| Author | Message | ||
     Buffalojoe |
I have been using The Maids once a week, but they recently stole some items from my house, causing me to cancel service with them. If anyone knows of an honest, reliable cleaning person or service, please respond. I'm looking for once-a-week cleaning and would probably prefer an individual over a service. Thanks! | ||
| Sac |
I once had similar problem with The Maids and after giving them a second chance, and having it repeated, I also cancelled. Since then, I have used Scrub Systems and been mostly satisfied with the cleaning and very happy with the honesty, etc. They tend to assign the same person or team to your house week after week, so you get some of the advantage of having an individual. I just wasn't ready to deal with the hiring process, tax withholding, etc. associated with hiring a household employee on my own. | ||
| Wilbur |
We use a guy named Jason Martinez who owns and operates a small company called Magic Touch Cleaning. He's great. His rates are reasonable (we've had several cleaning people over the years, and Jason's prices are by far the best for the quality of work we get), he's bonded, and he's very cordial and conscientious. I once used the Maids several years ago a few times and was also dissatisfied because it was different people every time, and I'd have to explain how to do things every time. Jason accompanies his employee each time he's here, so there's a lot of consistency. And I like the fact that, unlike many other cleaning people, he accepts checks rather than cash. I believe he's in the phone book under Magic Touch. | ||
| Eliz |
I have such cleaning person agida....! I have this lovely Polish woman who cleans for me - every time she arrives she hugs and kisses - my 2 year old thinks she's her second grandma. Unfortunately every time she leaves I am extremely frustrated as she does a really bad job and charges me $95. The worst thing is she takes such pride in what she does! When I mention something or other I would like her to do she is so enthusiastic - oh yes she will do a good job. The end result is the house doesn't look that much better than before she arrived and I feel like a pathetic loser because I seem unable to fire her. I'm seriously considering claiming her as a dependent on my taxes.... I would rather not use a service and if someone has a really good person and would love a recommendation! | ||
| Wilbur |
$95! Yowsa! Not to make you feel bad, but that is really expensive. I have a 7-bedroom, 5-bath house, and my guy only charges $80. Eliz, I know your feeling about a service vs. an individual, because for years after getting rid of The Maids I had first a Brazilian woman, then a Guatemalan woman. I thought it would be better to have a regular person whom I'd get to know. The problem: Neither spoke very good English. The Guatemalan was TERRIFIED of my dog, even when he was in his crate (she'd quiver every time he made a sound). Neither accepted checks. One would come at bizarre times and had trouble sticking to a regular schedule. And neither did a particularly good job. I finally caved in and started with Jason, and I couldn't be happier. He's so earnest in his desire to build his business, which makes him that much more service-oriented, yet he's not an impersonal franchise like The Maids. I wish you well in your dilemma with the Polish lady. For the record, I'm such a wimp with firing people I had to my husband do it both times. | ||
| Anajulia |
Hi My name is Francis and I'm a housecleaning. I have been working in Maplewood and area for almost 5 years, so I do have very good references. I have one person to help me. Here's my numbers and feel free to call me anytime, I'll give you some of ref. for you to check. Home (973)274-0283 Cell (973)819-5300 Thanks Francis | ||
| New2so |
This may seem like a silly question, but to those of you who have had things stolen by housecleaners - were they items of value? A handtowel and a spoon rest disappeared from my house in one week, and both occurred right after the cleaning people came. My husband thinks I'm nuts for thinking the cleaners took them, because he can't imagine why anyone would steal those things. | ||
| Melidere |
i'd bet big bucks you find them ten years from now in a spot that you wouldn't think to look in a million years. sighs | ||
| Sac |
We had items of food stolen. Nothing that valuable, but it is disconcerting to have anything taken, especially after we called them on it and it happened again. When you are having people working in your home while you aren't there, you want to be absolutely confident about their honesty. | ||
| Wendy |
A friend of mine is sure The Maids took an entire roll of stamps (about 100) from her home office. Since she is one of the most organized people I've met (unlike yours truly) I have no reason to doubt her suspicions. | ||
| Buffalojoe |
Funny you should ask -- the items stolen from my house were utterly valueless (a grand total of maybe $50). The only reason I noticed that the things were missing is because they were almost all brand new. They took an unused soap dish (silver, footed, with glazed glass and a pressed flower on top) that I had gotten two days before at Anthropologie in the city, they took a pink satin sleep mask (that I had bought as a joke for my husband -- it is all frilly and girly) and a Shu Uemera eyelash curler, and three lipsticks. I think maybe the woman who took the stuff was just a klepto (stealing just to steal) or trying to "stick it to The Man". Either way, she made bad selections, because if she'd stolen something I'd had for years, I never would have noticed or would have thought I'd lost the things. I agree that you need to have utter confidence and trust in someone to whom you've granted unlimited access to your home. It really pissed me off to picture her slipping small items into her apron pockets. When I reported this theft to the Maids, they told me that they were surprised because whenever they have thieves working for them, there is a rash of complaints, and mine was the only one that week -- a response that did not reassure me. I wonder what, if any, background checks they do on their employees? | ||
| Greenetree |
Those of you who have used Jason at Magic Touch- can you elaborate a bit ? He came over for an estimate & I was very impressed. However, he told me he doesn't do dishes or change linens. I would never leave a sinkful of dishes, but there are occasionally a couple glasses and plates to be put in the dishwasher. Does he 'straighten out' ? Will he at least make the bed, or fold a couple items of clothing left on a chair in the bedroom ? If a hairbrush is left out in the bathroom, will he put it in a drawer or leave it out ? I don't expect 'housekeeper' level work from a cleaner, but I don't want to spend 2 hours cleaning for the cleaner, either. I am curious to know what your actual experience is with these small mundane details. | ||
| Wilbur |
Greenetree, Jason and/or his assistant will do things like fold afghans lying around in the family room and drape them over the couch, pick up dog toys and put them in a basket, etc., but they don't do dishes. We tend not to leave dishes in the sink anyway -- in the sense that on the days he comes the dishes have already been done from the night before and we haven't used any more (our nanny sometimes gets out a glass or mug but that's about it). And I guess I'm weird, but I tend not to want my cleaners putting my personal things -- hairbrushes, etc -- away because they never put them away in the right place, and I don't want them going into my drawers anyway. So overall, we are very pleased with Jason. He does the stuff that matters most to me: mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathroom cleaning etc. | ||
| Buffalojoe |
I can't seem to find Magic Touch in my phone book -- can someone post the number here, or email it to me at Palefyre@aol.com? Thanks. | ||
| Greenetree |
Buffalojoe- If you go to the News-Record online (or the actual paper) you can look him up in the classified section. I actually don't have the number with me, or I'd give it to you. | ||
| Eliz |
I'm going to call Magic Touch - yesterday I found the lovely Polish woman refilling the Fantastick with Tilex... I'm lucky we're still alive since I occasionally clean the kitchen counter with Fantastick... (still I didn't fire her but I'm working on an elaborate story about why I have to let her go for next time...) | ||
| Birdy |
Our very reliable and honest nanny is looking to clean houses on Saturdays and Sundays. If you are interested, please email me at domains4@home.com. |
