the AC & get it done. That's the only time they are not home.

Find someone through someone (word of mouth) who uses them or use the Maids or some other bonded franchise service. They are in & out quickly, plenty of transparency, uniforms, car is vividly marked.

I also believe you can negotiate the service and payment.

Don't use craigslist!

Re: Housekeeper

Mominohio — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:52:45 GMT

Word of mouth is best.

Finding a friend or church member or someone that either you or they know very well, who has experiences with a particular person is the best.

If that doesn'e pan out, then hire a legit national or local company. At least you know those people are bonded and vetted. They don't always do as good a job, but it would be the place to start if you can't find someone through personal connections.

If it were me, I'd do it (if I was able) and simply tell them the heat would have to be adjusted for those hours.

Re: Housekeeper

Sueliz — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 19:18:03 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
What should I look for as far as finding someone honest & not shady? My in-laws need someone to come in once per week to clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust, mop.
I just don't want to put someone in their home that may harm them or try to rip them off etc.
I know everyone thinks I should do it but their house it way too hot. They have the heater on 78° mine is on 63° right now.
I would do some of it if they both go to church so I could turn on the AC & get it done. That's the only time they are not home.

@Nightowlz I actually do something similar for seniors, I help them with driving, shopping , doctors appts etc. I find people through my church, they have a kind of outreach program that bring folks together. Check if any of your local churches etc have a similar program. Best of luck.

Re: Housekeeper

LTT1 — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 19:37:29 GMT

@Nightowlz

My friend who keeps our house helped my in-laws. She and her partner helped them so much before they passed. They all attended the same church.

What a blessing!

Maybe look for a story such as this.

Re: Housekeeper

Nightowlz — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 19:41:00 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I figured they would be able to find someone through their Church that way they would be comfortable with them in their home.

I was looking online at Care dot com. I would never use Craigslist.

I will just have to do some more checking to see what I can come up with.

They wanted to move into a retirement facility until we told them it was $2500 per month which they cannot afford.

We finally found someone to do the mowing for $30. That's cheap & he only does it when it needs it. The mowers around here do it weekly or they won't do it.

DH's dad won't let me turn on the AC to stay cool while cleaning. He's always cold that's why the heat is on. He's like my Aunt that ran her heat in the summer!!! Even if he would let me turn on the AC I would never get finished because they both want to chat. I would only do it with them not there which makes it difficult. I don't even go visit because it's so hot.

Re: Housekeeper

kivah — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:04:48 GMT

I suggest u check out the nextdoor dot com site.This is a site by communities ---- and people are on there every day asking for references, ie, plumbers, various service people, including housekeepers. People recommend who they've been working with, etc. Also, u need to tell ur in-laws to hide their money, jewelry, valuables, etc. because people do get robbed!!!!

My friend and her husband hired a woman to clean their big house and everything was fine for several years. One time my friend/husband went to Las Vegas and, stupidly, gave the housekeeper a key to their house. The housekeeper brought her new husband to the house and they stole things, including valuable coins her husband had in his office.

Basically, you can't trust too many people.

I have found several great service people on this site - and I have recommended others to them.

I also suggest they set up cameras.

Re: Housekeeper

sissel — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:32:54 GMT

Kivah is right nextdoor.com

is a neighborhood site that neighbors helping neighbors with all questions or answers.

Re: Housekeeper

Love my grandkids — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 20:35:06 GMT

And if other people *think* you should do it, tell THEM to come help or mind their own darn beeswax!

Re: Housekeeper

NickNack — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 21:21:29 GMT

I hate to say this, but they'll have a hard time finding someone who will continue cleaning their house when the temperature is 78 degrees. I keep my A/C at 73 in the summer, and my housekeeper always wants to turn it down to 70. She doesn't do it when I'm home, but when I'm gone she turns it down. She forgot to turn it back up when she left once, and that's the only reason I know. I don't think she should adjust my thermostat but didn't say anything.

I don't think anyone should expect someone to work in their house at that temperature. I don't blame you for not doing it and don't think you should be expected to regardless of the temperature.

Re: Housekeeper

Tigriss — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 22:29:10 GMT

@Nightowlz That is awfully nice of you. Most people don't think of their in-laws that way. I would check at church or with co-workers that have a cleaning lady/man. I would get personal recommendations from people for a cleaner because it is so important that you can trust them, and they are good with elderly and understand their ways.

Re: Housekeeper

VaBelle35 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 00:43:26 GMT

My grandparents had oil heat in their Brooklyn brownstone. When we woudl visit in the winter, we would have to dress in layers and strip down when we got there.

Even opening the window didn't help much.

You could roast a pig in the living room, it was so hot.

Re: Housekeeper

DREAMON — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 03:00:34 GMT

Our church has a bulletin board in the back of the church with services offered etc. I would still check on anyone brought in to a home.

