Is this usual for a cleaner?

[cleanerquestion]

My new cleaner has requested to take before and after photos in my home for a social media business page. Is this standard practice? I've never had a cleaner before hence my asking. I'm not sure how I feel about photos of the inside of my home with my personal belongings etc being published on someone's social media page. But it's possible I'm overthinking this so would appreciate views! Thanks

I wouldn't allow it, it's intrusive and a potential security risk.
I can see why they asked, I've seen a lot of cleaners advertise using before and after photos on their social media. Although these photos usually look like empty house, end of tenancy type cleans rather than lived in homes.

It's not unusual for someone starting or growing a cleaning business. But you can say no. Also, what are they taking photos of? Mine wanted a photo of the sink in the bathroom, not my bedroom or even the living room.

A before and after of a tap with bad hard water scale , for example, would be fine with me.

One of the tradesmen I am using on my house asked to do before/ after pics. I said fine as long as it did not disclose exact location of property, or show the house details in a way that would pose a security risk. Of course, it is up to you whether you consent or not.

Er. A big no. She can take pictures of her own house.

I would not allow it. Could be used by any conman to case the joint for breakins.

I'm seriously suspicious of any cleaner compromising their clients privacy like that. May be she cuts copies of your keys to hand out with the pics?

I'm a cleaner. I do this. But I advise I never ever give out clients personal info on social media posts, never tag the clients in the posts and I never include anything identifying in the images (as per GDPR). It's usually just showing close-ups of certain area's (like taps, sinks, bath tubs etc).

It's certainly not unusual in the age of social media. In fact, it's more or less expected for any business to have social media pages showcasing their work, products and services. My clients often come to me from my local social media presence.

All clients are welcome to say no though. It's not obligatory.

Wow so they ignored your request, even if no one else would be able to identify it.
I would have completely lost trust in them

Don't be so ridiculous! God almighty. Paranoid much!?

The cleaner will not be giving out clients names addresses for God's sake. It'll be a few pics of clean and shiny surfaces or shower screens that could come from any house.

People on MN really love to bash the cleaning industry, don't they. We're all just con artists and criminals on here.

I'm a cleaner and I would never ask this of my clients. There's a company on TikTok who film themselves cleaning every room, including their arrival at the front door! I often wonder how many burglars are following them!

Casing the joint?😁

I think if they had asked me this I would be rethinking our relationship!

I have a live-in hairstylist, masseur, 2 gardeners and a small collection of other staff. Not one of them has ever asked to take photos of the inside of my property. I would take this to the aspirational tabloid of your choice! Which will likely be the Telegraph. Good luck.

Don't do it. Your home is a private space.

I've had it the other way round. Unbeknown to me, a customer photographed her own home before I turned up and then again afterwards. She then posted an image on my social media business page to show the world how good I was at my job. I take huge pride in my work but would never take photos myself. Word soon gets round if you're good and I don't really need my social media to drum up business.

Unless the house was filthy before I don’t see how the difference would show up much in a photo. And if it was filthy she wouldn’t have time to clean it properly anyway because it would need a much longer deep clean.

Tidying things away would show up in a photo but cleaners don’t really do that.

realistically how much could before and after photos show?! Assuming the clean rather than tidy. The photos would need to be up close of sinks, floors etc to really show the difference which I would be ok with. But I can’t see any reason why pictures of your rooms as a whole would benefit them in any way

Just say No

I've seen plenty of before and after photos of end of tenancy/student flat cleans but only ever after photos of private homes, which I would be happy with

I'm with Boxe on this; a close up of a lovely sparkly sink/shower screen/whatever would be one thing and an image of an entire room quite another - not that the latter would be much use in showing deep cleanliness

So I'd probably agree, but on condition of seeing the images before they were used

Before photos? How filthy is your house?

Just say no

I had a cleaner for my late father and she did this with our consent. She didn’t say who’s home they were from and left out anything identifying. It was usually a close up of a dirty Vs clean floor, skirting board, tap, cooker etc. no one would know who they belong to. I recognised my father’s but no one else would have known. All the cleaning companies I’ve checked out on social media before using this one seem to do the same.

I wouldn't like that

@celticprincess That wasn't to you, BTW. Just a general comment. Each to their own

If you don’t want too then say no but perhaps offer to be a reference for future clients.