House Cleaning Woes (Kinda long)

[KymmyKyller]

Ok, so I haven't posted here in a long time. After losing my pizza job, I went through a lot of crap; however I got myself cleaned up, and had my lovely baby boy (10 months ago).
So for extra income, and because I'm bored just being a SAHM, I started posting online for house cleaning.
I think my prices are fair $9/hr, or depending on the house, I'll give an estimate.

My favorite person was totally awesome. Her son was on my step-son's soccer team, we got along really well, it was every week until her husband came home from the Middle East. Now it's only occasionally I'll see her.

Yesterday, though, pissed me off. As I said, I work at $9 an hour. I supply the basic cleaning supplies, and I work my butt off. It was a two day job, as they were moving. Not a deep clean, but just basic - counters, bathrooms, fridge, rooms, windows.
The first day, I got everything done aside from the hardwood floors because the owner said he'd buy the wax. OK, not a big deal.

First day:
I'm cleaning away, happy because they're listening to music I enjoy. So I hear:

[O=Owner]

O: Yeah, she's still here. Fat ass is in the way, plus I had to move things for her to get at the windows! (sounded irritated)

I ignore this because money is money, and I had informed him prior that I wouldn't move furniture or his 'projects' because I don't wish to be liable.

I finish up, we agree I'll come back Friday to wax the floors/mop again. Gave me my $20 bucks, then went, "Well, I don't have any other change, so I'll tip you Friday."

OK that's great, I thought because every bit counts. They decide to text me Wednesday night at around 9pm, asking for me to come over Thursday. Not a big deal. I had some cleaning around my own home, so I tell them it'll be about 10. (Right from text):
No you can come here at 9. I have other stuff to do.

...So I agree. Lo and behold, they didn't get wax... And then proceeded to berate me because of their calcium/hard water build up on their shower doors.. You need some mega cleaner for that crap since it was built up pretty badly. I managed to get most of it off.

End of the cleaning time, everything is all nice and clean, the house smells great (Mr. Clean with Gain -Apple Berry. >.>), I got the wooden floors to be shiny without wax, and I even did a few other things like marks on the walls, etc.

...Two hours... $15. I was so ANGRY. I was promised a tip, and I was gypped five dollars. People really irk me, so I just got the hell out of there.

I have other stories. Sorry if it's so jumbled, I'm still just really upset people out in this town screw people over like that.

[Aethian]

Do you have a contract? And also after the fat ass comment I would have just left. Right there in the middle of whatever job I was doing.

[KymmyKyller]

After yesterday, I'm going to draw one up. I haven't been screwed over until yesterday. As for the fat ass comment, I only finished because my ride (fiancee) was still thirty minutes out.

[Aethian]

Well better luck on the word of mouth. As for your rate...around here your about 6-10 bucks off starting rate.

One independent around here has different rates for different classes. Elderly are about 10/hr min 1 hr. College Students are 20/hr min 2 hr. Everyone else falls in between. I know people with kids get there's done on individual assessment.

But then he started out like you and raised rates till he was comfortable with the amount of work he got.

[KymmyKyller]

Well better luck on the word of mouth. As for your rate...around here your about 6-10 bucks off starting rate.

One independent around here has different rates for different classes. Elderly are about 10/hr min 1 hr. College Students are 20/hr min 2 hr. Everyone else falls in between. I know people with kids get there's done on individual assessment.

But then he started out like you and raised rates till he was comfortable with the amount of work he got.

I give leeway to some of the elderly - a lot of people in this area are on fixed income. Military, as much as I respect, get the $9/hr. It depends on the neighborhood, you can tell a lot about the people because it's pretty easily this place/that place in this town.

[Enjis]

You have very low prices.
Yes, you need a contract, saying what is included in your costs, what you will do and what you won't do (such as move anything heavier than a chair.)
You need to stipulate what cleaning supplies you bring, and what they need to supply.
You need to list what counts as 'extra', such as deep cleaning for a house going on the market, or tenants moving out.

Make sure it sounds professional so that you will be treated as a professional, and not just as a 'cleaning girl' or something.

You do a very hard and thankless job, you should at least be treated as a professional by those you help.

And eventually you will need to raise your prices. Good luck to you!

