Having a cleaning service come in while not at home

Question

i live in an urban flat with 2 roommates. the roommates want to hire a cleaning service to regularly come in and clean our flat. i gather they are not at all concerned with the idea of having strangers come in to our home while we are not at home. i don't agree with that. i think it's best to err on the side of caution and make sure one of us is home while a cleaning service comes in. we have our belongings, we have our pets. i like to feel secure about all of that and i think it's risky, in fact a little crazy, that people just open their homes up like that while not at home, and allow the cleaning folks to have a key (which presumably is how it would work). i realize the possibility of some 'nightmare scenario' is small, but things do happen. i say why take the risk?

i think my roommates consider my view overlycautious and paranoid.

does anyone have familiarity with this issue, and share my opinion? or share their opinion?

just looking for feedback, points of view.

thanks

Answer 1

We live in a wonderful area most people would feel "safe" in. We had a cleaning service which brought in various people and yes, they had a key while we were gone.  So, long story short, one day I couldn't find my gold bracelet and my Grandmother's diamond wedding ring. I have no idea which day or month it was stolen and cannot prove it. But they are the only ones who would have had access to my home and closet and jewelry box while we were gone.

I also know someone who knows someone that cleaned for a living and regularly ripped off occupants.  

The thieves give good cleaning people a bad name.

If you have a service in, make sure your personal data is in a locked file drawer and password lock your computer. Don't be afraid to use a nanny cam. Lock up all valuables.  

Answer 2

scarey feeling

Answer 3

As someone who has worked for cleaning service companies and one who now hires others to help me clean, I think I can say a few things that might help you.  I NEVER took a thing from someone, EVER!  But, some of the girls I worked with, DID!  I would ask to NEVER be teamed with them again, s I never wanted to be blamed for ANYTHING that MIGHT come up missing.  I know I was surprised at how many people entrusted their keys to the service, only to have the service send out the "new" guy to their house with the key to their home.  I stopped working for that service pretty quick, and went onto another who was careful about who they hired, doing background and criminal checks and so on, but the fact of the matter is, most of the people who do this for a living, are honest people, unfortunately, some are more careful than others in hiring and some are a strictly, "if they are breathing, give them the key to the "Smiths" house" kind of mentality.  Since I know how cleaning services sometimes operate, I would NEVER leave jewelry or money out EVER!  I have a safe and keep my things in there, and no one is allowed in my personal space EVER!  My cleaning people are with me cleaning.  It costs about the same, but I am here, I am supervising and I feel more secure myself.  My suggestion is to find a good cleaning person, who operates their own little service and get recommendations from others about their abilities, being on time, trustworthy and dependable.  If you can get find your way clear to call a service, ask how they screen potential employees.  If you REALLY want to know WHAT they do, call and ask for a job and see what they make you do to get hired.  If they simply have you fill out an application, RUN!  If you have to get fingerprinted, consider them.  Ask what their policy is if something gets broke (it happens!) or something goes MISSING (happens more!).  Just cause they are the last one in, doesn't mean a company will pay, you may have an uphill battle, as with two other room mates, a service could say one them took it!  Check around, there are plenty of competent, reliable, honest people who will come in, some even while you are home and clean.  If you must get a service, just put everything that is sentimental and CANNOT be replaced away and locked up.  If I were to do a service, I would just have a closed that could be secured and locked and no one, but me has a key!  Hope this helps you!  Good luck!

Answer 4

Well I used to work in housekeeping and people entrusted us to come in to their house and clean when they were not around.  I would say make sure if you are going to hire a housekeeping service then make sure it is one like "The Maids", "Molly Maids","Merry Maids" that type of service that actually has maids who are trained etc.  In the time I worked in housekeeping there was never any incidents of any problems.  My mom & dad have their own housekeeper at first they made sure they were home when she was around cleaning.  BUT after a few times they entrusted her with the key to lock up and leave it in a safe place outside when they leave.