Why don't you accept "monthly" customers?
Over time, it has become apparent that monthly appointments are hard to schedule. I only have certain openings during the month, and many times those spots are not the day/time the customer wants or is convenient for them. Rather than continually disappoint the customer and frustrate myself, I decided not to accept monthly jobs.
Why do you have a time limit?
I do not work by the hour because once a home has been caught up, it doesn't take as long to keep it up each cleaning visit. In most cases, I have put in some "over the time limit" time just to get a house caught up or not to leave something unfinished. My "cleaning information" has a list of cleaning projects that are a part of the job I will do for the price quoted. Once those things are done, the job is complete even if only an hour and a half has gone by.
I do not have time to "watch the clock" when I am working. I enjoy my work and don't enjoy feeling pressured by the clock. After all of these years of experience, I am instinctually aware of how much time has passed. If I am getting close to the time limit on a job, I will know how close I am to finishing the job. If there is going to be a problem, I will usually go ahead and finish if it's only a matter of a few minutes of over-time.
I need to be able to schedule other jobs. It would be nice if one job would pay enough so that I didn't have to do another, but that is not the case so I try to give my customers a time of arrival on any job that falls after 8 a.m. I have to allow for cleaning time and for travel time.
What if I want something else done that is not on your cleaning information list?
There are some prices for extra cleaning projects on the cleaning information list. But, if you have another project in mind, please talk to me about it. Most cleaning projects are not off limits and if you need something done that I do not provide a service for, I may be able to refer someone to you. I have good referrals for carpet cleaning, window cleaning, handy man...etc.
I do ask my customers to email or phone me if they'd like an additional project done on their next scheduled appointment. That way I can allow time for it and can let my next scheduled customer know that I will be arriving later than usual.
Why won't you use my vacuum cleaner?
I wasn't in this business long before I bought a vacuum cleaner to bring along with me. It was very difficult to learn how all of the different vacuum cleaners worked, how to add attachments, how to change the bag...etc. You wouldn't think that would be hard, but it was. So, I bought a good quality vacuum cleaner that I keep in good working order and that has everything I need to do a good cleaning job for you. If you take the tools I'm used to away, it takes away from your cleaning job because it will take me longer to do the job, which takes away from your time limit.
I also found that many vacuums were not in good working order or didn't pick up well or were missing attachments. It's just much easier for me to use my own equipment and supplies.
What kind of cleaning products/solutions do you use?
Most of the products I use can be found in the grocery store. They include (by brand) Windex glass and all purpose cleaner. Mr. Clean, Lysol, or Pinesol all purpose cleaner. Pledge or Old English furniture polish or cleaner. Lysol or Clorox toilet bowl cleaner. Comet or Ajax powdered cleaner. Lime-Away or CLR hard water deposit cleaner. Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Mr Clean Eraser.
There are other good products out there, but I have chosen these on the basis that they are easy to find, economical to purchase, safely clean the most surfaces, are the best of their "type" of product, and do a lot of the work for me. People have asked about using things like white vinegar etc. and it's not that those natural products don't work, it's that they take too long to work or too much muscle. Natural products are good to use on surfaces that get cleaned every day and are kept up. Most of my customers do not have time to clean every day.
Why don't you work on weekends?
I chose not to work on weekends because there are too many people home and we get in each others way. I just want to do my job and do it well. I do not want to have to wait to get into a bathroom to clean or have to reclean wet floors that were walked on before they were dry. Most people prefer to not be home when I am cleaning which gives them the wonderful experience of coming home to a clean house.
I normally don't schedule regular work on Mondays either. The reason is to give myself one day during the week that I can schedule business appointments for myself, have an extra day off, allow for holiday scheduling, or just give myself that extra day for rescheduling purposes.
What do you do other than your cleaning business?
I also offer pet-sitting and house-sitting jobs. I have many regular pet-sitting jobs where I just go in once or twice a day to feed, water, or whatever is needed. The house-sitting jobs are also just drop in once or twice a day, pick up mail, replenish fountain water, water plants, and do a general check up on the house. Every house is different, so I just get my instructions from the owner on what they need done.
I also do private, public, and commercial mosaic art. You can see my art at: www.patticadwallader.com
Are you going to look in my dresser drawers and closets?
Not unless THAT is where my work is. I do not have time to go poking around other people's drawers and closets. Besides, I have my own stuff to deal with. If it's not related to the job I'm doing, I will not be looking at it. I will move your jewelry box to clean under it and clean the surface of it, but I don't have any reason to open it since I won't be cleaning inside it or organizing it. I think you get my point here.
I have excellent references of people I have cleaned for for many years, have keys to their homes, and where no one is home when I go to clean. Some of these people put me in charge of house-sitting and pet-sitting for them when they are away. I am happy to give you as many references as you need to make you feel more comfortable. I have found that the people who are usually the most worried are those who have never had anyone clean for them or they have little experience with it. It is understandable to me that a person like that would be worried and I try to do all I can to lift that burden from you.
Do you dust "around" things or pick them up?
I always move things when I'm dusting and polishing. The only time I do not move something is if it is just too heavy to move or would be a major problem to move. But, regular things on a dresser or kitchen counter are always moved so a thorough cleaning can be done.
Will you vacuum my upholstered furniture?
Upholstered furniture will be vacuumed every time if there are pets living in the house or if you were to request it. Otherwise, I use my own discretion and vacuum it as needed.
Do you shampoo carpet?
I have a light-duty carpet shampooer by Electrolux that uses the "dry foam" method of cleaning. Most carpet will be dry in about 2 hours after the shampooing is done. This is not suitable for carpet that is really dirty with lots of dark spots, but it is great for keeping up a carpet that is kept fairly clean.
What do you do if my cleaning falls on a holiday?
The major holidays that I observe are New Years Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the day after. These are the holidays that are most likely to fall during a week day. I usually plan in advance for these holidays, letting people know how I can change my schedule to accommodate their home. I seldom ever cancel a job unless it is the only option which is usually the case when I go on vacation.
My vacation time is not usually at the same time every year and I usually have plenty of planning time to let you know in advance not to plan a dinner party when I'm not going to be available to clean for you.
