[letzclean]

Hi Guys n Girls,
                        I have a chap that wants some domestic cleaning done I am meeting him this Friday. I would like some advice and tips on what to ask apart from the obvious i.e. areas to be cleaned magterials etc. Although I do one off cleans this chap wants once a week so I know I should approach it different as he will be a client and not a customer! All your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.


Kind regards
Letzclean

[Bertie Boo]

Hi

Has he had a cleaner before? If so he'll have a good idea what he wants.

You'll only know for sure how often the 'less often' jobs need doing after you've been there a few times and seen what sort of mess he makes each week. Its for that reason that clients prefer to get the same cleaner each time.

I always ask people to show me what they want. You can then decide whether you want to do it or not.

I know it sounds a bit fipplant but asking the client what they need and want is the best bet.

Cheers

Stephen

[letzclean]

thanks Bertie, I was wondering if there was any other probing questions apart from what he wants doing? It is just a once a week to start with

[Bertie Boo]

well, firstly, if he's a man (or indeed anyone) one his own, why does he want a weekly? Most single people and indeed couples usually only have a fort-nightly.

Of course the reason for his wanting a weekly may be obvious when you meet him (for instance he may live like a pig, or he may live in a showhome and is super-fussy etc, of course he may just think he needs a weekly).

I always agree a price for the 'job' not 'by the hour' and i use all my own cleaning supplies and equipment as this seems to be what so many 'companies' are doing these days (and in any event i prefer it) but you may do it differently.

The main issue i've had with regular cleaning is that most houses are in a bit of a state to begin with (usually because the quality of previous cleaning personelle left a lot to be desired or because it had been a while since anyone had cleaned at all) and its taken a lot of time and blood hard work (for no extra money, though thats my choice) to knock the places into shape.

That said, seeing as most of my clients made it very clear that as long as i was good and reliable (and they knew i would be as all my work is by recomendation) then they'd be happy to stick with me, so at least all that inital hard work pays off. The other thing is that once everything is in order the visits thereafter are a complete breeze. Especially for single people and couples as they generally make little mess, more so if they have full-time jobs and a busy social life (like most of my clients). Its cleaning up after people who have kids who really make me earn my money, i have to say that i dont have that many 'family' houses on my list any more (thank god lol).

I know exactly where to find the dirt and grime in all of my clients homes, and its all in different places.

When i meet people for the first time i maintain its so that i can see what they want and work a price out. In fairness thats a complete lie, the truth is i know what price i want before i go, i just like to meet the client and see what kind of state the house is in. I've never been to clean a house that was WORSE than the initial visit, if anything people have often really tidied up and sometimes even re-carpeted following the acceptance of my quote BUT when you begin cleaning its always feels a million times worse than you remembered lol. Once the place is in ship-shape it becomes easier.

The reason i say its better that he tells you what he wants is because when people pay for a regular cleaner they are all universal in one thing - and thats that they give the cleaner all the jobs they can't/don't want to/ have time to do. So, for most of my clients i only ever clean one bedroom (even if its a 4-bed house) as they maintain that the other rooms are not used or that the users of that room are responsible for their own cleaning.

I have one lady i go to every week and i am instructed not to clean any bedrooms at all. I have several clients who ask me not to bother with the kitchen as they say they clean it themselves on a regular basis. In fact i'd say most of my clients have exclusions. I think it goes back to the fact that for a lot of people they like to think of having 'help' with the cleaning and not sub-contracting the whole thing hook-line-and sinker. They like to still feel in control. I have to say that there are very few people i work for who dont at least do some cleaning in between my visits (although for some strange reason it's never toilets...).

Let me know if i can help further

Stephen

[Bertie Boo]

Sorry, also forgot to say you need to clarify upfront:

How they want to pay
Do they want you to have keys
What time and day they prefer the cleaning to be done
Do they want you to go when they are in or out or are they not bothered
What to do when they go on holiday
What to do about paintwork and windows etc.

As a general rule i ask that:

I am paid each time i go if possible (although sometimes if i have to invoice for the cleaning i have to wait for payment).

I state i am willing to have keys if they want BUT i am also willing to collect keys the day before if required (usually that only applies to people i clean for infrequently).

I try to accomodate the day that they would like though this isn't always possible, but what i find is that it isnt the day so much as the time that matters most to some clients.

A lot of cleaners like an empty house, I am not bothered whether people are in or out when i go to clean for them as i am quite outgoing and can hold a conversation if thats what folk want (usually the old people expect a natter as part of the service) but most people who are in when i go just take themselves off to a room of the house where i dont have to clean. Some work ahead of me tidying up rooms so that i can clean them, some even do cleaning themseleves whilst i'm there...I only had one client who i used to hope was out when i went and that was because she was SO fussy and difficult to work for (a nice lady but i hated going there) .

When people go on holiday i say that i do not mind if they cancel (even if it means that during the summer i find myself with only half the work, like like last week, that was a bad week for me lol), to be honest i dont see you can expect much else.

Windows and paintwork can be a total nightmare so i always say that i will wipe windows near sinks and basins as required, also i will wipe noticeable spills off paintwork and vacuum skirtings and picture rails as and when. Thorough window and paintwork cleaning i say i will do 'by arrangement', in other words if the client knows they've hardly used the house between visits then they should leave a note to say 'leave this but do these windows' etc.

Inside kitchen cupboards and fridges are also jobs that people like to have done but again i tell them to let me know when they need that doing.

It works for me but like i said before you may prefer a different approach.

Cheers

Stephen

[letzclean]

Thank you Stephen,
                                That was very informative cheers. Out of interest what part of the UK are you in?




LC

[Bertie Boo]

Hi

I live in North Birmingham and all my work is in local areas, including Sutton Coldfield, i suppose i work in a 6 mile radius of my home. I also clean two apartments in the city centre, thats about 5 miles away in the other direction, but the people who own the flats were keen for me to work for them and accepted that what i didnt have to do in cleaning (both apartments are small and owned by single people) would be off-set by the travelling costs and time, which in the event are not that great 

Where are you? And whats you name?

Cheers

Stephen

[letzclean]

My name is Mark I am based in Barnes West London, I would like to discuss cleaning with you further in private if you don't mind that is? My email is delfine@london.com