Getting Your money's worth
If I am paying for a service, I expect way more. Don’t you?
I did not use a professional housekeeper for most of my life. But at some point I hit a wall when I was in the middle of a big move and I had a very short time to get it done. Most people dealing with moving don’t drop everything else. They still have to work, and look after their family. So the level of stress is heightened in a big way.
If you have to hire a professional cleaner/housekeeper for a move, a yearly deep cleaning, or for regular housekeeping in your home, what do you really expect?
Well, I personally expect them to take the load off my back and do the job I need help with. They should perform in the very best of their ability and care, as agreed, usually only verbally, so GET it in WRITING!
A check list could be a basic list but for best results and the least frustrations, write as much details as you can come up with. A detailed plan for your home’s regular cleaning can go a long way, but talking and walking around your home discussing your expectations and writing the list at the same time, will go a long way in eliminating misunderstandings.
These days, and for a while now, the process of hiring a housekeeper or cleaner for your home is so different. Now, there are some systems to help small cleaning companies in eliminating meeting your clients face-to-face in order to save time and keep money in the bank. These systems might work out for a while, but might also lead to more misunderstandings.
When I was working as the housekeeper, I was wild with excitement and gave much more than was expected of me and my team - each time we showed up. I say “WE” as I don’t like the idea of professional cleaners working alone: for two reasons - 1st, SAFETY, and 2nd, EFFICIENCY.
Now, let’s get back to money talk $$$$$
If I am your girlfriend, your life partner, or a family member (mother, sister, brother) then, of course you expect the help on a different level. But if you hire a “professional”, be it an electrician, a plumber, a realtor, house builder, land surveyor, a dental hygienist, then, you expect a very different level of service. AND YOU SHOULD.
Having said that, if YOU are coming to clean MY house, or render any other professional services, I will expect skill and efficiency, not complacency. Just to be clear, I don’t expect perfectionism, just expertise in your field.
If you ask for pay, you should be prepared to deliver the best effort and skills in your field of work.
My “motto” was always for my clients to GET their MONEY’S WORTH!
My advice to all service provider professionals out there: make sure your clients “GET THEIR MONEY’S WORTH” so we all win at the end of the day.
Now what if you or I mess up? How can that be? Well, it’s easy to mess up once in a while. Why?
Because you DON’t work alone. AND no one is perfect! Misunderstandings are often the first culprit. But then the very next is inexperience, or poor values and work ethic. Let me repeat, “poor values and poor work ethic,” from professional businesses.
When it comes to skills, there are no excuses. Depending on your field of expertise you can learn hands-on in schools, and/or from the internet.
Here in Canada, the schools for housekeeping and cleaning are not many. Even Learning to clean “hands-on” properly anywhere in Canada is a bit of a stretch. LOL!
Stay tuned, that’s for another discussion!
-France, Owner of Domestic Goddess Housekeeping
Comments in French:
Ma réflexion sur la situation lorsque je fais appelle à un service de professionnel. À mon avis la base ce situe dans la communication.
Je vous partage ma dernière expérience avec un professionnel en réparation et ramonage de cheminée. Lorsque j’ai fait appel à ses services en plus d’avoir fait une recherche sur cette compagnie. Je me sentais assez rassurer pour réserver ses services.
Au niveau de réparation et du nettoyage de la cheminée tout a été à ma grande satisfaction. Là où j’ai fait face à un problème ça a été le dégât de cendre qui c’est déposé à la grandeur de mon sous-sol sans exception. Lors de notre entretien concernant le travail è être effectué.
Il a mentionné que tout serait ramassé sans dégât. J’ai assumé que tout étais terminé. Si au moment de réserver ses services j’avais eu plus grande expérience dans le domaine.
J’aurais certainement demandé s’il allait installer un abri afin de prévenir la cendre de ce répondre à la grandeur de mon sous-sol. Du moins fermer les portes des chambres et autres. Souvent c’est après les fais que nous réalisons notre propre manque de clarification sur nos attentent.
J’ai vécu quelque chose semblable avec le service d’une peintre. J’ai fait repeindre entièrement ma maison. Par contre je n’avais pas mentionné les garde-robes. Et bien j’ai dû payer à nouveaux pour ce qu’il nomme un extra.
Ça serait bien si le professionnel nous pose la question. Voulez-vous seulement les murs de peinturer ou autre. La même chose pour le ramoneur. Il aurait pu me dire que sont travaillé allait me causer un énorme dégât de cendre. À mon avis nous ne sommes jamais assez clairs sur nos attentes.
My reflection on the situation when I call for a professional service is based on communication. I share with you my last experience with a professional in chimney repair and sweeping.
