How To Find (and keep) Help
Ask a single dad whether he’d rather have an extra $100 in his paycheck every week or an extra five or six hours a week in leisure time, who would blame him for taking the time off? That’s especially true when it comes to housecleaning.
“After all, who has the time, never mind the inclination, to keep a clean bathroom, a well-scrubbed kitchen floor, and fluffy, neatly-folded laundry atop the dryer (and that’s just for starters, particularly for single men with kids)? It’s not easy,” says Amy Olson, spokesperson with The Maids International, a housekeeping service company. “Fast-paced lifestyles, hectic schedules and a lack of free time can push housecleaning to the bottom of the to-do list. And while you can turn to professionals, before picking up the phone to schedule an appointment, it is important to know whom you are letting into your home.”
If you can manage it financially, letting someone into your home to keep it clean and tidy is a good idea a pretty big item to check on your ever-expanding to do” list. Once you’ve decided that a mop-and-bucket are to you what kryptonite is to Superman, and that you’re now in the market for a housekeeper, where do you find one?
FIND A HOUSEKEEPER
“Simple. Try the yellow pages, the classified ad section of your local newspaper, or simply go to your favorite web search engine and type in your area code and house keeper, maids or housecleaning services. A great way to find a good housekeeper is to ask around the office, neighborhood, or among family and friends. People who use good housekeepers will recommend them to you, saving what could be a great deal of due diligence up front. I found my housekeeper on the job,” says Lester Strouse, a self-employed contractor who acted on a tip from a customer on a dry-wall job. “My customer said she was professional and affordable. That was good enough for me.”
You can get even more creative about finding the right housekeeper. The National Association of Professional Cleaners will help you find a good housekeeper in your area. Angie’s List? (www.angieslist.com) offers an online referral service for finding a housekeeper. At HireHousekeepers.com, you can review and choose housekeepers based on the criteria you choose. The service costs is $65 you’re guaranteed five responses.
WHAT KEYS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE GREEN-LIGHTING A HOUSEKEEPER?
Olson from Maids International recommends the following:
Bonding: Insist that the housekeeper or the company is bonded. That will protect you in the event of theft (yes, that does happen).
Insurance: Also insist that the housekeeper is insured. It’s your home so if an accident occurs while your maid is on your premises you could be held liable.
References: Your housekeeper should have a good reputation. To make sure, get references and check for any red flags (tardiness, theft, lousy work, eating your food, using your phone those usually top the list).
Cleaning products and equipment: Not every housekeeper will bring their own supplies. Ask up front who pays for the cleaning supplies.
Guarantee: Get a written satisfaction guaranteed agreement with your housekeeper.
Taxes: Remember, the IRS is watching. When you hire a housekeeper, federal tax laws requires you to pay social security and other taxes.
Under IRS rules, the Internal Revenue Service requires payroll tax filings by a domestic employer who pays a household employee more than $1500 cash wages in a calendar year. These payroll tax obligations may include:
— Social Security & Medicare Taxes (7.65 percentof Gross Wages)
— Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) (0.8 percentof Gross Wages or less in Most Circumstances)
— State unemployment and disability insurance taxes levied on the employer.
— Advance payment of the earned income credit for eligible employees.
According to Dr. Susan Bartell, a psychologist and couples therapist, it’s also a good idea to hire someone you can communicate with. Bartell also says to be up front and direct about your expectations. “Be very specific about what you want done,” she adds. “Don’t say, ‘I want the house cleaned top to bottom’. Instead, say, ‘On Mondays please change the sheets, on Tuesdays and Thursdays please clean the bathrooms, being clear what that includes — the toilet, the shower, the floor, the sink; each time you come, wash the kitchen floor’. In fact, write it all down and give it to them this is the best way to be really clear.”
What should you expect to pay for a good housekeeper? They can charge from $15 per hour and up (in general, the amount of any flat rate will depend on the size of your house). Bartell says the smart move is to know up front what you bet getting for your money and then pay accordingly. “Negotiate the price up front and be very clear about it,” she says. Some people get a flat rate (daily/weekly)no matter how many hours it takes them, others work on an hourly rate. Ask around to see what the going hourly rate is in your area and negotiate around that.”
Getting a good housekeeper can make your life a whole lot easier. Just ask the right questions and hire a housekeeper who can help you be proud of your home.
Great Questions for a Single Dad to Ask a Potential Housekeeper . . .
Do you have a good reference for me?
How many hours does it typically take you to clean a home my size?
Do you do laundry?
What do you expect from me?
