Nanny's please weigh in on housekeeping

[Anonymous]

Nannies-- I need someone to do half childcare (afterschool) and while my kids are in school (ages 8 and 9) housekeeping, errands, laundry, This person also must drive and have references.

I'm willing to pay $18-20 an hour-- Is this a reasonable request??

it seems like many of you do not want to do housework which is fine, but with
school age kids I really need half childcare and half housekeeping.

If this job were clearly explained upfront would you consider it?

[Anonymous]

Advertise for a housekeeper who wants to help you with your kids.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure there are nannies out there who would like a job like this, but its not for me. I like working with kids, and don't want half of my day filled with busy housework. I also am not comfortable doing adult laundry, or scrubbing toilets. Not too thrilled about doing my own, certainly don't want to do yours, no offense.

[Anonymous]

First the simple answer: yes, there are many nannies/housekeepers who would consider (or who work) a job like this.

Now the details: What kind of housekeeping are you looking for? Full-on cleaning of everything (baseboards, bathrooms, grout)? Or is this a vacuuming, dusting, mopping, laundry type deal? Are you prepared to pay mileage or provide a car for the errands that require driving? Do your kids have any SN? What will their afternoons together look like?

Those details are a piece of the puzzle in terms of what kind of rate is reasonable. I personally think $20 is a little low for FULL cleaning (cleaners make upwards of $25/hr.), but for light to moderate housekeeping it sounds fine.

[Anonymous]

Only half of the job is a nanny job. The other half is a housekeeper job. You usually want one or the other. You'll get a person who can't find what she really wants, so she'll take your job, and hate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First the simple answer: yes, there are many nannies/housekeepers who would consider (or who work) a job like this.

Now the details: What kind of housekeeping are you looking for? Full-on cleaning of everything (baseboards, bathrooms, grout)? Or is this a vacuuming, dusting, mopping, laundry type deal? Are you prepared to pay mileage or provide a car for the errands that require driving? Do your kids have any SN? What will their afternoons together look like?

Those details are a piece of the puzzle in terms of what kind of rate is reasonable. I personally think $20 is a little low for FULL cleaning (cleaners make upwards of $25/hr.), but for light to moderate housekeeping it sounds fine.

Do you want the job? OP would love you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only half of the job is a nanny job. The other half is a housekeeper job. You usually want one or the other. You'll get a person who can't find what she really wants, so she'll take your job, and hate it.

My concern is that its easy to find someone to clean the house and is willing to keep an eye on the kids, but is that what you truly want? Most qualified nannies aren't interested in a job that is half housekeeping. So what you end up with is a housekeeper with a willingness to watch your kids. They may not have any experience, passion, knowledge, or even the ability to effectively communicate with your school aged children. Not exactly quality childcare, but I guess if your priority is a clean house and kids merely in one piece when you get home it works?

[Anonymous]

OP here: I think the poster that suggested advertising for a housekeeper who will watch kids was right on. Given that the childcare portion is watching them for an hour or two at most (and often helping while I am there, as my work schedule is unpredictable) or driving them places, YES having a clean, organized house is priority.

I really don't get all the snarky responses. I am not tricking someone into an unsavory job-- this is all upfront-- just askin' PS I get asked to do things at my job I don't like - but there are other parts I do- So maybe someone will be happy to do this split job...

Why is it unreasonable to ask for someone to clean toilets if I ask upfront? Clearly many "professional nannies" will not want to do this- but my kids are in school and or with me most of the day. PS I don't know any individual cleaners that make $25/hr some teams do I guess.

[Anonymous]

OP, the nannies here are a little precious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: I think the poster that suggested advertising for a housekeeper who will watch kids was right on. Given that the childcare portion is watching them for an hour or two at most (and often helping while I am there, as my work schedule is unpredictable) or driving them places, YES having a clean, organized house is priority.

I really don't get all the snarky responses. I am not tricking someone into an unsavory job-- this is all upfront-- just askin' PS I get asked to do things at my job I don't like - but there are other parts I do- So maybe someone will be happy to do this split job...

Why is it unreasonable to ask for someone to clean toilets if I ask upfront? Clearly many "professional nannies" will not want to do this- but my kids are in school and or with me most of the day. PS I don't know any individual cleaners that make $25/hr some teams do I guess.

So did you come here expecting a bunch of people to say they'd jump at the chance to clean your house? You asked if nannies would be interested. Some posters said they wouldn't be. It seems like you have a bone to pick with nannies who don't do housekeeping, not an innocent poster gauging whether this type of position could realistically be filled.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

OP I know three women who clean houses for a living (one of them is my aunt) and none of them charge less than $25/hr. Perhaps you know differently, but I spoke from my experience. Sorry you found that a ludicrous amount, I guess.

[Anonymous]

You're being dramatic OP. Where was the nastiness you speak of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I know three women who clean houses for a living (one of them is my aunt) and none of them charge less than $25/hr. Perhaps you know differently, but I spoke from my experience. Sorry you found that a ludicrous amount, I guess.

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I know three women who clean houses for a living (one of them is my aunt) and none of them charge less than $25/hr. Perhaps you know differently, but I spoke from my experience. Sorry you found that a ludicrous amount, I guess.

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.

I also didn't say OP should be paying $25/hr. I said that was what cleaners made. She disagreed that was true, but in my experience it is. That is the only point I was making/correcting, but thanks for extrapolating something else entirely from it.