When I used his services in addition to researching the company, I felt reassured enough to book his services. Regarding the repair and cleaning of the chimney, everything was to my great satisfaction.
Where I encountered a problem was the ash damage that was deposited all over my basement. When in conversation he mentioned that everything would be picked up. I never assumed at the time of booking his services the mess I will have to face after.
If I had more experience in the field, I certainly would have asked if he was going to put up a shelter to prevent the ash from dusting all of my basement. At least close the doors of the rooms. Often it is after the fact that we realize our own lack of clarity about our expectations or which questions to ask.
I have experienced something similar with the service of a painter. I had my whole house repainted. However, I had not mentioned the wardrobes. Well I had to pay again for what he calls an “extra”.
It would be nice if the professional asked us the question. Do you only want the walls to be painted or whatever? The same goes for the chimney sweep. He could have told me that his work was going to cause me enormous ash damage. I could prepared some plastic wall or else.
In my opinion, we are never quite clear about our expectations in the services we are sinking.
-Angélina Gionet
Comments in Spanish:
Estoy de acuerdo, lo ideal es tener una lista de chequeo ligado a tiempos definidos, para cualquier negocio. Así, desde el principio sebes que se espera de ti y que puede esperar del profesional contratado. Independientemente de si existen los títulos, muchas veces la experiencia y el compromiso funcionan mejor!
I agree the best is to have checklist and time frame for any agreement, so from the beginning you know what is expected from you and what to expect from your appointed professional. Regardless if the credentials are there, many times experience and commitment do better than many titles!
-Lily Beltran, Ft. McMurray, Originally from Colombia
Comments in Filipino:
Ako ay sumasang-ayon sa lahat ng iyong sinabi. Marapat lamang na magkaroon ng mataas na pagtingin para sa mga taong iyong itinalaga at binabayaran upang gawin ang isang bagay. Marahil ay ‘common sense’ na gawin nila ang dapat nilang gawin base sa propesyon nila ngunit mas maiging magkaroon ng cheklist upang maiwasan ang di pagkakaintindihan sa mga bagay na gusto mong ipagawa sa kanila.
Sa kabilang dako, hindi maiiwasan ang ibang mga taong hindi ginagawa ng maayos ang kanilang trabaho dahil sa iba’t ibang rason. Gayunpaman, walang sapat na rason upang hindi pag-igihan ang trabahong itinalaga sa kanila dahil kung ganoon lang din naman ang nangyayari ng paulit-ulit ay marapat lamang na magtalaga na lang ng bagong trabahador na pwedeng pumalit sa kanila. Hindi sa pagiging masama ngunit sa mundong ito sa tingin ko ay kailangan mo laging gawin ang mga bagay, maliit man o malaki, sa lahat ng iyong makakaya upang maiwasan ang panghihinayang sa hinaharap.
Sa madaling salita ay normal lang na magkaroon ng mataas na ekspektasyon sa mga taong iyong itinalaga upang gawin ang isang bagay dahil ito ay may kapalit na makatarungang sahod. Marapat lamang na gawin nila ang lahat ng kanilang makakaya sa pag gawa lahat ng mga bagay na ipinapagawa sa kanila dahil ito ang tamang gawain.
-Sheara De La Cruz, Ft McMurray, Originally from the Philippines
I agree with everything you said. It is only right to have a high expectation for the people you appoint and are paid to do something. It may be ‘common sense’ for them to do what they should do based on their profession but it is better to have a checklist to avoid misunderstandings of the things you want them to do.
On the other hand, it is inevitable that other people will not do their job well for various reasons. However, there is no reason not to refrain from the job assigned to them because if the same thing happens over and over again, it is only right to appoint a new worker who can replace them. Not to be bad, but in this world I think you should always do things, small or large, to the best of your ability to avoid regret in the future.
In conclusion, it is normal to have high expectations of the people you appoint to do something because it has a fair wage replacement. They should only do all they can to do all the things they are asked to do because this is the right thing to do.
-Sheara De La Cruz, Ft McMurray, Originally from the Philippines
What great advice! Thank you so much. Many times I have hired cleaning companies and many times I have been disappointed, unfortunately. After reading this I'm now thinking that I am not properly conveying to them exactly what I want done, and I should do that in writing.
Like you said, I expect a certain level of service if I am paying. Anyone who knows me knows that I am cheap so when I decide to pay for something, I expect the best. I realize that I'm probably not getting the best because there is a misunderstanding between myself and the companies I am hiring to clean my home. My bad! I'm putting it in writing from now on!
-Krystal Smith