Finally Posted an Ad for a Housekeeper

natalie_ca

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Well, I posted to find a new housekeeper.  I haven't had one in more than a year and I just can't do it myself despite trying.  I have enough energy to go to work, but by the end of the day I'm wiped. It's all I can do to cook dinner before falling into bed at sometimes 6 pm and usually no later than 7:30 pm! 

I try to get as much cleaning, laundry, and shopping done on Friday evening and Saturday (I need Sunday to rest and recover my back and energy), but it's just too much for me to fit in so the cleaning tends to suffer.   I'm so tired of my apartment looking dirty/dusty;  I'm ashamed to have anyone over :(

I have tried other means of finding a new cleaning person IE: girls at work or their friends,  but they either live too far away, or they are allergic to cats, or they can only come on a Monday or Tuesday evening (after their day jobs).  I can hardly stay awake to cook after work, I don't want to have to stay up until 10 pm while someone cleans. Also that early in the week  means by the weekend when I would want to have people over, the place isn't clean.

I posted the following ad trying to find someone who can work with my schedule.
We live in Winnipeg R3L and are looking to find an efficient housekeeper for 3 to 4 hours per week to help us with weekly cleaning of a 2 bedroom apartment. Carpets in the bedrooms, tile and hardwood elsewhere.

We are currently looking for someone to come in Saturday mornings initially; until a measure of trust has been gained. In time the hours would change to Thursday or Friday during the daytime hours. Duties include:

Vacuuming; washing floors; cleaning bathroom/fixtures; kitchen (including dishes and/or loading/unloading dishwasher, wiping down appliances and counters/cupboards); dusting/polishing/windexing furniture/window sills, pictures and baseboard ledges (the baseboards are wide and accumulate dust); wiping down leather sofa/chairs, and taking out the garbage. Maybe a load or 2 of laundry (sheets and towels) per week.

Other duties as required include fridge and oven cleaning and reorganizing cupboards as needed.  We are looking for someone who can not only clean and take direction, but who can monitor what needs to be done (IE: oven or fridge cleaning, cupboard organizing and wiping down horizontal blinds)  and take the initiative to do it, or plan ahead to do it the next visit.

We have 3 cats, so you must like cats and not be allergic. We take care of the pet boxes.
 

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Sounds like a good ad. I would really stress the fact that the cats are indoor ONLY and can NOT go outside. I'm a real bear about that and that's my primary reason for not having a cleaning lady come in to take care of our house. I'm so darn paranoid about the cats getting out.

My in-laws have a Mennonite lady who comes in every other week for eight hours. She does all the cleaning and whatever laundry needs to be done. She's going to start coming in now every week (starting in 2014 because my MIL simply can't do much anymore....the laundry is in the basement and she can't be trying to get down and back up those steps; do you know that my MIL still hangs her laundry outside? And she's 93 years old? I'm truly astounded by some of the stuff that woman still does. I can't even carry a huge basket of laundry up to our clotheslines anymore because of my back; I use the dryer in the basement.). Lizzy, the cleaning lady, also cleans out the fridge and she's going to clean out all the kitchen cabinets and get the kitchen in shape. She also does windows and all kinds of stuff....she really works. I seriously considered hiring her for us, too, but again, I worry about the cats getting outside, especially since I wouldn't be there.
 
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natalie_ca

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I live in an apartment so I'm not concerned about my cats getting out.  Also, they're chickens!  The only one who would make an attempt at escape was my RB girl Chynna. It was funny because occasionally she would sneak out the door, only to find a hallway, and she bee-lined it back into the apartment quick as a bunny!

I don't doubt that the twins will be hiding under the bed, and Abby in a closet!  lol

I've gotten several replies to the ad already. I'm going to go through them, call a few and set up some interviews.
 

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Will you ask for references?

I'd love to have someone come maybe twice a year to help me do deep cleanings. That is what my mother does at her house and its so helpful. Im just really private about my home so that would be a challenge. I had had a girl come babysit once so i could focus on baking for thanksgiving one year when we were supposed to have a huge crowd.
 
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natalie_ca

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Will you ask for references?

