NPR: questions for those with housekeepers...

[mrsdee1982]

We haven't hired anyone yet, but we're still looking.  But I have some questions.

1) is it weird to be home while they are there?  what do you do to stay out of the way?  I ask, because my DH and I have off schedules, and changes are, one or both of us would be home when they were there.

2) do you tip?  or do you just pay the fee?  we're looking to hire an independent worker, not someone from an agency (if that makes a difference in your answer).

Thanks!  

[neongreen]

1) My work schedule varies, so sometimes I'm home. We have a two-story house, so I stay downstairs while she does upstairs and then we switch.

2) I pay just the fee and tip right before Christmas.

[Deleted]

1) we have a set day each week so I tend to work a little later on that day so I'm not home. Not because it would be awkward but because I always worry I'm in the way.

2) We pay the fee and also did a Christmas bonus. We use an independent worker who was referred to us by friends who have worked with her for 10+ years. In my experience having tried a service as well, I prefer having someone in my home that I feel more of a personal connection. Especially since my LO will be at home with a nanny on that day as well once my mat leave is over.

[tatersalad]

1) With the current cleaning day we have set up I usually arrive back home with our toddler about halfway through the cleaning. Our housekeeper starts on the upstairs so it will be done when I need to put T down for nap and I usually take a bath while she finishes the downstairs. I do some cleaning with her when I get home, vacuuming out the couch, putting away toys, and finishing any dishes because those are not part of the duties we pay her for. Although if I'm not feeling well she always puts away toys and tries to do dishes. We've been using her for 4 years and refer her to all of our real estate clients, so I'm very comfortable with her and we have a high level of trust.
2) We pay the set fee and only tip her on her birthday and Christmas.

edited because I can't type on the app today

[girpipley]

1) I am always home when they are there and I just switch floors with them.

2) I do a Christmas bonus, but just the fee the rest of the year.

I like my independent cleaner for a few reasons. 1. She will schedule around naps. I interviewed several other large companies that told me they would not work around a specific time. So I would potentially have cleaners there when DD was napping. It didn't work for me. 2. I can text her and say I'm feeling sick and need to reschedule or whatever. It's easy. 3. The one time that I wasn't happy with something, she came back that night and fixed it. I just texted and told her "hey, noticed this, next time can you please make sure it gets done" and she came right over. 4. She changes my bed sheets and starts the wash. <---win.

We've never had anything broken.

[Deleted]

1. I prefer not to be home when she comes, because I feel like I might get in the way. It also makes me feel uncomfortable to have someone cleaning my house while I lounge around watching TV. She has her own key and comes while DH and I are at work. However, one time we went through an agency, so I was home because I did not trust a stranger in my house.

2. No. I pay the price that she set and I think it's more than fair enough.

[sordidvolition]

1. Yes it's weird for me to be here. Feel like I'm in the way.

2. Pay the fee and then a tip at Christmas.

[kemdupuis]

I did not realize this was so common. I am so incredibly jealous of all of you! I need a housekeeper!!

[mrsdee1982]

Thanks all so much! Yeah, we're pretty set in using an independent instead of an agency. Agencies here charge around $200 a hour and I will not pay that.

We only have one floor, so maybe DH and/or myself can take the dog to the park or something if we'll be home when she's there.

I will remember about the christmas bonus. Those are always nice

[PurpleIris]

1. We have a cleaning service and they send in 2 or 3 people at at time. I prefer not to be home because I feel awkward, like "could madam deign to move her feet while we vacuum?", even though they're really nice.

2. We tip at Christmas, otherwise just the regular fee.

[nchauhan]

We use a woman that has her own small company.  I'm always there bc I feel weird having strangers in my house since they usually rotate who they send.  


I pay the set fee we discussed, which I think is enough.  I feel bad that it never crossed my mind to give a tip around holidays.  How often do you guys have people come clean? Our lady comes every 4-6 weeks depending on our schedules. 

