How Tidy Is Your Home at Interview Time?

[NightOwl]

I'm doing my end of the day cleaning after everyone is gone and thinking about my interview tomorrow right after closing time. It occurred to me that having a perfectly clean home may not be the best first impression.

When my families pick up, there's typically a few toys here and there, dishes in the sink, I may be sweeping the floor, etc. You know, lived in. Not dirty, It just looks like I've spent the day with 6 toddlers.

So, do you ladies have everything tidy and in place when you have an interview right after work? Or do you not sweat the random toys that need to be put away or the few dishes in the sink? Do you feel parents have a preference one way or another?

And if you're a parent going to an interview, would you rather see the home as it truly is at the end of a normal day? Or do you want to see it at its best?

I've always had fantastic luck with interviews. There's only been 2 that didn't enroll that I can remember. And one was by my choice. And my house has been in both conditions, sometimes perfect, sometimes a little messy because my last kids had just left.

[Thriftylady]

My house is never perfect. I am not a good housekeeper. I just stink at it! But I try to keep things clean and safe. My kids that started in January, mom told me she liked that though, because she felt like her kids could feel free to touch things and play.

[lovemydaycare0912]

I've done interviews in the morning and also right after closing. I usually give myself 15 minutes after I close so my place doesn't look a complete mess. But parents haven't minded either way. At least to my knowledge. I feel like they should be understanding and can't expect that you have everything in tip top shop if you just closed after a full day. I don't know if this helps, but if a parent doesn't choose you because of a few toys on the floor, their loss.

[hope]

In the past I have went way overboard cleaning for interviews. I love to clean so my home is very clean but I worried over every little detail right up until the interview started. I had a few parents comment on how clean things were and I got the impression that they thought I cleaned instead of working with the kids all day. I actually showed them pictures that I send to my current parents throughout the day so they can see how "messy" it gets. So now I don't go so nuts and my home looks however it is for interviews.

[NoMoreJuice!]

I do like to make a good first impression, so I clean above and beyond the normal amount. I also like to have fresh baked cookies right out of the oven. Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and when they think back about my house, I want them to remember a home. Fresh chocolate chip cookies make a house smell like a home! Oldest realtor trick in the book.

[NightOwl]

I do like to make a good first impression, so I clean above and beyond the normal amount. I also like to have fresh baked cookies right out of the oven. Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and when they think back about my house, I want them to remember a home. Fresh chocolate chip cookies make a house smell like a home! Oldest realtor trick in the book.

Good idea! I'm off to buy cookie dough.

[Ariana]

I do like to make a good first impression, so I clean above and beyond the normal amount. I also like to have fresh baked cookies right out of the oven. Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and when they think back about my house, I want them to remember a home. Fresh chocolate chip cookies make a house smell like a home! Oldest realtor trick in the book.

This is me too! Sometimes I like having interviews because it is the only time my house gets really cleaned from top to bottom ::

When we were selling our house I would put a glass of water mixed with cinnamon in the microwave for a couple of minutes right before a showing to get the nice smell throughout. Every time I did it we got an offer on the house! The one time I forgot they didn't offer....might just be coincidence but I don't think so

[finsup]

Generally if I have an interview right after closing, I'll have things cleaned up a bit earlier so I can vaccume and such before they get here. It's not as spotless as it is if I have a weekend interview but it's still nothing that would probably stand out to anyone but me . If I was looking I would just like to see things were *pretty* clean. A few dishes in the sink? Some toys out? No big deal.
Oh and interview days for me are also crock pot meals Pot roast or pasta sauce. I can't do cookies because more often then not I burn them and well, that isn't exactly welcoming (not that that ever happened... ).

[LysesKids]

I set all my first time meet & greets @ or after 6pm... of course that was before I had a 12 hr day little . My home is never perfect, but parents can definantly smell dinner when they arrive.

Most my clients are over 85% or more onboard before meeting me because they read my website & policies before contacting me and they know I will never have a spotless home taking care of 4 babies. In fact my website states that I will do most my cleaning AFTER the children leave because infants are a lot of work ... can't set a schedule around 4 littles under 18 months and if you think I can then we won't be a good fit

[NillaWafers]

Mine is probably too tidy, hehe. I spend way too much time cleaning for interviews. I always pop some sort of baked good scentsy in, before people show up! So at least I'm doing one thing right!

[Thriftylady]

Good idea! I'm off to buy cookie dough.

I have been known to throw a loaf of homemade bread in the oven before an interview.

[Josiegirl]

I do like to make a good first impression, so I clean above and beyond the normal amount. I also like to have fresh baked cookies right out of the oven. Smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and when they think back about my house, I want them to remember a home. Fresh chocolate chip cookies make a house smell like a home! Oldest realtor trick in the book.

Can I come for an interview?? I'll even bring my own milk.

[Josiegirl]

I try to schedule interviews on a weekend, only because the work days do me in and I don't want to do a thing, except relax, when everyone goes home. So yes, my house is clean. The last dcf that enrolled remarked how clean it was and I said 'that's because I knew you were coming and it's not Friday night'. They laughed and totally got it. Most parents with kids would understand. I never thought about using scents to draw interest.

[childcaremom]

I try to schedule interviews on a weekend, only because the work days do me in and I don't want to do a thing, except relax, when everyone goes home. So yes, my house is clean. The last dcf that enrolled remarked how clean it was and I said 'that's because I knew you were coming and it's not Friday night'. They laughed and totally got it. Most parents with kids would understand. I never thought about using scents to draw interest.

This is me, too. Weekends only.

My mom always used to say, thank goodness for company or the house would never get cleaned. I have switched that from company to daycare interviews! ::

I try to be clean and tidy but I no longer stress about it. Housecleaning is not my forte. I vacuum, mop, dust and do a quick tidy up of clutter. That is it. I try to bake, too, so it smells good. At the very least, we get some muffins out of the deal

[MunchkinWrangler]

Immaculate. But I have a small home so if it is cluttered in any way it looks like a junk pile. But, unfortunately, my bedroom suffers, the unlicensed part of my home, so sometimes before an interview, lots of things get stuffed in there!