Nanny's please weigh in on housekeeping

[Anonymous]

"Housecleaners that come once a week for a few hours charge $25/hr, which makes sense because they spend part of their day traveling between jobs, scheduling to fill a full time schedule, etc. They are also business owners / independent contractors from a tax perspective, not W2 employees. They also frequently do a lot of under the table work.

A regular, salaried position does not commend the same salary. A full time housekeeper does not make more than a full time nanny. And cut the drama, how many toilets could OP have? This is not a full time job scrubbing toilets. "

+1 and a PP did argue that the $25/hr rate was relevant to this position. I agree that it is not really a relevant rate given the above factors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Housecleaners that come once a week for a few hours charge $25/hr, which makes sense because they spend part of their day traveling between jobs, scheduling to fill a full time schedule, etc. They are also business owners / independent contractors from a tax perspective, not W2 employees. They also frequently do a lot of under the table work.

A regular, salaried position does not commend the same salary. A full time housekeeper does not make more than a full time nanny. And cut the drama, how many toilets could OP have? This is not a full time job scrubbing toilets. "

+1 and a PP did argue that the $25/hr rate was relevant to this position. I agree that it is not really a relevant rate given the above factors.

I've already told you that wasn't my intention. In fact, someone else (21:13) read my post as effusively in favor of the advertised job and rate:

Do you want the job? OP would love you!

Or, that's what I thought that post meant. I would probably take this job for $20-22/hr depending on the details.

[Anonymous]

I advertised for a nanny/housekeeper job a few months ago and got lots of responses, some from excellent candidates. We already had a heavy cleaning service, so the job involved errands, ironing, vacuuming, cooking, etc. I think that made it appeal to older grandmother types who lacked the energy for heavy cleaning but were skilled at house management and younger types who would probably have preferred full time nannying but liked that they could earn a higher rate in a hybrid position.

Most candidates, including some with excellent experience, were seeking $15-$20 per hour. This was consistent with what several friends pay when the person performing the work is an employee of the family rather than an employee of a service that is retained by the family.

Most heavy cleaning services around here charge $25 per person per hour. The rate differential makes sense because a service needs to pay its workers $10-15 per hour and also pay entity and payroll taxes, insurance, and regulatory fees on top of that, plus make a profit.

[Anonymous]

I personally would love a job like this, I like doing house work and errands though because it breaks up the day for me. No deep cleaning though. I'm not from your area so I can't say anything about the pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally would love a job like this, I like doing house work and errands though because it breaks up the day for me. No deep cleaning though. I'm not from your area so I can't say anything about the pay.

To each his own, but I hope you at least refer to yourself with complete integrity, as a nanny / housekeeper?

I've heard that some nannies try to call themselves household managers, just because they do the cleaning and the childcare. They think it sounds better than nanny / housekeeper.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think some of this would depend on your definition of housekeeping. Are you talking deep cleaning, or are you just talking emptying the dishwasher, making beds...lighter things?

If it is light housekeeping, you could have a better response. Maybe hire someone once a week to do the heavy stuff.

Personally, I would be ok for doing the lighter stuff, but not deep cleaning. I have done jobs where I have cleaned the house as well as taken care of the children, but I won't do that anymore.

But being upfront is important and there was no reason for the snark from other nannies. And if I were a younger nanny starting off, your pay is good.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here: not sure the going rate for a nanny/house manager in your area but it seems pretty reasonable to me... I do all of those things with a 2 year old and an 8 moth old and have no issues with it! Good luck on your search!

[Anonymous]

OP there are plenty of nanny/housekeepers out there. Just look for someone with good references and ask about work ethic. You don't want to hire your run of the mill nanny who is lazy and will do as little as possible.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would think you would have no trouble at all finding someone for whom this would seem like a great job w/ great pay. I do think, though, that you need to lead w/ the housekeeping (which could explain some of the feedback you're getting here from a more professional group of nannies). I would look in neighborhood listservs etc... and call it a housekeeper/babysitting job, rather than a nanny position. Then I think you're more likely to get people who are a good fit than if you list it as a nanny/housekeeping job. Your kids sound largely beyond the "nannying" stage anyway.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would think you would have no trouble at all finding someone for whom this would seem like a great job w/ great pay. I do think, though, that you need to lead w/ the housekeeping (which could explain some of the feedback you're getting here from a more professional group of nannies). I would look in neighborhood listservs etc... and call it a housekeeper/babysitting job, rather than a nanny position. Then I think you're more likely to get people who are a good fit than if you list it as a nanny/housekeeping job. Your kids sound largely beyond the "nannying" stage anyway.