[frostbitte]

You need a contract and to have those items such as "owner will supply the floor wax" written out and signed by both parties. Also, you should state on contract what a basic cleaning will entail. Nothing verbal ever.
You unfortunately have to do this as assholes will walk all over you and it appears this one has or tried to.
Also, $9 an hour is a steal. If you are willing to do more than a basic clean, such as getting calcified crap off or whatnot you might want to look at doing that for than 9.00 per hour as the supplies, time and effort will cost more.

[BossLady]

WOW .. I'd have you come everyday and clean things up at that price. I pay $60 for a lady to come in once a week to clean kitchen, 2.5 baths (1 which never gets used except guests) and vacuum/dust - all with my supplies. She is here for about 2 hours and, from what i hear from others, I get a steal of a price.

[EricKei]

Yeah -- definitely consider bumping up your prices, and absolutely get contracts drawn up. Anybody who balks at either one may very well be planning to screw you over like this guy did.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Damn, those prices are cheap IMHO. My mom used to clean houses in between taking care of patients (she did home care nursing for 25+ years until she got sick and had to go on Disability) and she'd charge by the size house.

For example, if it were a one story - usually starting around $60, depending on how many times a week the client wanted (one house she did every other week and she charged $65 per visit.) If it were a larger house (say 3 or more bedrooms or a two story with more than 2 bathrooms) it'd be more around $100.

Cash or check up front - otherwise no cleaning. But with her clients, they always had either cash or check and if they weren't home, they'd leave it on the kitchen counter or some other agreed on place inside the house.

She did run into an issue with a family whose check didn't clear and she contacted them that same day to let them know - luckily they corrected that within a day or two (they'd been out of town and forgot to transfer money into the account to cover the check.)

Other than that, I don't recall Mom having any issues with anyone trying to stiff her.

[LillFilly]

I'm sorry; it sucks they ripped you off. I would say you shouldn't have left without the full amount owed, but the same thing happened to me - I learned the hard way. Make a contract for next time; it can be simple, but then you have proof of what you promised and what you're owed. I did custom curtains for a 'sweet little old lady' at 10$ per curtain over several months, and she shorted me 120$ because she was convinced I was overcharging her; even after I even went to her house and hung the curtains for her as well. It's shameful we can't trust each other anymore; get everything in writing, maybe include an abuse & bodily fluids clause.

[protege]

It's shameful we can't trust each other anymore; get everything in writing, maybe include an abuse & bodily fluids clause.

I got stung on a Bugatti EB100 (IMHO the ugliest sports car ever made :barf someone had "commissioned." I'd picked up the kit, paint, glue, etc, told the customer that, and started building. Halfway through the project, the asshole decided he didn't want it. A shame really, since it was a nice (and now somewhat rare) kit. At least the Bugatti ended up in my personal collection. But, getting stiffed sucks.

That's why I don't build models for people now. If someone wants a car, they're going to drop half up front, with the balance (including any materials and additional parts) on 'delivery.' Unfortunate that I have to do that, but oh well. And yes, I have had people bitch about it.

[Kiwi]

In my town you can't get a cleaner for under $50 an hour !

Are you doing this as a cash job or have you started a small business. If it's the later I would be issuing an invoice/ receipt with a balance owing. They have them in MS office (word or excel)

[Hitokiri Akins]

As someone who runs his own business by going to people's homes for IT work, I've learned the hard way the value of a contract/service agreement. By signing it, they agree to pay you for your work at the rate you ask, and if they stiff you, you have legal recourse.

I lost $56.50 out of a $75 dollar job because I didn't have my customer sign a service agreement. And that that $18.50 that I did get didn't even cover the gas I spent going out there. In fact, I'm 2 dollars in the hole for that job, due to the bounced check fee.

I never do a job without a service agreement anymore, except for my dad, because he pays in cash, and I can always trust that he has the funds for what I do for him.

[Jester]

Question: when they handed you that $15 for your two hours of work, forgetting the promised tip for the moment, why didn't you stand there, look at the money, and say, "I'm sorry, but you owe me $X."?

It's one thing not to tip. As a bartender, as much as I hate it, I will never call someone out on not tipping. But I absolutely will not let someone get away with shorting me on the actual bill. Why did you?