I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but it’s worth restating. Having a professional house manager and keeper is one of those “life choices” that can be a little confusing to figure out and it often comes with more than a few questions – even if you are hiring someone who is very qualified and experienced for the job even as a housekeeper and not only as a house manager.
It is true that having a house manager or keeper will give you more time for yourself, but with that comes some new expectations and duties on your part. We all know how difficult it is to find good help these days, so maybe we should step back and consider what it means when you hire a housekeeper instead of an employee and how to handle them effectively without scaring them away.
Here are seven common tips on the etiquette of having a housekeeper that you should be mindful of:
1) Always treat them as though they were your employees.
Yes, this sounds obvious, but many people forget that when they hire someone to clean their home, they are in fact hiring someone to work for them just as one does with an employee. They might not think about it, but they have essentially hired an employee to do a job for them. And just like any other employee, they need to be treated like an employee; especially in terms of respect, wages, benefits, schedules, and job performance.
This goes both ways, too. If your housekeeper has been working for you for years, don’t expect her to jump right into your shoes and start cleaning your home from scratch as if it is their own. You would expect them to come up to speed and learn your routines, but they needs to respect your space and privacy as much as you need to respect theirs.
2) Be clear about your expectation.
Whether you are hiring a housekeeper or an employee, it is important that the two sides understand each other’s expectations while going forward. Make sure you both know what you want done, when you want it done, and how you want it done. This shouldn’t be a surprise to either of the side.
For example, if you need something cleaned, let your housekeeper know ahead of time and ask if they can schedule it for that day. That way there won’t be any confusion at the end of the week, when you call wanting to change her schedule. It also helps if you make a list of things that need to get done during the week so that everyone knows what is expected of them and has a plan going forward.
3) Keep communication open.
You may think that you are communicating enough with your housekeeper, since you are paying her, but there is a lot of misunderstanding that happens between employers and employees. You never really know what is going on behind closed doors, and the best thing you can do is keep the lines of communication open.
If your housekeeper is making mistakes, tell her so. Or if she seems to have a hard time keeping to your schedule, explain why. And if you feel like she isn’t doing the best job possible, let her know. Don’t assume that she is doing a great job because you haven’t complained once. She might just be overwhelmed by the amount of tasks that you have given her.
4) Pay promptly.
Your housekeeper deserves to be paid on time every month. If you pay late, then you are sending a message that you aren’t serious about this relationship, and she will have no reason to work hard for you. Also, she doesn’t know whether or not you will be able to pay her next month, so she has to budget carefully to cover expenses until you send her a check.
5) Give them a reference.
When you hire a housekeeper, you become their employer. It stands to reason that they are likely to ask for references from previous clients. The best thing you can do is give them positive ones. Let them know of the great experience you had with your housekeeper, and let them know that you will happily refer anyone else who asks for a recommendation.
6) Trust your instincts.
Sometimes when you have a housekeeper, you become overly cautious. You don’t trust them to do things correctly, and so you micromanage everything. But if you take a moment to breathe, stop over-thinking, and simply go with what feels right, you will never regret it.
Your intuition is probably better than anyone else’s. You know your own preferences and tastes, and you know what works well for you. So listen to it! Sometimes, your instincts are right on target, and sometimes they are dead wrong. When they are right, you will see. When they are wrong, you will know. But either way, you will be glad that you listened.
7) Have fun together.
Don’t forget that you are hiring someone to spend a large portion of their lives in your home. It is important to remember to show them that you appreciate them. After all, they are cleaning your house, cooking your meals, caring for your children, and generally taking care of your family. Showing them that you appreciate them will make them happy and motivated to continue doing a great job.
And while you are showing them appreciation, it is important to try to make your relationship fun. You can do this by sharing stories, laughing, and just being open and honest with each other. Remember, they are living in your house and they are sharing your life. Treat them accordingly. Find such professional keeper at: https://www.bgvhod.com/profesionalen-domoupravitel/
