If could have any kind of help within the household, what would it be?

[tsalty]

I am at the end of my career in its current form - a combination of aging out and too much travel. I have been pondering what’s next, and have been thinking…

I had a relative who was in a very controlling relationship and, when she died, the controller completely moved himself into her property until he was legally escorted out. I wasn’t working at the time, so went and sorted out the house. I cannot describe the state of the place but, steadily I cleared it all sorted everything out. And I realize now that that was a really fulfilling task. So I am thinking about offering household services going forward.

Any form of ‘household management’, from decluttering to downsizing to respectful packing up houses of deceased loved ones. I would also offer services such as shopping and putting it all away, bed linen changes and perhaps even helping people go out to do their chores. Maybe even a meal service where is would deliver meals on maybe. Monday and a Friday that just need chucking in the oven.

But - talking wish list - what services would people like in their homes to make life easier? I appreciate this is very much a luxury for most, just looking for ideas…

I would love to have a full time companion, cleaner, home help, personal assistant.

I’ve also paid people to

• assemble a paddling pool type thing
• put deckchairs together (flatpack type thing)
• pick up dog poo (yes that’s a thing - it was during the pandemic and I’d been injured)
• take garden waste to the dump for me

You know like Mrs Danvers in Rebecca? I’d sort of like her basically. If I were Rebecca, I mean.

My dream would be to have someone come in every day for a few hours and do any errands which have been left for them (clothes to dry cleaners, posting parcels, etc) then make a meal and leave it for us.

This!

I think it would work well if a cleaner accompanied you - even if for part of the session - so if decluttering they could clean all the empty shelves and maybe some of the items that are being kept but need a clean. If not needed for the core task they could do dishes / change bedding etc. perhaps they could become an ongoing cleaner to help maintain things.

Personally I would like someone to do 'companionship' work with me. I know what needs to be done but if doing it alone I struggle to complete it mentally or sometimes physically. So for me I'd want someone willing to listen and follow instructions rather than be 'the expert'. I'd be hoping they were non judgemental and fun to spend time with.

Someone to actually cook a proper meal for my elderly FIL. He has 'carers' coming daily to give him food but 'carer' is not a description I'd give them. At best they manage to put a ready meal in a microwave. Other days it's toast. One of them tried to poison him with raw bacon and another took him to the toilet when he asked for peas.

I think i need to find the balance between ‘services offered’ and then an hour surplus a week for those ‘extras’ that people have mentioned. Time is the most precious commodity these days, its striking the balance

I would pay £££££ for someone to come to my house and sort out all the toys, put the scattered puzzles etc back together and haul 80% of it off to the nearest charity shop.

The charging thing.. that i need to investigate fro sure. But, like i said upthread, I think it would be a tiered membership thing.

I disagree that my audience would be the elderly and infirm. I think there is a vast audience taht would like a variation on services

Deep cleaning the kitchen including ovens, cupboards and that annoying gap between the cupboard and the ceiling

Also same for the bathroom - cleaning all times, grout and shower screen.

just anything that needed doing - they could do it - laundry, spring cleaning, decluttering, bedding changes, fix a broken thing, lightbulb, shopping etc etc. a good all rounder!

Re Selling......I thought I'd found someone to do this and was overjoyed - but she only sold high quality designer items (£150++), had very strict conditions and took 60% of the sale price... It seemed more trouble than it was worth. edited to add -->(Should have said I still think there is a business there for what you're suggesting)

I need someone to visit every week and help me -- declutter, tidy, do the odd bit of cleaning and ideally able to help with little DIY jobs that I can no longer do myself due to injury, (things like fixing a curtain pole that's coming away, putting a broken door handle back on, changing the recessed halogen bulbs in my high ceilinged kitchen). I'd commit to a weekly visit and what got done, got done,, what didn't could wait until next time.

@despiteappearance probably in about a year. I have to finish up my current role with grace.

I think that it is great service for people who have second homes and family coming. I appreciate the summers will be madness, but there will be enough work in the winter for longer projects.

I think there are plenty Of working professionals who would jump at the prospect of bespoke services to make their lives easier. I don’t doubt there will be some interest from elderly and infirm, but there will also be cost implication for the service

filing paperwork

Something like a modern butler... Find out and buy tickets for events, sort holidays, new clothes/uniform as needed, take items to dry cleaners, jeep house near and tidy, get a gardener in when needed

I’d pay £££ for someone to do that at DD’s house!

@despiteappearance why would you assume I’m inexperienced and unknown. Incorrect assumptions to both statements. Mt references are extensive and respected

I absolutely agree with @ResultsMayVary . I had a declutterer in once. Waste of time and quite upsetting. Took a while to set up, cost quite a lot for a day and she came, suggested I got a dishwasher to help keep things tidy in the kitchen, made suggestions about categorising the stuff, didn't drive so wasn't able to take anything away, brought her own "healthy lunch" in a tupperware and sat in my kitchen in silence while I cleaned upstairs. I felt uncomfortable with her. She was nice enough but didn't actually DO anything. By the end of the day i couldn't wait for her to go, I'd received a lot of "helpful suggestions" (none of which I hadn't thought of or read about anyway), and nothing looked any different.

When I asked her to help me sort through things she didn't listen to me or follow instructions at all - just "advised" me to get rid of anything I didn't use. (Yeah... helpful for several hundred pounds). I wanted someone to sit on the floor with me and actually sort through stuff.

@LemongrassLollipop I love the idea of a butler to take care of all my day to day tasks I don’t want to do!

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER its crazy how much your username resonates with me!

Yes, there could also be a ‘new mother’ package. House deep cleaned and 3 weeks of laundry and meals included. I actually already had that in my mind