I'd love to have someone come maybe twice a year to help me do deep cleanings. That is what my mother does at her house and its so helpful. Im just really private about my home so that would be a challenge. I had had a girl come babysit once so i could focus on baking for thanksgiving one year when we were supposed to have a huge crowd.
Yes, absolutely I will ask for references.  And I do plan on being present on Saturday morning when they come, so I can get to know them a bit, and see how they work.  There will also be a probation period of a month. That is 4 Saturdays to evaluate, then we'll have a discussion.

I'm going into this with a professional attitude, as employer to employee. I'm looking for a housekeeper, not a friend and I want someone who is reliable and responsible and takes pride in their job. I've had it with housekeepers that take short cuts thinking I won't notice, and me being too timid to speak up where I end up being taken advantage of.

I just want someone to come in, do a good cleaning job and then go home; in exchange for a fair competitive hourly wage.

Looking around at my place, I want their first visit to be about 5 hours. I need some desperate help to get a good cleaning done, and to get some things organized and put away.  I can do some tidying up, but my back is so bad that I have to spend more time sitting and resting my back, and you can only do so much from a sitting position.
 

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I hope you find someone good and will get the job done properly. If I lived closer, I'd do it. When I start cleaning, I tend to not stop until everything is done. 
 
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natalie_ca

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Out of all that have applied so far, one is standing out. She's 43 years old. She gave her first and last name, as well as her phone number to call. She's also worked with a well known local commercial / residential cleaning company, and she can provide references.  Plus I can also call the company to ask about her.

So I think she will be my first interview.
 

angels mommy

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Out of all that have applied so far, one is standing out. She's 43 years old. She gave her first and last name, as well as her phone number to call. She's also worked with a well known local commercial / residential cleaning company, and she can provide references.  Plus I can also call the company to ask about her.

So I think she will be my first interview.
Sounds good Natalie. I started my own business cleaning houses last spring, & thanks to referrals. I am just about booked all up!

I now have 6 bi-weeklies, Tues-Thurs. & 2 once a month people.

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.  
  I had one teacher recommend me to another, then one of my clients has me cleaning his mom's because she is now 87, & he also referred me to a neighbor!

If you know anyone who has a cleaning lady, referrals are always the best. This girl sounds like she may be a good one. She's also my age! 

I think your plan for starting on Saturdays, then moving to another day is a good one. It will give you a chance to not only see if you can trust her, but will be good w/ communicating how you like things done.

Also, this way if she has any questions in the beginning, you will be there to answer, until she gets her 
"routine" down there. 

 
 
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natalie_ca

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I called the one girl who gave me her full name, phone number and a place that she had worked. I figure if you are applying for a job, you don't hide behind an alias.

She is currently working part-time as a nanny in the afternoons, so her mornings and weekends are free, so there is no problem with her being able to work in the morning during the week, once we get beyond the probation period of Saturday mornings.

I arranged to have a working interview with her on Saturday for 4 hours. I'll see how she cleans, find out a bit more about her, and if things work out, I'll continue to have her come on Saturday mornings. Of course I'm paying her for this Saturday.

I told her that if all goes well, I'll start her out at $18.00 for a period of 6 weeks, and then increase to $20.00 per hour. I recognize that cleaning is hard work, if it wasn't I would be doing it myself!

So hopefully she works out and I won't have to go through this again!
 

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Not to sound cynical but I'd set up a secret camera and also do background check,google her name and check her Facebook and/or other social sites. That's just me being me :)
 
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natalie_ca

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Not to sound cynical but I'd set up a secret camera and also do background check,google her name and check her Facebook and/or other social sites. That's just me being me
No cameras. But I did search facebook for her, and found her page. Same photo as in the ad, plus lots of photos of her family; nieces etc. Google found a site with picture of her at a wedding social (pre wedding party), and a Link Den.  So she seems on the level.  But I can't say that I don't have some anxiety.  The girls I've had coming in the past I knew through Homecare or recommendation. But I wasn't having any success finding anyone that way, so I tried a professional job board specifically for home health care workers.

I'm willing to give her a chance.  She's bringing her list of references with her on Saturday. She was prepared to give them to me today, but I won't be calling anyone this week, so I suggested she bring them with her.

Also, she's going to be coming Saturday mornings for 4 to 6 weeks at my suggestion, so I will be here.

I know you can't tell a crook by their cover, but she looks pretty normal, and friendly in her pictures.
 
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