For those who have housekeeper/Cleaning Service

[Nickel]

Wow! Thank you all for the great advice! I am thinking it would probably be better for her to come and then take the children somewhere... But 5 hours is a long time, especially when I have part timers that drop off and pick up in the middle of the day.... Hmmmm.... I will have to ask around and see what friends and neighbors recommend. I desperately need someone even if it is for them to do the basics so I can get things like laundry done. ...

So, if they don't claim their wages on their taxes, I can't claim them as an expense? What if it is less than $600 for the year? I know independant contractors only have to claim wages in excess of $600, so couldn't I claim it regardless? I might have to go find an accountant and ask!!!

[MarinaVanessa]

So, if they don't claim their wages on their taxes, I can't claim them as an expense? What if it is less than $600 for the year? I know independant contractors only have to claim wages in excess of $600, so couldn't I claim it regardless? I might have to go find an accountant and ask!!!

Not exactly ... you could still claim it but without their social security # it would look funny to the IRS and if you got audited they would ask about it and you would have to give them the lady's info and then she in turn would get autided So on and so forth ... SO even if you did everything you had to do you would probably get into a mess and hassle not to mention that so would the cleaning lady so it's better to just get someone that does it as a job the right way. Check with your state and county regs about it. As far as I know (in CA) to be a legit housecleaner in my county all you need is a business license which costs less than $50 if you are doing it under your name ... for example "Marina [last name], housekeeping service. If you wanted to give yourself a business name "The Clean Team" then you'd get a Fictitious business name as well. So if you find someone and they aren't legit maybe you can simply suggest that they get a license (if that's all they need )

[Nickel]

Wow!!! Who would have thought it would be so hard to find a housekeeper! LOL, I'm totally joking, but it is kind of funny... But I would rather someone legit than someone under the table. Just because I would feel more comfortable with someone in my home who was actually doing the right thing kwim? Especially around the children and alone in the house...

[daycare]

Not exactly ... you could still claim it but without their social security # it would look funny to the IRS and if you got audited they would ask about it and you would have to give them the lady's info and then she in turn would get autided So on and so forth ... SO even if you did everything you had to do you would probably get into a mess and hassle not to mention that so would the cleaning lady so it's better to just get someone that does it as a job the right way. Check with your state and county regs about it. As far as I know (in CA) to be a legit housecleaner in my county all you need is a business license which costs less than $50 if you are doing it under your name ... for example "Marina [last name], housekeeping service. If you wanted to give yourself a business name "The Clean Team" then you'd get a Fictitious business name as well. So if you find someone and they aren't legit maybe you can simply suggest that they get a license (if that's all they need )

yes what she said.......

this is why I went with the licensed company and not the cheaper person who was not licensed. I figured it was better to claim at least some of it than get to not claim any portion of it at all....

but remember, you can only claim t/s% on the cost of it, unless they are ONLY cleaning your daycare room.

[Nickel]

hmmmmm... I like the tax dedutable, but it is hard to justify one child's entire tuition for a cleaning service. Especially when I have such a low number of spots... I guess I will shop around and try to find the best service at the lowest rate while still finding a legal business. wow. And I thought this would be easy ::::::

[daycare]

hmmmmm... I like the tax dedutable, but it is hard to justify one child's entire tuition for a cleaning service. Especially when I have such a low number of spots... I guess I will shop around and try to find the best service at the lowest rate while still finding a legal business. wow. And I thought this would be easy ::::::

I am starting to find that when you have a childcare in your home that things that should be easy become difficult.......

I dont allow any form of maintance to take place while the kids are present.
so that means we have to leave or find weekend workers for:

plumbing
electric
cable
internet
house keeping
bug man to spray
termite guy
carpet cleaning
window washers

You know what I mean...before it was when I had time, not its I have to find time to leave with all the kids in tow......

[Nickel]

So what do you do if someone can't come on the weekends? I know in my area they give a blanket time. We will be out between 8-12... Not sure I could find something to do for 5 hours.. Although I guess I could meet them and then leave when they get here. Weird though... I never really thought about that stuff before... hmmmm....

