What should I do now? I've been had

[shiny]

Hi there, I am new to this site. I am SO glad I found it! I have been cleaning residentual homes for the last 3 years on my own. I started out charging $20.00 an hour , but only came across 2 clients willing to pay it.

I became desperate for more income and with one particular job I agreed to make $80.00 each week. This is my Aunt that I am cleaning for. She used to have a cleaning lady for 15 years and only paid her $55.00 weekly. Ok, this is my situation as it stands now....

I do not know the square footage of this home, but it is big. I am expected to clean 4 hours on Wednesdays and 4 hours on Thursdays EVERY week for $80.00 .

This is what I am expected to clean...

Large family room

master bedroom (includes stripping and making bed)

guest bedroom (sometimes)

Large kitchen

Laundry room

Formal Living and dining room (sometimes)

4 bathrooms

vacuum and mop all hard floors (including all mop boards)

wipe down all nicnacks throughout each room and polish everything shiny

changing out all throw rugs and hand towels

empty out all trash

My Aunt likes a deep clean every time. If I finnish before the alloted time, she wants me to clean out her kitchen drawers and cabinets.

I would like to aapproach her in a tactful way and tell her that I will not do these things for less than a certain amount. I just don't know WHAT to charge.

In my area, the going rate is listed from $12.50 - $25.00 hourly. I do VERY thourough work ,but I am not as fast as some because of being so thourough. Its really frusterating. I want to be paid what I'm worth. My Aunt is more business savy than I am....she has 3 franchises of Subway and is doing quite well for herself.

Thanks for all the help, Sherri

[Linda]

Well for starters she is making all the rules here. Sounds to me like she is running your business as well. Dont get me wrong, there are times when I do "little" things to make the clients I have happy, but it is my decision, not theirs! She is working you like an employee...

"I am expected to clean 4 hours on Wednesdays and 4 hours on Thursdays EVERY week for $80.00 .

This is what I am expected to clean..."

This is your business, not hers. If it were me in this situation I would give her a list of what I do for a certain price as an initial clean, and the same for a wkly clean. It sounds like she is throwing in a bit of a spring clean. She also has no right to tell you how long you HAVE to stay. Is she paying your taxes?? Is she paying your insurance?? Is she paying for your license?? Is she setting up your business and putting you to work?? These are things to ask yourself
If you would like I can send you a list of what I do for an initial clean and how I charge, I can also send you a list of what I do for a maintenance clean and how I charge. My clients are more than welcome to tell me " I need you to be out of here in 3 hours", but they are not going to tell me " I have to stay for 3 hours". When I am finished with what is on my list, I am outta there. If I am not finished in 3 hours (depends on size of home) then I will pick up where I left off next time I clean.
The next time you clean for her take notice how long it takes you to clean her knik knaks the way she wants and add the extra price to what you decide to charge her.
I dust knik knaks, but if they want a washing its gonna cost them. Here's a question, Are you running a maid service or a cleaning service? There's a difference. I will do things a maid might do, but at an additional charge. Some things I wont do.
Also, someone who is not insured, licensed, bonded...things like that charge around $12.00 - $15.00 hourly. Someone who is setup as a business charges at least $20.00 - $35.00 hourly. Keep that in mind as well.
This is all my opinion and I hope it helps. I am sure you will get alot of feedback here

Linda

P.S. I could put this information in the Residential area also.

[chevygirl57]

If she's so well off, I would charge her what you need to make per hour. Explain to her for the amount of work she has you do, you need to make more or else you're losing money and could be making more elsewhere.

Just because she's your aunt doesn't mean she should be able to hold that against you and keep you from making your worth. It seems to me like she is taking advantage of you being too nice and doing too much for so little.

[Grizzly]

Sherri:
All good points, one of the biggest hurdles you will have to overcome owning your own business is maintaining your prices even in adversity. It is your business, no one else's. Figure out what you need to make a profit and charge that. I handle mostly the commercial and industrial side in my business however, we DO NOT WASH OR DUST KNICK KNACKS unless the client signs a waiver. What may seem to be an inconsequential little statue may turn out to be a $5,000. limoge miniature. One on site the staff's electrostatic duster caught a miniature John Deere metal front end loader. This manufacturer's gift cost $600.00 to replace. These are things that you must consider. If you feel the job you do warrants the top rate in your area , CHARGE THAT.