Good luck!

This is valid advice. PN here.

[Anonymous]

OP you will find plenty of people willing to do it. Ignore DCUM because alot of 'Internet Nannies' have an ego and feel inferior when asked to do housecleaning. If kids are in school than of course someone will be willing to do housework to maintain a full-time job. Alot of the nannies on here are fronts and entitled and expect to be paid and do nothing while kids are in school. These same nannies have a hard time finding and keeping employment. It's 100% okay to ask for housework and MANY nannies will do it. $18-$20/hr is a good rate so you shouldn't have a problem. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would think you would have no trouble at all finding someone for whom this would seem like a great job w/ great pay. I do think, though, that you need to lead w/ the housekeeping (which could explain some of the feedback you're getting here from a more professional group of nannies). I would look in neighborhood listservs etc... and call it a housekeeper/babysitting job, rather than a nanny position. Then I think you're more likely to get people who are a good fit than if you list it as a nanny/housekeeping job. Your kids sound largely beyond the "nannying" stage anyway.

Good luck!

+1. You'll have no problem finding someone, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here No bone to pick genuinely wondering if housecleaning would be something nannies would consider- i am curious at the nasty tone. I am not asking anyone to "jump." the snarky mean responses came from you and some of the respondents.

I don't care if nannies don't want to do housekeeping - that is their business. I asked was it reasonable to put it out there and if it was presented in advance would people consider it.

The nasty tone is uptight sitters with fragile egos that get dented when an employer mentions anything about cleaning. The same sitters that think nanny-employers are stuck up because they can, GASP, afford to hire a nanny/housekeeper. They think they should do the bare minimum but get paid triple the rate of min wage. They think that if you can afford to pay more than you should because these are your 'most prized possession' (your children). They don't realize that many employers are able to afford nannies and cleaners due to years of college and hard work. Truth is, many of these nannies don't have the education to get successful careers with decent wages and if it wasn't for guilting parents they would all be working as cashiers somewhere making min wage. Instead of being grateful they think YOU should be grateful for them.

The good news is......

You WILL be able to find someone who will be happy to do both. It's not as complicated as many on here would like it to be. Once you find the one willing to do both with a smile on her face, keep her and cherish her and be glad you're not hiring one of these miserable, resentful, bitter sitters that you see on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here No bone to pick genuinely wondering if housecleaning would be something nannies would consider- i am curious at the nasty tone. I am not asking anyone to "jump." the snarky mean responses came from you and some of the respondents.

I don't care if nannies don't want to do housekeeping - that is their business. I asked was it reasonable to put it out there and if it was presented in advance would people consider it.

The nasty tone is uptight sitters with fragile egos that get dented when an employer mentions anything about cleaning. The same sitters that think nanny-employers are stuck up because they can, GASP, afford to hire a nanny/housekeeper. They think they should do the bare minimum but get paid triple the rate of min wage. They think that if you can afford to pay more than you should because these are your 'most prized possession' (your children). They don't realize that many employers are able to afford nannies and cleaners due to years of college and hard work. Truth is, many of these nannies don't have the education to get successful careers with decent wages and if it wasn't for guilting parents they would all be working as cashiers somewhere making min wage. Instead of being grateful they think YOU should be grateful for them.
Can you recommend anyone or a dependable resource? TIA.

The good news is......

You WILL be able to find someone who will be happy to do both. It's not as complicated as many on here would like it to be. Once you find the one willing to do both with a smile on her face, keep her and cherish her and be glad you're not hiring one of these miserable, resentful, bitter sitters that you see on here.

[Anonymous]

Take a look on care.com at the housekeeper listings. I think you'll be reassured by the rates and the enthusiasm some people have for the job. I'm not sure a nanny forum is where you'll find people who like housekeeping.