Locking up valuable jewelry is a must ...My SIL had a woman clean her house for years then suddenly her jewelry was missing 1 piece at a time. She trusted this woman and treated her like family. Of course she denied taking it and obviously had to be let go.

Re: Housekeeper

ID2 — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 10:19:52 GMT

OP Your excuse for not helping your inlaws is a bit sidelined. Just say you don't want to do it. Its too hot? Really? You'll be there for about an hour! I'm sure you could withstand that. When my parents were elderly, I went there periodically and cleaned their place. I remember those times fondly because thats when we had our most wonderful conversations! Oh well, good luck anyway in your search .

Re: Housekeeper

Financialgrl — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:54:55 GMT

If you use a service, those businesses generally are bonded and insured. If you use someone, even someone others use, as you've seen here, sometimes even the most honest ppl can need money and sometimes use whatever means necessary to get it.

I'd say in addition to your jewelry being put away, I'd make sure your financial papers are as well. Anything with account numbers or social security number should be locked up/out of sight.

Re: Housekeeper

Nightowlz — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:24:32 GMT

@ID2 wrote:
OP Your excuse for not helping your inlaws is a bit sidelined. Just say you don't want to do it. Its too hot? Really? You'll be there for about an hour! I'm sure you could withstand that. When my parents were elderly, I went there periodically and cleaned their place. I remember those times fondly because thats when we had our most wonderful conversations! Oh well, good luck anyway in your search .

@ID2 Seriously!!! I don't have a problem doing it but I'm not doing it in that heat. When I clean my house I turn the AC on until I get finished & cool off before I turn it back up to 73°.

I figured we will have a hard time finding anyone to do house cleaning in that temp.

I really don't know how you think someone could clean a house in an hour. LOL!!! That's not happening. Tell me how you would dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, clean showers, toilets in an hour???

They don't live in a Tiny House.

Re: Housekeeper

Nightowlz — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:44:38 GMT

@Tigriss wrote:
@Nightowlz That is awfully nice of you. Most people don't think of their in-laws that way. I would check at church or with co-workers that have a cleaning lady/man. I would get personal recommendations from people for a cleaner because it is so important that you can trust them, and they are good with elderly and understand their ways.

@Tigriss Thank you I appreciate your reply. I don't know why most people would not think of their in-laws. DH & I are both worried & wonder what's to come & how we are going to be able to help. Sooner then later they will need help with everything. They already don't eat right because his mom does not want to cook & his dad said he does not like her cooking???

My dad also needs help but he lives about 24 hrs from me. I may have to move in with my dad & DH may have to move in with his parents.

My dad pays most bills for one brother & all bills for one sister. We have been trying to get the brother to move in with dad but he refuses. Hard for me to believe he will not move in & help dad after he has helped him most of his life.

My SIL & her son live here & her parents have helped them all their life but she cannot help because of her weight & her son won't help either with yard work so DH does it except mowing. He also goes over to put their lawn cart & trash cart out on pickup days on his way to work.

I don't get it??? It seems like the people that get the help don't want to provide any help when it's needed.

My other 2 SIL's live on east & west coast.

Re: Housekeeper

SahmIam — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 18:01:55 GMT

@Nightowlz Regarding the temp in the house:

Recently we've looked at housekeeping companies to clean my in-laws house as they travel quite a bit plus they simply don't want to clean a large home anymore. They keep the house WARM and rarely use the A/C even when it's 100 outside and 100% humidity.

What I found interesting is the 4 companies I met with (they come to the house, do a walk-through, tell you how their program works- all the same- and the cost) all required to A/C to be on during the summer and/or during days of high temps. Your contract with these companies states you will do so OR they have the right to refuse to clean upon entering your home.

I can't say I disagree with the idea.

Re: Housekeeper

Nightowlz — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 18:42:29 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
@Nightowlz Regarding the temp in the house:

Recently we've looked at housekeeping companies to clean my in-laws house as they travel quite a bit plus they simply don't want to clean a large home anymore. They keep the house WARM and rarely use the A/C even when it's 100 outside and 100% humidity.

What I found interesting is the 4 companies I met with (they come to the house, do a walk-through, tell you how their program works- all the same- and the cost) all required to A/C to be on during the summer and/or during days of high temps. Your contract with these companies states you will do so OR they have the right to refuse to clean upon entering your home.

I can't say I disagree with the idea.

@SahmIam I don't disagree with that. I will check into it.

Once when we visited my aunt in SC my dad got up & turned on the AC because we were all hot only to find out my aunt had it on heat & the heater came on. It was middle of summer & hot. She did have a cleaning lady that came in to clean & cook for her. I imagine she turned the heat up more as she got older since she was here until just over 99 yrs.