Please help me respond to this cleaning client!!

[cleaningdilemma11]

I’ve just started my cleaning business, going to see my first client on Sunday. I normally charge £15 an hour, but because she’s my first client I have agreed to do it for £10 an hour for 4 hours, and then it will be £15 an hour. She didn’t even ask, I suggested it in return for a review/reference. She wants a regular 4 hours clean every week so I was ok with it doing it for £10 for a first clean.

Now client 2 has just texted me asking if I can come for a “trial “. She asked how much I charge, and I said £15 an hour but will do it for £10 in exchange for review/reference, she then said that’s out of her budget but if I’m willing to do it for £10 an hour for her she will recommend me to her sister who also needs a cleaner?

She lives 45 mins from me, I don’t drive but we both live in London. So I don’t know what to do, do I say yes and take what I can until I get enough customers to be picky or do I just stick with my price and tell her to fuck off?

I give discounts hoping I can get reviews on my Facebook page and build up enough credibility to get more customers, I don’t know if that’s right though? Can anyone help me?

Oh god, just ignore it.

It could be 2 male mates mucking about, and taking piss,

Or

1 male naturist, who's "wife" just happens to be out every time you visit, whilst he sits their sprawled on the sofa watching you.

Or

Its genuine and I would not want that job.

Ignore, you do not have to reply to ANY questions.

To be honest, after reading your posts, I'd give that job a miss. You're going to be on edge all the time working for her. Not worth it!

Be careful with any hoover attachments.

I'd just reply and say sorry, you don't cover that area...

Asking again. What made you decide that running your own business, and it being a cleaning business, was the choice for you? What is it you want from a way of making money that this will provide? That will help you work out what to prioritise.

@PullTheBricksDown Because I wanted something I could do around DS, and work on the weekends DS is at his dad. I can’t do a normal 9-5 job, when I have to drop DS off at school at 8:45 and pick him up at 3:30. It just wouldn’t work for me. This suits me better because I can choose the hours I want to work.

Is your son with his father every weekend though? People tend to want a regular weekly clean so it might not work you only being able to do weekend jobs when he is not with you. I was going to say that people also tend not to want a cleaner in on the weekend at all- they would not want someone working in their house during their own leisure time. However I suppose you might find a niche group who work shifts and and are out at weekends. That could perhaps be a selling point.

@cleaningdilemma11

I think if I went back there again, I'd probably do a better job, as I now know how she likes things to be done and where everything is. She had a lot of small ornaments, like ALOT! books and papers lying around. Took some time to clear everything before I could clean, it was also a very dusty house it wasn't easy but I'm glad I had the experience.

I remember being on the floor scrubbing a stain on her bathroom tiles, and her coming in all the time telling me to remember to clean then shower head and mirror, and I thought to myself wow is this what every clients is going be? Is this really how it's like to run a cleaning business.

She would just randomly come in and tell me to remember this and that, clean this and that and I haven't even got to that yet.

And then she asked me if I've cleaned the shower screen, I said no even though I had because I could see she wasn't impressed. You live and learn I guess, I'm just grateful for the experience, just makes me better for my next client.

Sounds to me like she was after a freebie! Complain so much she hacks you off and you refund her

With many jobs WFH now and much more flexible I think you might find something much easier.

Being self employed is hard. Cleaning is hard. It doesn't sound like you really know how to clean properly

Yes I am not sure this is necessarily the right option and a cleaner who posted earlier made a good point about joining an agency to learn the ropes before taking the plunge. Also is there wrap around care at your son’s school? I don’t have the luxury of picking up my child from school as I have a job that requires me to work standard hours.

Cleaners are so undervalued as are care workers. I ran a domicillary care business many years ago. We would do some cleaning for clients who had their personal care contracts with us, basically as a package to assist families.

But I did get called by people for cleaning only. I used to explain we what we were but they always asked me to undertake cleaning. I would even explain it was more expensive for them because I would not charge any less than our care rates. They never lasted long, ringing and complaining that it was too much after a month or so. I reminded them of our contract and told them they could cancel with 2 weeks notice. They were also getting the girls to go up ladders and clean outside windows etc.

I assume you have made it clear what level of cleaning you are prepared to do and make it clear from the outset. It is hard work and staff get taken advantage of.

I pay £14 ph for my cleaner and we provide cleaning products. She could easily come on the bus like you OP, but we live rurally and cleaners are v much in demand / would have to drive (no public transport) so they can ask pretty much for what they like. I didn't ask for references or experience because I was pretty desperate for a cleaner, you'll find a lot of people like me in London who will be prepared to pay top dollar for your services. I paid the same when I lived in Central London and again, provided all the cleaning products!

My post doesn't make much sense but what I mean is my cleaner doesn't have to 'bring' anything with her, so if buses existed here, like in London, she would only need to bring herself to my house so could come on the bus, so not driving may not have to be an issue in London (where buses are in abundance!).

