Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You live in a house that big, but affording a maid is a problem for you? I would downsize and maybe worry about affording your lifestyle.

agree

OP, you sound crackers to me.

I have a friend who was raised with nannies and live in housekeepers, too. She has two homes - one in Chevy Chase and one in Brazil. We're close, and not once have I heard her question the "going rate" for maid service b/c it was never a problem for her.

I think you might be in over your head.

Hopefully, your money isn't tied up in your home - b/c you'll be in for a big surprise once the economy really sinks.

OP here. I'm not sure why you seem so upset. I don't recall at any point making any suggestion as to whether or not I could afford the help (although logic dictates that if I asked, it was probably because I could afford it). I'm just trying to figure out how often is the right amount to pay and the right frequency to have it cleaned (as surprising as it seems to you, I don't know and figured that the best way to find out was to ask). I actually got some good answers and some snarky ones too.

And life has treated me very well. I am in a very fortunate financial situation. A combination of hard work and some luck.

Our house is probably closer to 3500 sq ft, but we have someone who comes in for 4 hours every day to clean and do laundry and ironing. We pay her $25/hour plus standard holidays, three weeks paid leave, and a two-week bonus.

Anonymous wrote:You live in a house that big, but affording a maid is a problem for you? I would downsize and maybe worry about affording your lifestyle.

agree

OP, you sound crackers to me.

I have a friend who was raised with nannies and live in housekeepers, too. She has two homes - one in Chevy Chase and one in Brazil. We're close, and not once have I heard her question the "going rate" for maid service b/c it was never a problem for her.

I think you might be in over your head.

Hopefully, your money isn't tied up in your home - b/c you'll be in for a big surprise once the economy really sinks.

Anonymous wrote:The OP wants Alice.

8,500 sq ft in DC. We pay $300 once a week.

Anonymous wrote:
7500 square feet 2 people 4 hours per week $150
It is cheaper to go every week than every other week. However, we are very clean people, so there isn't a lot of heavy cleaning to do--just maintenance every week.



I pay $140 every other week and my house is half that. In the DC area that is the going rate. I can't speak to the outer burbs or other areas of the country but if they're doing 7500 sf for $150, and paying taxes, I can guarantee they are doing a half-ass job.

Northern VA. I guarantee it is not a half-assed job. I am a clean/neat freak. You won't find any dust or grime in my house and I have 2 kids and a cat and a dog. Everything is cleaned top to bottom every visit--over, under and behind. I do not have them change the linens as I prefer to do that myself. I am usually here when they come so I know what is and isn't being done. Taxes are paid and everything is legal. I give BIG Holiday bonuses and pay for cleaning when I am away on vacations so that they have steady income. Very happy in my spotless home.

You live in a house that big, but affording a maid is a problem for you? I would downsize and maybe worry about affording your lifestyle.

fake

We have a housekeeper (live out) who comes twice a week for a total of 16 hours. She cleans, organizes and does laundry. Four people, two dogs, about 3800 sq ft. We pay her $400/week (gross) plus holidays, one week vacation, etc. She's been with us forever and gets a raise every year. One big difference between using an agency and hiring your own employee is the tax situation. Our housekeeper couldn't find other people willing to pay her on the books, but we do. Top housekeepers make around $25/hour.

OP, I'm the former Au Pair and when I went to college I did room and board in exchange for cleaning.

They didn't pay me anything but I had my own bedroom/bath and plenty of food to eat.

The house was a bit smaller than what you have and I did light housekeeping every week and deep cleaning every 2 weeks. They let me choose to do a bit per day or all at once in one day. The second deal worked better.

I would vacuum, dust, change linens, wipe countertops and scrub bathrooms every week.

Every other week I'd dust pictures on the walls and door frames, clean mirrors and windows, clean the appliances inside and out, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Do people use the word "maid" any more? I always hear housecleaner.

A maid is live in.

Do people use the word "maid" any more? I always hear housecleaner.

$180 for every other week 3000 square foot house. For a 7500 sq ft house, you really need a team every week.

We have 8,500sqft house-we have one person who cleans one day a week 240 dollars. I could go every other and it would probably be fine but like things really clean

Anonymous wrote:The OP wants Alice.

Who can blame her? I want Alice too!