It's funny how people complain about having to do things during their lunch break. I think lunch break???:: I can do whatever I want as long as I stay with the kids! What lunch break...

[daycare]

So what do you do if someone can't come on the weekends? I know in my area they give a blanket time. We will be out between 8-12... Not sure I could find something to do for 5 hours.. Although I guess I could meet them and then leave when they get here. Weird though... I never really thought about that stuff before... hmmmm....

It's funny how people complain about having to do things during their lunch break. I think lunch break???:: I can do whatever I want as long as I stay with the kids! What lunch break...

exactly what you said...I leave when they arrive...some times i just take the kids to the front or back yard depending on the weather.....

I am lucky enough to have my husband attend the house with them most of the time. I just dont ever want to chance it...

I could tell you a horror story that happened to my SIL that would never allow a stranger in your house ever again.............

I also don't do any interviews with prospective clients without my husband home

[Nickel]

What happened to your sister

I usually have my husband home during interviews, especially if I know that their husband is coming. I just always feel strange around husbands. (not realy men, but husbands if ykwim)

Anyway, there have been 1 or 2 interviews he wasn't able to be home for, but generally I feel better when he is. That goes for maintenance issues too unless I know and am comfortable with the company. Like the wash machine guy that has to come out every 6 mnths(stupid front load. socks keep getting stuck in the drain).

[EchoMom]

I'm legally unlicensed so I don't have to worry about much of what the PPs are saying. I just recently started having a cleaning lady I found affordable but not dirt cheap, on CL. She had a nice little website and seemed pretty good. She comes every 2 weeks and works for 3 hours. I pay her $75 total for the 3 hours. She cleans my playroom, nap room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.

I've found it a huge help although I too hate giving away the money I work so hard for. I'm full with 6 kids though so making decent money, and the $75 is only half of one child's payment for one week so it's worth it.

It doesn't help very much with the kitchen because the kitchen gets dirtied back up SO quickly. I still have to wipe up the floor and tables and counters and sink and stove and run dishwasher every single day, multiple times a day. I still have to vacuum every single day. However, with her coming every 2 weeks I NEVER have to worry anymore about cleaning my shower or toilet or mopping the small bathroom floor, etc. That's a big relief. Also, she uses a steamer to clean all the floors and it makes me really happy knowing that the floors are getting sanitized regularly since I have so many littles all over the floor.

[Nickel]

I am in the same boat. Legally unlicensed but I can only have 3 at a time. So between my 5 part timers I am still making a little less than I want to be at.... And I got a rough estimate but it would be over 1 child's weekly tuition (3 days), so that makes it a tough decision...

I've had 3 responses to my cl ad. I put everything I wanted done on there. I sort of wanted the twice a week so that I could have someone dust 2x week meaning I would dust the other 3 days. It's really that bad and I change my air filter every week and have an air purifier. I imagine its the dogs and the fact that are backyard is now a dust bowl from the drought conditions and high temps.

ANYWAY, I will keep looking around. I definitely want someone to come in weekly if I can afford it. If I can only do biweekly that is still better than not being able to clean the bathrooms at all kwim? And I don't mind wiping down the kitchen if someone can give it a good scrub. I just don't have the time. Mornings already consist of me getting my oldest sa dd to school then vacumming and dusting before dck arrive. Then i'm working until 7:30pm 3 nights a week and with homework and activities that leaves the weekends. On the weekends is the only time I see my dh (practically he works longer hours than I do) so we spend time as a family. Which means I seriously need the help!

Thanks for the input. I do want to be able to claim the svs on my taxes, and I want someone who is going to do a good job, affordable, and will be safe around the children...

[EchoMom]

Another tip, if possible think about the timing of when you want the cleaning person to come. I got sooo lucky and my lady comes at 2pm on Friday. You know what that means???? I go outside with the kids, or coral them in the playroom or put a movie on TV if all else fails and don't let them touch anything!!! That way I have a wonderfully clean house the entire weekend! I feel like I'm getting more for my money that way instead of having her come on a Monday or a morning time when the house will be instantly dirty again.