Bill

[shiny]

Thanks for all the helpful advise. I need ALL the help I can get. Linda, I would really appriciate it if you would send me a list of all your charges.....I need to get a solid backbone here. I only have 3 clients and I'm not insured yet, cause I don't make enough. I want to learn as much as I can about the cleaning business. You are right, I need to call the shots. I clean her house tomorrow and would like to come up with an itemized list of my charges. I would love all the help I can get with this. E-mails are welcome... Great advise from all of you! Thanks, Sherri

[kimmierue]

It's hard enough to deal with this type of situation when it's just another client, but family...*shakes her head* I just don't know. Obviously your aunt is taking advantage of you. I know it would be hard for me to stand up and lay down the law so to speak after taking it for so long. But Linda did give you some very good advice and it's the same thing I have to tell myself everyday. This is YOUR business and YOU decide what your business does or doesn't do. At the end of the day, your aunt might decide to go with another cleaning lady but you will sure get a good night's sleep. And I gaurantee you that if she does try to find someone else, she's going to be even less happy about their prices and especially the cleaning job they perform.

It really ruffles my feathers also when you use phrases like "expected to clean"... and that if you finish before the alloted time she wants you to clean out her drawers. This is not 1850. Grrr.... Now I am just starting out, but I'll tell you this - I cleaned for a woman who watched the clock...She thought that I shouldn't be making anymore than $15 an hour, so when I charged her $75, she wanted me there for exactly 5 hours. I don't think so. I cleaned only twice then dropped her. Your clients do not get to dictate how much you are worth. Either they'll pay it or they won't. Simple. You can find clients in your area who will pay, you just have to be confident and go get them!

You say this home is big....4 bedroom/2-3 bath maybe? Well, everyone has their own way of pricing things but from what it sounds I would be charging $85 each time you are in her home. And that is for everything on your regular cleaning list. You should be in her home no longer than 4 hours but probably closer to 3 if you are used to things. If she wants more detailed than that, charge her more per visit. And cleaning out drawers and cabinets is an extra charge! At least $25. This pricing might be a little shocking to her. LOL.

Ok, so two days a week....things are not going to be that dirty. $85x2 is $170, that might be a little much. I would take it down to $140-150 depending on how close she lived...but the time limit thing has to go. You leave when you are finished. Period.

BTW, I'm not insured or bonded yet and I charge $25 an hour. I am still saving up for that. I know the benefits of insurance and all...there are posts galore on here about it. But honestly it's never prevented me from getting a job. In fact the only person that ever asked about it hired me anyways! And as far as pricing goes it kinda depends on where you live. If you are rural you might need to take it down a notch, but in the city I wouldn't at all.

Ok, I could go on forever. ;D

Oh and WELCOME by the way. Nice to have you here!

[shiny]

kimmierue said:

It's hard enough to deal with this type of situation when it's just another client, but family...*shakes her head* I just don't know. Obviously your aunt is taking advantage of you. I know it would be hard for me to stand up and lay down the law so to speak after taking it for so long. But Linda did give you some very good advice and it's the same thing I have to tell myself everyday. This is YOUR business and YOU decide what your business does or doesn't do. At the end of the day, your aunt might decide to go with another cleaning lady but you will sure get a good night's sleep. And I gaurantee you that if she does try to find someone else, she's going to be even less happy about their prices and especially the cleaning job they perform.

It really ruffles my feathers also when you use phrases like "expected to clean"... and that if you finish before the alloted time she wants you to clean out her drawers. This is not 1850. Grrr.... Now I am just starting out, but I'll tell you this - I cleaned for a woman who watched the clock...She thought that I shouldn't be making anymore than $15 an hour, so when I charged her $75, she wanted me there for exactly 5 hours. I don't think so. I cleaned only twice then dropped her. Your clients do not get to dictate how much you are worth. Either they'll pay it or they won't. Simple. You can find clients in your area who will pay, you just have to be confident and go get them!

You say this home is big....4 bedroom/2-3 bath maybe? Well, everyone has their own way of pricing things but from what it sounds I would be charging $85 each time you are in her home. And that is for everything on your regular cleaning list. You should be in her home no longer than 4 hours but probably closer to 3 if you are used to things. If she wants more detailed than that, charge her more per visit. And cleaning out drawers and cabinets is an extra charge! At least $25. This pricing might be a little shocking to her. LOL.

Ok, so two days a week....things are not going to be that dirty. $85x2 is $170, that might be a little much. I would take it down to $140-150 depending on how close she lived...but the time limit thing has to go. You leave when you are finished. Period.

BTW, I'm not insured or bonded yet and I charge $25 an hour. I am still saving up for that. I know the benefits of insurance and all...there are posts galore on here about it. But honestly it's never prevented me from getting a job. In fact the only person that ever asked about it hired me anyways! And as far as pricing goes it kinda depends on where you live. If you are rural you might need to take it down a notch, but in the city I wouldn't at all.

Ok, I could go on forever. ;D

Oh and WELCOME by the way. Nice to have you here!

Thanks again for the help....20 miles away from Muskegon is the Township of Grand Haven...its a tourest town and very well maintained. I have a friend who lives ther and she cleans residentual homes for $20.00 an hour. Maybe I should check into Grand Haven.

