Working as a housecleaner.

[joeythenutter]

Can someone tell me if what i state below is enough work in 3 hours. I started 2 weeks ago cleaning a 3 bed house, 3 hours once a week. Today, my 3rd week i find a note saying I am now only needed once every 3 weeks!! Owner is in the house every time I clean, but does not acknowledge me when i come in or while im there. I have asked is there any problems or anything that I can do differently but have got no communication.

In the 3 hours I was: dishes, lots, all kitchen surfaces, emptying bins, oven and hob, microwave, clearing kitchen table, all windowsills, dusting, brushing and washing all floors, all rooms hoovered or carpets brushed, stairs brushed, main bathroom full clean, additional bathroom cleaned, all skirting dusted and washed, all bedrooms floors cleaned, beds made, all rubbish and litter in all rooms picked up, whole house tidied, all toys arranged, washing put on or in drier, dirty marks removed from walls and doors.

Out of all the work in the house the tidying and picking up rubbish/clutter takes the longest as its in every room. Does this sound enough work for 3 hours??

I really need some advice as I feel a little deflated at the moment, thinking I am not working hard enough. I don't stop from the moment I enter the house till I leave. I have cleaned houses in the past with no problems and excellent feedback from the owners.

Would appreciate any thoughts.

That sounds like an incredible amount of work for a reasonable rate. I wish you were near me!

You're a victim of your own success.

You do too much too cheap. You've done a huge initial clean up, now they only want a maintenance clean every few weeks.

You want to run your own business? Then never mind "I'm quite happy with the rate"... put your business brain into gear. You're self employed? £8 an hour is not a good rate for someone self employed, it's really not.

If you're as good and as meticulous as you say you are (and I genuinely believe you are) then you need to up your prices or change your pricing structure.

Word of mouth is the best advertising you can get and someone as good as you will be in high demand, even the amount of people on this thread who want you, shows just that .

I would say you can't do 3 weekly as you can't fit that neatly into a regular schedule with other houses - I do fortnightly for 5 of mine and it works if we stick to it. I have had similar people- asking for 4 hours a week, so I get things sorted, then dropping to 2 hours, saying they don't need me this week etc. If I started again my rules would include a set minimum - I am also on £8ph and trying to pluck up the courage to put it up, I certainly would with anyone new.
I'd say if they are messing you about and not talking to you, that you might be better off telling them it isn't working, and try telling everyone you are looking - my first house was the friend of a pre-school mum, and now I clean for several of her friends, and then their friends.

Wow I would love to have someone come in and do that. And for £24! You should charge more or have a set 'mini Spring clean' fee that they can shell out for once a month,

I realise now that by trying to make a good impression and work hard, I have basically shot myself in the foot. I am going to put a card in local tescos and some of the smaller grocery stores in town. Try to pick up clients that way. I have also a profile on local sites and have replied to several ads but have had no luck so far.

It's a lesson isn't it? I have found, at personal and financial cost, that sometimes my own personal values (doing the very best job I can, trusting that people will see this and pay me accordingly) and my business clash a bit. Onwards and upwards though. You sound great and, once you get one or two clients, word of mouth will bring more

Don't go back, they are taking the piss. You've done far more than they probably thought you would and have decided rather than ask you to come for an hour each week, they'll manage with you every three weeks.

Joey, you might also consider putting some cards out in office centers and other workplaces where busy dual-career couples might be working, and at gyms and so forth.

Good luck!

Yes, you are right in your summation.

Good luck, I hope you find good clients, word of mouth spreads fast around here (central London). If you are good you'll fill your schedule quickly.

Agree with previous posts you have done too well!! They obviously think that if you can get all that done in that time then they can have you come less often, thing is it would be too much Mess created again in the 3 weeks to do all over again, I agree with pp about having separate charges like what you did would be classed as a 'Spring clean' and charge more and then regular maintenance at your usual rate. I don't have a cleaner (would love one) but I would never expect a cleaner to be washing dishes, cleaning kitchen surfaces, tidying toys, tidying anything! Laundry emptying bins etc That's all day to day stuff they should be doing - are they used to living in hotels or something?! As a cleaner you should just be cleaning! Eg, mopping floors hoovering, cleaning bathrooms,wiping skirting, doors etc. Anything else they should pay extra for - if you agree to do it.

My cleaner came for 3 hours, £10ph and in that time did-
Kitchen (surfaces and floors)
Hoovered stairs and landing
Cleaned main bathroom, downstairs toilet.
That's was it! No bedrooms, living room etc and not a deep clean either.
I've sacked her but you sound amazing!!

They are not considering you and that you need to earn money (assuming you are not doing it for kicks). The least you should expect is an every other week or they are stopping you getting regular work in that slot.

Yes. Up your rates.