@cleaningdilemma11
Have faith in your ability to hear what each client wants and then carry out their wishes.
May I say that some cleaners with many years cleaning under their belt and a client list yards long, are not always willing to do things the clients way if the client isn't there to supervise, something quite unnecessary IMO.
They often go about things in the way they always have done, regardless of their various remits.
Someone I know was worried about starting at a music school (at 15) as he had no experience whereas the rest of the class had been playing for a long time.
His mind was put at rest when the tutor at assured him that there would be no ingrained bad habits to erase thus the teaching would be much smoother and he would take less time to achieve a good standard.
It turned out to be true. With those words ringing in his ears every day his self assurance grew, he achieved much higher grades at an earlier age than most and eventually, a place in a world renowned orchestra.
Believe in your abilities.
Make notes of their preferences by client's names and ask to see the property to be cleaned so you can get a feeling for whether it's going to be a slog or a pleasant job involving mostly what you yourself do at home, with a bit of added pizazz.
You'll be fine. 👍💐
As for the naturist couple. I'd give that one a wide berth, just to be on the safe side and so that you don't feel in any way, uncomfortable. 🤭😁

To the cleaners on here, I have a client I'm seeing this Sunday. He just said he wants to have the windows and balcony cleaned sometimes. I don't mind cleaning the windows from the inside, but I don't know about the balcony? Do cleaners do that? I guess it depends on the kind of cleaning it needs. A quick sweep, I don't mind but don't know about cleaning his balcony like I'll be cleaning his flat?

@LoisLane66 thank you ❤️

Don't know if this guy is trying to get his money worth 😂

Saw a series on CH5 (I think) with Alex Polizzi (The Hotel Inspector)
One hotel was for naturists and she was coerced into getting into a hot tub with the naked hotel owner. Sensibly, she wore a bikini but the episode made for uncomfortable viewing when she passed buck-naked men in the corridor and at breakfast and the sofas were wipeable.
Ugh! The chap you mentioned might start conversations you'd rather not have regarding your views on bodies etc.
You won't be short of conventional clients, I feel sure.

@cleaningdilemma11

Thank you all. It was just a really bad day today. She had a window cleaner spray, I should just have used that to finish it off and make everything shiny. I spent literally an hour on each room, scrubbing, even using a tooth brush to get into the corners. Regarding the sink, I honestly don't know why she said it was dirty. She told me they had their bathroom done, and it was a new sink one of those lovely white square ones, I used the spray and a wet microfibre cloth then dried it with a dry microfibre cloth, it wasn't dirty but for her it was 🤷‍♀️

Last thing I did was mop the kitchen, I used the wood flooring cleaner and a mop, it was beautiful nice and shiny. As soon as it dried she started sweeping the floor and I'm just like I literally swept and mopped the floor??

I wish she could just have waited until I was gone, even if she decided she didn't want me back again. It just annoyed me that she was right behind me all the time redoing everything I just cleaned.

I wish I could show you the pictures. I have so much to learn, will definitely be watching YouTube videos about cleaning, learning everything there is about it.

Thank you again ❤️❤️

That client sound like a right pain in the arse! I wouldn't go back to her even if she begged. she was rude and clients should not be following you around. I have had the odd one try but I tell them it puts me off and to leave me to it. The ideal clients t is the one who isn't In!

I've been a self employed cleaner for over 10 years, you will learn the ones to turn down like the one you did above, she will probably never be happy with who ever she gets.

How to leave things sparky? Window cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

PS. Sorry if I sound too cautious but I admire you for tackling a hard job (which it is...when you're doing it for other people to sometimes exacting standards) and having 3 daughters myself, one of whom has had a bit of a struggle after her DH walked, I feel for you doing your best.
We're all rooting for you. 😀🥁🎺

is it me or is this all a bit odd? How hard can it be......person ( usually though not always female) wants cleaner. Other person ( usually female) does cleaning for about £15.00 an hour.

No balconies, no nudists, no deals.

@randomer I wish it was that easy 😂 I've had a guy message me on gumtree before asking if I want to engage in 'fetish activities' and he'd pay me £50 🤮 there's so weird people on gumtree sometimes, but most of them are genuine clients looking for cleaners.

@LoisLane66 if I'm honest I'm a bit anxious and scared going into this mans flat on Sunday as a woman on my own. He lives in a one bed flat on his own, lord knows what could happen once the door is shut 🤷‍♀️ but I'll definitely let someone know where I am. If you guys don't hear from me on Sunday, you know what has happened 😂

No don't do it, 45 mins travel is not worth it. Time is money! Check your local prices, if you're a very efficient cleaner charge more, if you're average stick with the average price.

The woman sounds like a bitch, I'd steer clear, even if she lived round the corner.

Scum tree

Completely normal to clean the balcony. Sweep, wiper rails, clean windows from outside, wipe down table if there is one. Normal.