Two housecleaner questions

[y4m]

1. My cleaners are supposed to arrive between 11-12.  It's now 1:20, and no one is here yet.  This has been a pattern and I have specifically complained about it before, because I work from home so I do arrange my schedule around when they will be here (to supervise the dog, not have a vacuum in the back of my conference call, etc.).  I get that for people who don't work at home it might not matter, but it's annoying for me.  Now that I've already complained about it, I'm thinking about trying to find a different service over this (I'm also not thrilled with the quality/value - sometimes my husband comes home and can't tell they've been here, but they are $$$).

2. I subscribe to the tip at the end of the year philosophy of house cleaning.  If I were to switch to a new service, should I just wait until after the holidays? I think this is an overscheduling issue, not a failing of my particular people.  I don't want to stiff them.

[saywhatnow]

I was going through the exact same thing last year at this time. I figured I'd keep them through the holidays, give the cleaning team their tips and then dump them in January. I would either then try to figure out how to work cleaning into my day (I work at home,too) or find a new service. Yeah, I paused the service for a month and the upkeep about killed me. I've also had no luck in finding another service. THey still clean my house every two weeks. So, I'm in essence, no help to you.

[dexteroni]

1. What is your first question - should you switch over these issues? Yes. Reliability and quality of service are pretty much all a cleaning service has to provide, and this one isn't providing either.

2. The quality issue *is* a reflection on the employees in particular. I wouldn't feel compelled to tip cleaners who didn't even get the place noticeably clean. But if you really want to give them something, you don't have to wait until after the holidays to switch - just give them each something small on their last day.

[msmerymac]

A lot of people get cleaners before the holidays, so you might have more luck trying out a new service in January, anyway.

[hbomdiggity]

1. It's time to move on.

2. I don't tip for poor service.