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 18:17:25 GMT -5 nchauhan said:

We use a woman that has her own small company.  I'm always there bc I feel weird having strangers in my house since they usually rotate who they send.  


I pay the set fee we discussed, which I think is enough.  I feel bad that it never crossed my mind to give a tip around holidays.  How often do you guys have people come clean? Our lady comes every 4-6 weeks depending on our schedules. 

Our lady comes every other week. I wanted her to come once a week but DH refused. 

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2015 19:22:41 GMT -5 @littlebee said:

Jan 30, 2015 18:17:25 GMT -5 nchauhan said:

We use a woman that has her own small company.  I'm always there bc I feel weird having strangers in my house since they usually rotate who they send.  


I pay the set fee we discussed, which I think is enough.  I feel bad that it never crossed my mind to give a tip around holidays.  How often do you guys have people come clean? Our lady comes every 4-6 weeks depending on our schedules. 

Our lady comes every other week. I wanted her to come once a week but DH refused. 

Same here! DH did say we could discuss changing to once a week when baby comes but we'll see..

[Bluedaisy]

My husband really doesn't like the idea so we don't have one now but once I finish mat leave and am back at work I'm going to really push for one bi-weekly.

[carolyngrace]

I AM a housekeeper/cleaner. (independently). I work for two families who both have a bi-weekly service. In both cases someone is often home when I'm there. In one case, the DH works from home. He and I just switch floors (as others have mentioned) and it works just fine!

I would never expect a tip on top of my fee. Of course a small gift at Christmas is appreciated, but one family didn't give one this year and it was fine!

During this pregnancy I've wished that I had a cleaner myself. I think I will probably stop doing it once DB is in our lives and our OWN house requires more work. Doesn't make sense to pay someone to clean mine when I'm cleaning someone else's

[tinavonsparkle]

I found my independent lady by asking friends for recommendations. She has a key because I hate being there when she is - makes me feel so lazy! I pay her weekly and then always buy her a gift at Christmas (wine and fancy toiletries this year) and leave her nice notes and always send her a text saying thanks for the great job after each time she comes. I really trust her and she does a great job. Coming home on a Tuesday night is always amazing, well worth the money. I'm so worried once I'm on mat leave my SO will expect me to give her up

[curlyrunner]

1. Ours comes every 4 weeks. May have to increase when DD is born as she will make 3. I'm not usually home but have been on occasion. We just "dance" adjusting spots as she cleans.
2. Fee only with Christmas bonus.

[girpipley]

Jan 30, 2015 18:17:25 GMT -5 nchauhan said:

We use a woman that has her own small company.  I'm always there bc I feel weird having strangers in my house since they usually rotate who they send.  


I pay the set fee we discussed, which I think is enough.  I feel bad that it never crossed my mind to give a tip around holidays.  How often do you guys have people come clean? Our lady comes every 4-6 weeks depending on our schedules. 

Ours comes every 3 weeks, and I think it works great. I can do the in between things like running the vacuum and sweeping. Sometimes I'll do a quick clean in the bathrooms... Sometimes.

Now that I'm on bedrest, we are having her come weekly because nothing is getting done, but will go back down to 3 weeks when things settle down.

[dmoney]

Ours comes every 2 weeks, DH's mom has been using her for the past 10 years. So we started using her about 5 years ago. She comes to us every 2 weeks, she does all of the vacuuming, dusting, changes the sheets etc. We pay her, her standard fee of $75 (Every 2 weeks). She has her own key and her own alarm code. During the holidays we go in on a big gift with my MIL and give that to her as her Christmas Gift. We arent home but that is because We both work when she is there. But I have been home when Ive had surgery and she just works around me... She even helped me down to the basement the first time I had to have surgery so that she could clean the bedroom first. Then once she was done, she helped me back upstairs and into bed so that she could finish cleaning the rest of the house.