To not want this cleaner

[LiftyLift]

Desperately need a cleaner after returning to work after maternity leave. DH and I both work full time and we are struggling to keep on top of the house work.

I saw a recommendation on Facebook for a cleaner so I got in touch and she said she had availability so I booked an initial visit with her. She proceeded to change this twice, then turned up half an hour early to the appointment when we were in the middle of the children’s dinner time.

She came along with her husband who done most of the talking. He apparently “does the business side” and was barking at her to write things down that I was saying. I wanted to hear from the actual cleaner, not him, and she barely said anything. He was rabbiting on about his own business rather than talking about the cleaning I needed. She seemed a bit vulnerable if I’m honest.

They kept making comments that the other cleaner, who is their daughter, wouldn’t be able to reach certain things to clean them as she’s so short which was weird.

They smelled of smoke and his hands were yellow and filthy. The cleaner herself was nice enough, but was in bare feet when she took her shoes off to walk round.

They want to do an initial deep clean, then move to a 6 monthly contract which is quite extreme. When I must have looked a bit dubious about this, they offered a one month rolling contract.

I feel terrible to cancel now, but this just isn’t a good start, is it?

AIBU to cancel this and look elsewhere?

Don’t do it. It’s your house you owe them nowt. The point of meeting is surely akin to an interview not a contract.

No cancel them and find someone else. I would look at personal recommendstions or a nationwide company like mollymaid or helping hand

Cancel. You'll regret it if you don't.

Why do you need to ask?
Of course you cancel it. Don't have this man in any kind of proximity to your home, yourself, or your family again.

She came along with her husband who done most of the talking. He apparently “does the business side”
😂😂😂
What "business side" of a private cleaning contract is so onerous that it takes an entire separate person to 'manage' it?

and was barking at her to write things down that I was saying. I wanted to hear from the actual cleaner, not him, and she barely said anything. She seemed a bit vulnerable if I’m honest.
You could have shut him down. Your house, your money, your relationship with whoever enters your home to clean it.
Of course she's vulnerable. He sounds predatory, & only there so he can count her money before taking it off her.

He was rabbiting on about his own business rather than talking about the cleaning I needed.
What did he claim this was? Something else he could charge you cash for? If not, I wouldn't be surprised if this is hot air & he has no business. Just pimping his partner out for cleaning ...

I hadn’t thought of Molly Maid, I’ve seen their car around so know they operate. I did think an agency would maybe be sending someone new each week, but at least I know the insurance is in place and it’s easy enough to make changes.

Some sort of sign making, so I doubt there was any cross selling. He was one of those talk over her types and talking over me too.

The more I think about it, it would have been fine for him to explain the contract etc. but him nosing round my house with her and having a look at what needed to be done was unnecessary.

Sounds like a real problem waiting to happen. Just cancel!

Why would he need to explain the contract though?
Or even be there at all?

Generally the bigger cleaning companies try to send same team out. Usually 2 people. If one is off they’ll send someone else in their place( advantage of bigger company in that you usually can still have clean even if there is an absence)

but, my advice from having cleaners for years, is don’t get attached and personal with them. Yes, be pleasant, ask them how they are on meeting, know their names and basic stuff like if they have kids and recognise things they do well. Thank them . But keep a firm boundary and don’t start banal chatting and sharing life stories. They are your employee so treat them as you would a direct report at work.

after a honeymoon period I found most cleaners start to tail off - they skip bits, don’t do as good a job on certain things. I would feedback to boss of teams if I wasn’t happen with something, but again kept it professional and sent photos. Even with this, without exception, after 2-3 years standards would be lower than Originally agreed. I think in part because replacement cleaner would take over and the way I’d agreed it needed to look wasn’t passed on.

so I would switch cleaning companies. Again advantage of using bigger companies, they’ll always have customers turnover so don’t take it personally ( I wouldn’t say why I was leaving them)

I view it a bit like banks - don’t give them misplaced loyalty. Sure, I’d have stayed with someone who had kept standards up but never found that in 20 years .

I deliberately didn’t go with an individual or small set up , too hard if standards slip or issues . Plus what happens when they’re ill or on hols or their child is sick. Yes, I probably paid more, but so much easier .

The cleaning company would have insurance, training, references.

And absolutely do not sign with a fixed contract…never heard of that and not needed..cleaners are in short supply and especially good ones. They can pick up new clients easily …it’s a mark of a shoddy service if they try to fix you in.
sure, asking for direct debit is fine ..lots of clients are awful at remembering to pay cleaners. My window cleaners are same- DD but I can cancel anytime.

No, no, nopity, no! I would not be comfortable with him dealing with the business side at all, he sounds awful.

Very odd. The one time I had a cleaner in I was very picky (for some good reasons to do with the job and my needs) and the agency were very understanding and sent someone who fit the bill precisely.

This is great advice. I made the mistake of getting too friendly with my last cleaner and felt I couldn’t pick up on anything that was missed. She had a bad back and was very slow, even stopped for a sit down tea break on a two hour clean.

I am naturally chatty and over share, so I will have to just put on a face so as not to fully engage in chit chat.

I’ve sent the text. I will be pleased not to come home to someone’s bare feet on my carpet 😦