I’m thinking about hiring someone to clean my house. Just once a week. Now, I have major trust issues - I’ve been burgled several times and would have to trust this person with my keys and burglar alarm code - and I also work at sites where security is a major concern. So, how do I go about hiring a reputable cleaner?
Ask a friend.
I got mine about 16 years ago when I went round to see the guy whose lass my brother had nicked.
He was unexpectedly tidy, so I asked a few questions.
Now her sister in law cleans my pit, we are great friends, I just wish I fancied her.
Ask local people
Also the one major thing they hate is when people leave cash lying around.
Are you in the US? If so, call Merry Maids.
If you can get a close personal reference, that is good. Otherwise, you might go with a large firm or chain, as mentioned above- Merry Maid, Molly Maid, etc.
I don’t have cleaning people in the house when I’m not here. It doesn’t make good sense.
Merry Maids and other companies like that might be an okay idea if you just want a “spit shine.” They don’t do really in-depth housecleaning.
I found my housekeeper through an ad. Look for someone who is bonded, and call for references. It’s not a guarantee that you won’t get a crook, but it makes it a little less likely.
I would suggest that you not GIVE the key to the housekeeper. Put it outside in a hidden location the morning before she comes and insist that she puts it on the kitchen counter when she leaves.
Call your alarm company and have them give her a seperate code. (The place that I work did this-- each employee has their own code and the alarm company can tell who was the last person to enter the premisis.) It could be such a thing that the code would only work between certain hours-- you’d have to ask what options there are.
Have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on the house while she’s there, just to make sure she’s not carrying out boxes of stuff or anything like that.
Don’t leave small, valuable items out in the open. Try to keep the temptation to a minimum.
Pay your housekeeper well. Well-treated and well-paid employees are less likely to steal.
Good one!
Sadly, I don’t know my neighbours well - the one I did know had died - and just about everyone is out working during the day.
I’m in the U.K.
I’m not sure about the UK, but here in the US I know a bunch of folks that got their cleaning people from the local church bulletin board.
You may already know someone who’d like to make a few extra bucks cleaning houses. A friend or relative maybe. Keep your ears open.
Other than that, Merry Maids seems to have a good reputation.