It's great to read so many positive comments, just wondering how far would any of you travel to a cleaning job?? There is work available but they are half an hours drive away. Not sure after taking fuel expenses into account it would be worth it.

It depends - if you are building up clientele and need to fill your hours then possibly - you could charge £10 an hour for the further away jobs. Once you get a reputation then you will get more work and may be able to spend an entire day in one area.

Most cleaners I've had travel long distances, i.e. over 30 minutes (I live in central London) but I tend to use the same cleaner as my neighbours so they work in 2 or 3 hours in each of our homes for a couple days a week sometimes spending long days here in our neighbourhood depending on the work that needs doing.

Also, even if you don't continue the longer distance work long-term you can develop some initial references there.

If you are advertising, I would suggest adding a land line number if you have one.

I need loads of people to do odd jobs, but never phone if it is just a mobile. I am sure I am not the only one of the older generation who is irrational like this.

Also, are there any elderly day centres near you. Maybe the manager knows of people who need help.

My very first cleaner turned up for the interview with her full name and address and some checkable references. I was at work all day and she did three days a week. Amazing woman, cleaned things in my house that had not seen the light of day In 20 years.

I wish you lots of luck.

I agree you can say no to every 3 weeks. Even if you say yes now, you can and should go back and say they need to up it to weekly or fortnightly or lose the slot. You don't have an obligation to turn down other work for them.

They are getting a fantastic deal. You know this. Don't sell yourself short.

Just an update on this thread. Householder finally contacted me to say she has lost one of her jobs, so can no longer afford me every week. She is very happy with the work. I was happy to hear this :)

I put an ad on local gumtree and answered a few other ads and now I am over loaded with work requests! I contacted a woman who house I quit at xmas to get a reference, and she has been unable to find a replacement, so wants me to go back. I quit because, dare I say this, I was cleaning for £6.80 an hour and felt I was doing way too much for so little. I have agreed to return for a new hourly rate of £9. Although my SO is not happy with me going back to this house as the male does not acknowledge me or even look at me. Woman is fine. I feel the issue is that he does now want anyone in his house, but she does. Not sure what to do now.

I have also been taken on at another house, after seeing someone this evening. Great house, very tidy, just cleaning only at £8.50/hour. I have 2 other house offers who both want me but not sure whether I can fit them in and have turned 2 others down.

Im delighted with how things have turned out, but still have self doubt that I am good enough.

don't doubt yourself! you sound great. i'm glad that you've increased your prices. when you work efficiently and do a great job you should be able to charge more.

glad things have come right for you.

Not acknowledging you is just rude.
I always think that 3 hours continual cleaning is a bit much, but thats just me

STOP doubting yourself, if you are in demand as much as you say you are why would you not be good enough? Your prices are very cheap as well, I was paying £8ph 12 yrs ago for a cleaner... Now I can't find anyone for less than £15ph but I think that's too expensive and wouldn't pay it. We are in ne Scotland in a small city which isn't expensive.

joeythe nutter , I am so pleased that things are looking up for you. Next year I want to see you posting about how difficult it is to recruit good cleaners for your mega cleaning company

All the cleaners in my area will only accept you as a client for a minimum of 2 hours per week. It might be worth setting some boundaries.

Also £10 an hour round my parts too.

Well, yesterday I was told that instead of every 3 weeks it is now only when im needed. Had an idea that was coming.

A house that I clean on a Tuesday morning, today was my second week (I was told this morning that my cleaning was fantastic, the house was spotless), well ive just been told by text im no longer needed.

What am I doing wrong, can anyone advise :(

ok, remember i don't know you or your cleaning!

some ideas come to mind:

1. either your cleaning isn't as good as your clients expect in which case you could ask - nothing to lose and everything to gain as you can improve on those suggestions. text back today's client: so sorry to hear that. i would really appreciate honesty - is there anything i can improve on?

1. they don't take you seriously so maybe set some ground rules: you do a minimum of 2 hours per week, every week. notice must be given for holidays on both sides. set a professional tone. if you're too flexible and too grateful for the work they'll start taking the mick.

1. you're too cheap. yes, sounds counter-intuitive. people value expensive things more. your high price makes you valuable - make sure you give them value for money though! but if something's too cheap when it's great i'm thinking 'what's the catch?'.

1. don't let your clients know you're desperate for work. it's off putting. you want to give the impression you're in demand.

do any of those resonate?

I did text back the one from today and asked if there was anything wrong with the cleaning. They won't respond.

I don't think im too cheap, the price was agreed between us based on what the requirements.

I did say to her before i started that if there was anything I wasnt cleaning enough or the way she wanted to let me know, and she was happy enough.

When someone tells you in the morning that your work is 'fantastic', and that they both couldnt believe the standard, then hours later get rid, I would prefer people being straight with me.