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[Sweet_Serenity]

No matter what you choose...background checks.

Never experienced problems, attribute to screening. 

[151949]

I have a cleaning lady. If she comes to clean every 2 weeks she charges much less than if she comes only monthly, so I have her come every 2 weeks. She owns her business. She bases the price on - size of the house, are there animals or kids vs just adults. How dirty is the house when she comes to see it. Does she get a feeling you are going to be a pain in the neck.(Usually if she gets a sensation you are a pain she doesn't accept you as a customer.) Are you willing to be flexible with her schedule. And a huge one with my housekeeper as she is hispanic - does she get a feeling you are a racist.She just won't deal with that - and I don't blame her.Her first interview with me was extensive but she liked us and has been cleaning for me 5 years now.

[151949]

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@Fifi1 wrote:

My home is small, 1700 SQ FT and Tri Level - almost all quotes I've had and contracted for are around $200.  I'd prefer an independent housekeeper, but going rate is around 40.00/hour, four hour min.  I just haven't had good luck with either a service or independent but am looking for the fall!  I want someone weekly and not all rooms done.    

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I pay $85 every 2 weeks to get my 1600 sq ft house cleaned. If I only had her once a month it would be $180.

[Mominohio]

I've always done my own cleaning and I hope I will be able to do so for a very long time.

The one word of caution I have to offer about hiring an individual and paying "under the table" is to consider that person is not covered by workers comp,and if they get injured on your property  (or say they did), you could end up in a lot of trouble.

I know some of the best house keepers work that way, but you do take a risk in choosing to do it that way. 

I'd be sure to know that person very well.

[pattypeep]

@Mominohio Thank you. I hadn't considered paying anyone under the table, but I appreciate the advice. I hope you are able to clean as long as possible, also. I have always been a picky housekeeper, but now my knees are bone on bone and I can't do things the way I like. So, I am hoping to hire someone by the hour to work with me and do the kneeling, etc. When I have my knee surgeries down the road, I figure I will need help then, so may as well get someone trained now. It is going to be hard for me to stand by while someone works on my baseboards, etc. I am a hard worker and it is difficult to not be able to do everything anymore.

[gacat123]

@pattypeep

I am Blessed to have a wonderful *cleaning fairy* friend help me clean house every other Tuesday. She had been cleaning my 85yo Dad's home and he was very pleased w her work.

I asked her if she would consider cleaning my house? she came out to evaluate and give me a quote. This is a good size house in SWGA country. She made me an offer of $75. ?

I actually counter offered her with $80 which I felt was a fair price. The drive here is out a ways from her regular customers and rental cabins at a lake thirty minutes North of me.

Please understand she had a cleaning friend in my area she suggested but I felt if I offered a bit more money it would help her w extra gas costs.

My cleaning fairy (she calls her business that name) has been helping me for about 6 years now. About 3 years ago I gave her a raise (my idea) and now pay her $90 every other week. She is here 3-4 hours. I am here usually working on laundry, I take off bed sheets to wash and dry and often help her put them back on the beds. She will often do little extras in a SPRING clean fashion, last week we worked on cleaning the top of the fridge for example. I do put away clutter before her arrival. I am 61 and she is 51 with much more energy than me. She told me years ago she had a cleaning lady at her house while she was out cleaning houses!  She brings a smile to my day! BLESS HER.

I suggest you ask around to find your very own cleaning fairy to sprinkle fairy dust!

Good Luck in your Quest,  CAT

[noodleann]

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@pattypeep wrote:

@Mominohio Thank you. I hadn't considered paying anyone under the table, but I appreciate the advice. I hope you are able to clean as long as possible, also. I have always been a picky housekeeper, but now my knees are bone on bone and I can't do things the way I like. So, I am hoping to hire someone by the hour to work with me and do the kneeling, etc. When I have my knee surgeries down the road, I figure I will need help then, so may as well get someone trained now. It is going to be hard for me to stand by while someone works on my baseboards, etc. I am a hard worker and it is difficult to not be able to do everything anymore.

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If this is your situation, I'd make it crystal clear that you're requiring considerable knee work and that it's a non-negotiable part of the job. Cleaners amass their own injuries over time, and knees can become a real problem for many of them. The person you hire needs to know up front that you're not only directing them in what you want done, you're going to direct them in how to do it. Some will not want to work under those terms.

I am hoping when you say it will be "hard for me to stand by while someone works..." you aren't speaking literally. There are few things as unpleasant as doing hard physical labor while having someone hovering over your shoulder, or even being in the same room. The cleaners I have known have also refused to take jobs where the person hiring them is going to be in the house while they clean, and definitely would not want you working alongside them in any capacity.

I would expect to pay a premium for the knee work and expecting someone to do the job in the way that you've done it. I know a cleaner here who doubles her rate for jobs with those kinds of conditions, if she accepts them at all.

[wildcat fan]

My mom has someone come in once a week to clean the bathrooms, vacuum, and do the hardwood floors.  She brings her own cleaning supplies and equipment.  She has a set rate rather than charging by the hour.