To think this will work?

[sweetcarolines]

NC incase this is outing.
I've been friends with this person (i'll call her Sarah) for about 4 years. Know her pretty well, our kids play together.
Recently, I have been trying to find a cleaner. DH and I work FT - me 40hrs, him 60. 3 DCs. Finding time to fit everything in is tough. Im fed up with using precious family time to bloody mop floors and dust.
Had no luck finding a cleaner - in our area demand is higher than supply so they can get very expensive and know they are always working on their terms.
I had arranged a meeting with a potential cleaner over the weekend and she didnt show up. I told Sarah about this and the next day she offered to clean for me, for the rate i was willing to pay the cleaner.
Sarah works part time, 3 days a week and her kids are a bit older (mine are small). So she has the time to do this, and is glad of the opportunity to earn some extra cash. Seems like a win-win.
Another friend said she doesnt think Sarah should do the cleaning - incase it got in the way of our friendship or she damaged my home in any way.
I'm feeling quite positive about it - i would like some insight to any experiences you guys have had of this.
Did it work out? What basic ground rules did you lay down on both sides?
TIA

I totally wouldn't do this no. What if you're not happy with her standard of cleaning? How would you ever sack her if you needed to?

I reckon i'd be happy with the standard... her own home is spotless - she is also a very hard worker.

I would never mix business and friendship like this, no.

I don't know it could work out. How much of an honest friendship do you have and also does she seem like the type to take the mick?

More - i've no evidence to suggest she is anything other than honest. Dont think she would take the mick. She works really hard - volunteers for 3 different charitable / community organisations in her spare time

I had the same experience as thin end!! Don't mix business with friendships!

Just bear in mind your home is a very personal space. Even if you tidy first, and she's very discreet, you'll still have things around your house that you might not usually share with a friend: financial letters/info, medicines, personal photos, lists you've made, etc.

Paying money to your friends, even if they do a good job - whatever that job is - can feel really strange. Then as others have said, what if she doesn't clean as you would wish? Or comes late/early/different day to suit her, as you're a friend so it's not like "a proper job" ?

Only you can judge any of the above, but ultimately it will change the dynamic between you, even if only subtly.

Why not start with a trial basis for a couple of weeks to see how it goes? Then if you don't feel it's working you could let her know you've changed your mind, hopefully no hard feelings.