So a few months ago a lady from my church called to solicit business for her cleaning service (from a church directory). At the time I declined but took her information. I have never met her, and she actually goes to the Spanish speaking church that meets in another section, so our paths don't cross. I now need help cleaning as my circumstance have changed. So I called her this morning. I told her that I was pregnant and had been sick and was behind on my housework. I wanted to start with just kitchen and bathrooms and have her start doing the whole house after the baby arrives. I had difficulty understanding her thick accent but she seemed to have no trouble understanding me, so I took her to be very fluent. She said she would come next week. I was trying to get a sense for how she charged and she finally answered that there was no charge she would just "help me".
I have no intention of not paying for her services. I don't really know how to handle this when she shows up. It puts me in the position of setting the price. I'm not comfortable with that. Any suggestions?
One more weird detail is that i had written down where she lives and its a new development that even I cannot afford to live in. I assumed she must live with her well- off children and is trying to earn some of her own money. But I find the whole thing confusing.
Yes, probably a free first time cleaning. I hope anyways. I need a good housekeeper, not a one time favor. LOL that she affords a $900,000 house cleaning houses. I used to clean houses and I know people who owned the whole house cleaning business and no one was buying $900,000 houses. In any case, if there was that much money in the cleaning business, I sure picked the wrong career. Maybe if you started the Merry Maids Corporation you buy a luxury home in South Orange County.
You need a translator to talk to her. I think you misunderstood her, really. The only way she would be doing it for free is to give you one free service to see if you like her work.
Please get a translator so that both of you are on the same page before she comes. If she has someone in her business who can help, that would be good for later.
Hope you feel better soon.
When she shows up, just tell her that you appreciate her offer to help you but she runs a business and you would like to be her paying customer so how much would she charge? Good luck!
Well don't let where she lives affect things, because there could be a story behind that. I know someone that lives in a very nice neighborhood and pays very little due to Section 8. When she comes to clean, simply tell her that you're not comfortable with free services and you'd like for her to give you her rates.
I had a similar scenario happen to me when I was on bedrest. The cleaning lady was Portuguese and didn't want to take a dime. I called around and got estimates for what it would cost roughly and then averaged it out and paid her with cash. She took it unwillingly, but I would tell her each time she came, if she didn't take it for herself, to please give it to her church. She smiled and took it. Maybe give that a try?
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
She may be doing the first for free as a selling tool, or as a gift because you are pregnant. Check with your church to see if others use her and what she charges (roughly). That way, you can kinda be prepared to pay her something, but if it is intended as a marketing tool or gift, then tip her and ask what the charge would be for the next time.
Don't assume that if someone cleans houses they are of a lesser income. She very well may own the house she lives in!
Check around and find a fair price. When she comes just tell her that although you appreciate her kindness you cannot accept her terms. Tell her you can afford to pay and what you are comfortable with.... and pay her. If she refuses make a donation in her name.
She sounds like a wonderful person.
She may mean that there is no charge to show up and give you an estimate. Most cleaning ladies will not quote over the phone; they will show up and look at your house, figure out what you want done and how often you want it done, and then tell you a price. I would assume that this is what she means. When she shows up at your house, plan to come to an agreement then as to pricing.
She may be a live-in housekeeper for an affluent family, taking on extra jobs for money. Maybe she is renting a guest house from someone. Or maybe her husband does really well with his job, and she needs a hobby. Who knows!
She's probably the live in housekeeper for a well off family.
She MAY have meant one of many things:
- free estimate
- first clean is free to see if you like her work
- service work to help out intermittently
If the first 2, she'll give you a rate or flat fee after being to your home.
If the 3rd? She may have thought you meant 2 cleans, not a regular thing... Which is often a donated service even through non-professionals via churches for pregnant members. If SO, ask her what she would charge if you wanted her out weekly.
I think the solution is very simple - just tell her you'd like to discuss how much her services cost. Let her know that you enjoy her services and would love to continue but you want to make sure it's an arrangement we are both happy with.
My husband is hispanic. Maybe this isn't true for all but I have learned some make commitments to God to help someone or walk miles or carry someone when they bargain with him and are rewarded. My husband's mother once said that if our nephew became better that she would carry him to a statue in another town. That really won't happen because he is probably three hundred pounds and she is about five feet in her stocking feet and maybe one hundred thirty pounds. But she meant it when she said it. This might be a way to honor God.
Talk with the minister of the church. (S)he will probably know her and her circumstances.
I would ask for references even without this oddity. And the references will know more.
When I hired my current housekeeper who also doesn't speak much english, I wrote down her personal information like driver license #, and I took a picture of her, also, I asked an address proof as well. You probably really need to sit down with her on how much she charges per visit and what type of housework will be included. Like if you want her to do laundry, it is probably more expensive as more time-consuming.
If she said it was free, maybe first time. but, it sounds a little werid.
Maybe someone from your own side of the church needs extra money in today's times...
I don't have an answer for you, but I knew a very wealthy cleaning lady/housekeeper. She did an excellent job and was very much in demand. She arrived to her cleaning jobs in her luxury European car, and ended up with real estate all over the place. She was fantastic!
If I went to the same church as someone with the need that you have, I would do the same thing! It's just the person she is, you are not taking advantage of her. Think of her as the arms of Christ in your time of need.
Sounds like she's being nice.
Stop judging her already and worrying about how much money she does or doesn't have.
Where she lives is not relevant to the situation at all.
Offer to pay and respond accordingly.
it could be that she is the cleaning person/house keeper for the family in the well off neighborhood and is looking to supplement her income.
lol your "what happened" folllow up is so funny!
in tx it can be anywhere from 40 to 175. depending on how deep of a clean they get. fans,baseboards, wiping everything down is more. but the usuall weekly cleaning is about 50 dollars. our home is a smaller three bedroom 70's style...smaller home. in texas. Cali is more expensive with everything.
What makes you think she lives with a "well off" children? She could be the one well off and just doing the business on the side, hence the reason she is offering to do it for free.
I would still get her commitment in writing and signed so there are no misunderstanding when she shows up. If she goes to the same church as you do and your paths have not crossed, you may want to arrange to meet her personally one Sunday after church.
You are about to have a new baby and you want to ensure the person is credible.
Best of luck.
Maybe she meant the first time is free? I would try to find someone to translate:)
I think you need to have someone that speaks spanish/english a friend or so at the church and help you to communicate with her. She may be doing this out of her heart and here you are questioning whether she is legitimate or not. So she lives in a nice development so what doesn't mean anything. Get someone to transalate so you & this woman can be on the same page. I would not hire or have someone come and clean for me for free unless I know exactly what their intentions are, from the heart or for a price. Good Luck!
I would atleast tip her decently. That is time out of her day and a spot she could have filled with someone else. Also I would get her a thank you card for being so generous. JMO
ETA- take everyone else's advice. Very good advice coming from these ladies so far.
my guess would be that the first time is free of charge and that after you see her work you decide if you want her services or not she will give you a price.. if not i agree i wouldnt feel comfortable not paying her.. if thats the case i would look up what your average cleaning company charges just to do a kitchen and bathroom and offer her that... i cant imagine that she would just offer you free cleaning services when she doesnt really even know you, kinda strange
Maybe she has learned the gift of charity or giving to someone who needs a blessing. It is a blessing to be able to help others and is one of the best blessing we can give of ourselves.
I suggest you go ahead and offer to pay her an honest rate and see if there was just a communication mixup. She might be expecting to be paid and she might also be doing a free time so you will like it so much you'll hire her business again when you need help, sort of like a free consultation....lol.
