Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

We purchased our home 8 months ago. I am finding it overwhelming to keep up with the housework. I wish I could do a deep clean more than I do, but with a young DS involved in activities and both of us working FT there are only so many hours in the day. So for those of you who have a cleaning person I have a few questions:

-Where did you find yours? Did you rely on Facebook recommendations? Some sort of business?

-If you are a teacher, do you continue to have them come in July and August?

-What if you have a dog?

-Do they come at the end of the day when you are home? During the day when you are at work?

-Do you do monthly or bi-weekly? How much does it cost you each time? We live in a cape, but would just want the downstairs done since the upstairs is hardly used. So two bedrooms, LR, small DR connected to the kitchen, and bathrooms.

Thanks for your input!

Re: Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

We found ours through word of mouth. Another teacher at my school lives in my area and has been using her for years.

Ours does not come in July and August.

We do not have any pets.

She comes during the day while nobody is at home. She is usually gone before I get home with the kids around 4:30.

She comes every other Friday. We pay her $140 per day. We live in a 4 bedroom Tudor, plus we have a finished basement that doubles as the playroom.

Re: Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

-Where did you find yours? Did you rely on Facebook recommendations? Some sort of business?

We found ours through my mom's work (she is a nurse). He worked on the custodial staff at the hospital and cleans houses on the side

-If you are a teacher, do you continue to have them come in July and August?

Yes. But we don't have a regular schedule. We just call when we need and it's usually like once a month

-What if you have a dog?

We have a cat, but I lock her in the basement while they work upstairs, then let her upstairs while they clean the basement/office downstairs

-Do they come at the end of the day when you are home? During the day when you are at work?

Usually on a Saturday or Sunday morning

-Do you do monthly or bi-weekly? How much does it cost you each time? We live in a cape, but would just want the downstairs done since the upstairs is hardly used. So two bedrooms, LR, small DR connected to the kitchen, and bathrooms.

We call when we need. About once a month. We have a 2 bedroom cape as well with a finished basement living space with an office and 2nd bathroom down there. We pay $90

Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

Where did you find yours? Did you rely on Facebook recommendations? Some sort of business?

I found mine on facebook, but it turns out she is neighbors with my FIL's cousin, which made me feel more comfortable about hiring her. The other woman we considered does a few of my DH's co-workers' houses.

-If you are a teacher, do you continue to have them come in July and August?

I'm not a teacher, but I would definitely still have her come when I'm off. Having the house cleaned means I get to spend more time with with my kids and I'm less stressed out. It's gone from feeling like a luxury (before I started) to feeling essential for my sanity. (side note: I'm not much of a cleaner on my own, so cleaning was a major stress for me.)

-What if you have a dog?

We have a dog. Our cleaning lady has 3 dogs herself. She loves dogs. I would just check in advance, but I think most cleaners are used to dealing with dogs in the house.

-Do they come at the end of the day when you are home? During the day when you are at work?

During the day while I'm work. I know some people want to be home while the cleaner is there because they feel nervous having someone in their house. I was very comfortable having someone come in my house, because I grew up with a cleaning lady coming weekly when we weren't home. And there is nothing better than walking into your totally clean house when you come home from work. It's like magic. We also have a smart lock on the back door. So she has her own code that only works between 9-5 during the week and it sends DH a message when she enters and leaves.

-Do you do monthly or bi-weekly? How much does it cost you each time? We live in a cape, but would just want the downstairs done since the upstairs is hardly used. So two bedrooms, LR, small DR connected to the kitchen, and bathrooms.

I was going to do bi-weekly. My DH convinced me to do weekly and I haven't regretted it for a second. With a toddler and a dog, the house is definitely ready for a good cleaning after a week. We pay $90/week for a 1400 square foot, 3 bedroom/2 bath. She focuses on the downstairs, because we don't really use the upstairs which is 1 bedroom and 1 bath. She uses all her own cleaning supplies.

Re: Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

Re: Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

Where did you find yours? Did you rely on Facebook recommendations? Some sort of business?

Word of mouth. She somehow started at my SIL's and now her client list is mainly our family and friends.

-If you are a teacher, do you continue to have them come in July and August?

I am not a teacher but several of her clients are and they all keep her through the summer. First for their sanity and second because if she doesn't work she doesn't get paid and no one wants to lose their spot!

-What if you have a dog?

We are lucky that she loves dogs. Several of us have pets and she just does her thing around them. She has even taken mine for a walk on nice days.

-Do they come at the end of the day when you are home? During the day when you are at work?

During the day while we are at work.

-Do you do monthly or bi-weekly? How much does it cost you each time? We live in a cape, but would just want the downstairs done since the upstairs is hardly used. So two bedrooms, LR, small DR connected to the kitchen, and bathrooms.

Bi-weekly and I pay $100 each time. I know mine charges based on the house size, time it takes her and tasks. For example she doesn't do my laundry but I know she does it for a few of her clients. So she tailors what she does based on each client's needs.

Re: Hiring a Cleaning Person (and a question for teachers that have one)

-Where did you find yours? Did you rely on Facebook recommendations? Some sort of business?
Word of mouth

-If you are a teacher, do you continue to have them come in July and August?
Yes, they still come in the summer

-What if you have a dog?
No dog, we have a cat. They clean her litter box.

-Do they come at the end of the day when you are home? During the day when you are at work?
During the day

-Do you do monthly or bi-weekly? How much does it cost you each time? We live in a cape, but would just want the downstairs done since the upstairs is hardly used. So two bedrooms, LR, small DR connected to the kitchen, and bathrooms.
Bi-weekly. We pay $110. We have a 2400 sqft colonial, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.

They aren't the most thorough so I will probably be letting them go. I would love to find someone that does a better job.