cleaning a house

[Connemmara]

I have been offered 8 hours of cleaning a house which is a billionaires house altho I believe anybody who sees just sees a a load of codswallop but the pictures and ornaments are said to be millions. The millionaires are seldom there but just want the house kept up to date dusted and if anyone wants to stay - straighten the place up. First of all I am not the fittest or the healthiest but do rally round near afternoon. Age 59-60. 8 hours an hour. I was always used to sitting on my a ss in the civil service for 37 years and am wondering would it be too much for me - dont really want to make the commitment to let him down/.

[ChuckFickens]

8 hours an hour is going to be a lot of work!

[jackthehat]

Take it on a trial basis.
Say that you wouldn't want to let him down nor put yourself under any undue pressure...........so say try it for a week/fortnight and see how both of you feel.

[yogasun]

Is that £8 an hour? Round here cleaners get about £10 an hour and the South West wages are generally on the low side.

[mrs.chappie]

That sounds like a lot of hard work to me, Conne. If it's 8 hours of non-stop cleaning, I'd say it'll be too much for you. It certainly would be for me.

Mind you, I am a lazy bu88er and only do the minimum of cleaning, so perhaps I'm not the best person to give advice.

Most certainly, I would swerve it unless I was desperate for the cash. Think of your health and well-being first.

[Connemmara]

sorry should have said that I can do the hours whenever I like - like 2 hours a day 4 a day - even I could go over at night time so definitely it is not all 8 hours at once. The thing I worry about - isn't difficult to clean a "clean" house if the residents are not there.

[jackthehat]

If you devise a rota of jobs that need doing 'once in a while'.......washing and drying nets, beating rugs, etc. you'll find that you can soon fill up the 8 hours.

[Mosaic]

Firstly, 8 hours can't be all at full pelt. You are entitled to breaktimes and a mealtime during that period. Secondly, who is watching to do the time-and-motion bit? Sounds like you're mostly alone. So apportian up the tasks, make up a timetable and work to it, ticking off stuff as you go. Then there can be no intimation that you're not working.
Tasks like cleaning valuable ornaments need to be done slowly with care - better still if sitting, with a padded mat on a table top under the valuables. Setting this up and demounting it takes time.
You clearly have a work ethic. I have watched a school cleaner dab at the same length of skirting board with a duster for three hours and call that a part day.

[EcclesCake]

You haven't given any indication at all of how big this house is. Just because it is owned by a Millionaire/Billionaire doesn't really tell us if it is a comfy 5 bedroom detached or a 12 bedroom manor house. The valuable pictures and ornaments could be in either.

Nor is it clear if you are being asked to work 8 hours per day per week or 8 hours per week.

If it is a 40 hr week then, I would suggest if you are not used to a physical job you might ind it hard to begin with. If it is just 8hrs per week, is it really any different to looking after your own home?

Only you know the extent of the property and how much effort it will entail, therefore only you can make the decision.

A months trial to see how it suits is good advice.

[Connemmara]

it is 8 hours a week. £8 an hour cleaning at your own leisure. That would be £64 a week - £246 a month. eccles cake do you not think it is worth it.

[anneasquith]

its nice to see you posting con, ask the person/persons what they require to be " cleaned ", id say give it a try.

[EcclesCake]

Connemmara, I have absolutely no clue what the house is like so it is difficult to answer.

If the house is modest then 8 hours a week to keep on top of everything seems perfectly in order and if you can split it in to two shifts even better. Do take into consideration the cost of travelling though given the current high fuel costs.