I used to work for my Aunt and gave her a 2 week notice last summer. She hired a cleaning team and told me that she paid them only $50.00, but it only took them 2 hours and she didn't like the way they cleaned....so she called me up and said she was desperate and that I was the only one who did a good job.....maybe I'm a little too thourough, I don't know.....but I said yes not realizing that I was back at $10.00 an hour again! She didn't make it clear that she was going to pay me hourly. I thought I would be paid $80.00 for about 5 hours of work. I feel pretty dumb now......BUT......I HAVE learned a big lesson.....DON'T work for family. With your help I am going to get out of this rut, draw the line, and do it right! Thanks!

[chevygirl57]

Good luck! Hope all goes well

[jdinstl]

Shiny, welcome aboard!

My heart goes out to you -- I have a similar situation -- with an aunt no less.

It came to the point that I had to gently but firmly put my foot down. I offer a handyman service as well. Giving a 78 year old aunt a rundown on my company's services offerings was the same as giving a junkie a quick fix. An insastiatable appetite for projects around her house with the admonishment "I can't pay much."

Yeah....you hocked your house to pay off your daughter and grandson's cars -- and now I'm expected to keep the house up at cost, eh?

I'd get the call "Stop by some time! I promise not to make you do any work, just visit!" And the entire time I am there, she's firing hints as if from a machine gun.

She literally drove me nuts. I replaced a disfunctional Honeywell Round thermostat with the simplest, and I do mean SIMPLEST of electronic thermostats. She called every other day telling me the system was running more frequently and for shorter periods of time.

"Yes, Aunt Helen -- the newer electronic thermostats are more sensitive and will not allow wide temperature variances to occur as did your old, non-working Honeywell." This went on and on, until I suggested she contact an HVAC company.

Then I replaced the toilet tank mechanism. It was fine for 3 months, then she complained that water was running. Various times I visited the home, stayed for hours -- and never heard a thing from the tank. Finally I broke down to her incessant hints about the toilet and replaced a perfectly good valve.

Then what was supposed to be a mortar patch on the chimney -- which by the way, is non-functional due to years-ago remodel of the house -- she points out from several feet below "this crack" and "that crack, and oh that hole." (Both of the gaping holes she saw were indentations in the brick -- from when it was fired over 75 years ago!)

Finally, I come off the ladder and tell her, I'll be back, I'm getting more mortar. I return with mortar, trowel, bucket and tools...

I chiseled out the mortar, took apart the chimney brick-by-brick -- and rebuilt it. I even added a screen so the birds would no longer nest in it.

"I didn't mean to be such a pain about that chimney, but the city would have got on me about that hole."

(They never said a word about your daughter's guttering half-off the house for 2 months, or the foot high grass....and she only lives a block away with her 23 year old useless son.)

I gently, but repeatedly told her, any more problems with cracked mortar, she best call a mason, as I'm not licenced for that type of work, nor did I get a construction permit to do it. And the toilet -- I've done all I can do, if it acts up again, get a licensed plumber.

I've recieved one phone call from her since: "John, the toilet is working fantastic! I marked a line where the water is, and it hasn't gone down at any time!"

(You marked the water line and checked it? You gotta be kidding me. Did you open a set of ledgers like you did with the thermostat? I'll never forget an entire month of start and stop times for the A/C and Furnace.)

Shiny, if I let her win on this, Renovare will never make a dime -- and I'll be spending my time 24/7 working on her projects.

You know what she gave me for my labor?

$20.00.

Ten hours of work -- twenty-dollars. And I felt guilty taking that. But I did.

New Rule Of Renovare: Family Business Is Bad Business.

John

[shiny]

Wow John, your in a pickle alright. My Aunt is 50 and has made it clear that she is done with all work....so now she wants to play for the rest of her life...she's my step aunt if that makes any difference. Today while at work my Uncle was in such a hurry to leave that he backed into my car and I didn't receive an appology from him or my aunt. In a frazzled manner he said that his insurrance company would take care of it.

It can be quite difficult setting boundarys with family members, especially when they are elderly.....that one is tough. I don't think I will work for family again. Its bad enough when they are really good at using manipulation to get what they want at YOUR expense. All I need to do is make sure I have my rates exact so I won't back down nomatter what. I'm in the process of making new rates now. Its hard when you can't get any info in your area about your competition. Hope all goes well for ya.

[GDP Cleaning Service]

WOW all i can say is you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. The have 3 Subways and too me they seem to want alot for there $80.00 that is 8 hours of hard work for you that in time you will see that working those 8 hours in a different setting (a paying one) that you should be making more, and with other clients you WILL be. Jack your rate, in fact turn the table on them and show them you DO know about business, Tell them since they have the 3 subway's you are waiting for them to give you the cleaning accounts on all 3 of them.

[RJ Cleaning]

this aunt is taking advantage of you.
I wouldn't even argue with her over it, I would just tell her to kiss off.