OT: VERY frustrated - what would you do?

[labst60]

Okay - a little back information here - back after DD was born and for the short period I was working, we had two women come 2x per month to help me with the housework. They were occassionally late, but never more than 1/2 hour or so. All was well, but then once I quit working, Dh and I figured I could handle it myself - and I did, no problem.

Fast forward about 18 months, and now I am pg w/ #2 and all of the sudden, the housework has become a MAJOR chore that just doesn't get done (between me feeling lousy, lack of energy and when I DO feel good, I want to get DD out a bit).

Anyway, we called the 2 women that we had used in the past (DH called because they don't speak great english and he is much better understanding over the phone.) Anyway, I was there and he said that if they (the 2 of them) could do Wendnesdays at 8 and be done by 10:30 (because we have to be somewhere by 10:45 Wednesdays), then we'd like them to start to come biweekly again. (Actually, our first choice was Friday, but their schedule was full- Wed was our 2nd choice) But DD has school the other mornings, so it doesn't work for us. They said no problem, they'll be here.

So, at 9 OCLOCK today, only one of them shows up. Turns out the other is sick- since yesterday. I think they should have called - and not been an hour late! The best part? The woman who is here is FLYING through everything (dusting/vacuuming, but not movign anything, not using the attachements for the stairs like they usually do - I have a ton of carpeted stairs.) She entirely skipped the laundry room floor!!!

I'm so ticked because we were CLEAR about what we needed - he repeated it 3x! And now I am stuck here for at least an extra hour (but not nearly as long as I should be, because she is doing a lousy job) and it going to cost me the same amount.

I just have a problem with paying I person for 2.5 hours of work what I would pay 2 people for 2 hours of work. I think I am going to ask her "how much" and if she says the regular amount, point out that it wasn't done the regular way - but I definately want to find someone new - but the only other person I have references on works alone and only does mornings- which doesn't help much since I can't be here for 4 hours in the mornings (hence the reason we called these women again!)

I guess this was just a vent, but GRRRRRR..... I think I'm just going to have to find the time/energy to do it again, but I LOVE having the whole house clean at once (as opposed to piecemeal if I do it.)

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Honestly- I would tell her that the work was not done as you agreed upon. If she did all the work then fine- I would pay her but since she is barely doing what she should I would adjust the pay accordingly. I would also find another cleaning lady.

 

[katiebsmom]

Honestly, I don't see how in the world she is able to do much of anything by herself in just a few hours. I clean houses on the side and do a VERY thourough job and I'm there no less than 8 hours in a day. Heck, it takes me 4 or 5 just to do my own and it's less than 1000 squ ft. LOL!!!

I wouldn't pay her the full amount and I would make it clear that unless all of the work is done to the agreed expectations and with both of them present that you will have to find someone else to do the work.

How many squ ft is your home (if you don't mind me asking ). Most of the homes I clean are 2000-3000 squ ft. I guess that's why it takes so long.

Hope that helps! Congrats on the coming baby too BTW!!!!!!!!!

 

[Minnie824]

I think you need to find someone else. We had a cleaning person who did good at first, just her, took her 3.5 hrs, which for our house is normal. Then she slowly got down to 2 hrs, dusted terrible, missed stuff. Then she added 2 more people. 3 of them finished my house in an hour. That is not possible. That was when we ended up looking for someone else and she is SO much better. She does a great job. I would definitely look around for someone else.

 

[Whosemom]

Don't get me wrong, I understand venting. If you had a long standing satisfactory arrangement, is one off day worth tossing it out?

 

[labst60]

Hi guys - glad you all understand where I am coming from.
Our house is about 2300 sqfeet, so not huge, but not tiny either.

She probably will have finished the whole thing in 2.5 hours (she's on the last room.) What we pay is typically $20/hour/person - not sure how that compares to other areas, but is about average for here.

I definately goign to ask her to go back and get the spots she missed - but I HATE having to do that (especially when it so many things - she skipped the powder room floor and didn't do the linoleum basment landing at all - they typically do both of those!) Granted the landing is only about 3x3, but it is the principle.

As far as ruining a long-term relationship over one day - I do hate to do that - but we haven't used them in about 18 months, so part of me is afraid to "waste"my money giving them another try. The point of me PAYING someone is so that it gets done better than I am able/willing right now.

 

[Nanisashi]

Maybe the lady that did show up is flying though everything because she was left holding the bag and now has a day full of jobs to complete on her own. I can definitely understand the frustration and would not pay the full amount. By the way if you need someone to translate for you just PM me. Best of luck!

 

[labst60]

The resolution:

I asked her to go back and do the areas she missed (she did, but not completely.)

Then I explained that if they are going to come in 2 weeks, it needs to be TWO of them, at EIGHT. Long story short - she said, okay, but it might not be 2 of them and it might not be until 8:30/9:00. So I explained that didnt work for my Wednesday schedule, maybe they could do Friday. They can't do Friday and so, I said, we'll, I guess it's not going to work out because I need to leave thehouse by 10:30 on Wednesdays and she said very cranky - "well, where do you need to be that I can't come at 9?" GRRR!!! I always hate the assumption that if you are a SAHM you have no where to be!!!!! Anyway, I told her that I either need first thing Wednesday or Friday AMs or after 1 PM on Wednesdays or Thursdays and if she can do that, she has my number and we can give it a try for a week - if not, I'll need to find someone else. I also did speak up and told her that I didn't appreciate her being an hour late without just calling to let me know. I was very polite, but felt the need to get my point across, and ultimately did pay her the full amount because it seemed to be the easiest thing - even though it probably should have been about $30 less but there is no way I'm going through this 2x per month. I'll guess just find someone else. Thanks for everyone's support - I was so frustrated this morning and it really helped to know that it wasn't just the pregnancy hormones talking!!! Part of me realizes that I am very LUCKY to even have the option of paying someone to come in and help and feel like I shouldn't complain, but then, if she isn't really cleaning it right, what am I paying for??

 

[Starr W.]

I have had the same cleaning company now for 11 yrs. They send 2 people(I have had 3 different lead woman in that period which I find rather remarkable) It takes them about an 1.5 hrs to clean my 3300 sqft house. I pay 83 per cleaning. Now if Kristie takes her 3 week vacation to Florida, poor Jill takes about 3 hrs to clean the whole house.

Personally I wouldn't trade them for the world, the husband & wife who run the company are very good(they took over from the father) plus they are bonded & Insured, my sister uses one of the franchise companies(very nice owner there too) but they charge alot more than mine and my sister's place is only about 1800 sqft.


If something isn't done right, I'll let it slide for a week or 2, if it isn't corrected, I'll either talk to my crew(if I am at home when they show up) or call their boss.