What kind of housekeeping cast do customers want?

Hello! I am Kurara Bell, an active housekeeping cast member. I think the biggest advantage of belonging to a housekeeping agency is that the company acts as an intermediary between us and the customer.
It is very helpful that the company resolves issues and handles negotiations when something goes wrong. This might be the same for the customer side as well. It is a relief not to have to deal directly with the cast, isn't it?

I think the rules vary depending on the company, but there are cases where you can request or choose a cast member you like. In such cases, if the customer wants that cast member, the relationship continues for a long time.
However, when you cannot choose a cast member, it seems that customers sometimes ask for a replacement. The reasons seem to vary. Technical issues with the housework, not liking the cast's attitude, or poor grooming, etc. The standards required by customers differ, and if the cast is clearly at fault, it might be unavoidable.

I have never been asked to be replaced directly, but I do wonder if they were satisfied, if I caused any trouble, or if everything was okay.
Of course, since I have been doing this for a long time, I have been requested by spot and regular customers,
and I have been told many times to keep coming back, which makes me very happy and motivates me to do my best. There is one thing I always make sure not to forget: to provide service from the customer's perspective and to be careful not to become complacent or arrogant. I thought again about what kind of cast members customers would want to have.

▪️ Meticulous work

▪️ No property damage

▪️ Speedy and clean finish

↑ These three are technical elements and are ideal, right? Since they are paying money to hire a professional, they want someone who has the skills to match.

▪️ Cheerful and communicative, but does not talk unnecessarily

▪️ Calm

▪️ Able to provide accurate advice to the customer

↑ These are about personality and character, but they are actually more important than technical skills. This is just an ideal, but if you are not energetic or don't smile, you won't leave a good impression when you visit. Also, even if you are cheerful and communicative, it is a problem if you are at a level that makes the other person feel intimidated. Since the work is within a set time, talking too much with the customer or asking intrusive questions without knowing your place is also a no-go. You are also required to have a calm demeanor while being able to explain things you notice during work or give advice when asked.

▪️ Clean and well-groomed.

▪️ Clothing suitable for work that does not cause discomfort

▪️ No body odor or bad breath

↑ It is actually quite common to be disqualified immediately if any of these three are lacking, even if the work is good and the personality is perfect. It is a waste.
Feeling disgust on a physiological level is something they cannot endure.

If you clear these, I think you will be fine visiting most homes, but even so,
there are times when things get awkward with the customer. Of course, I have experienced this too. Everything I did backfired. I have had experiences where I felt this is just difficult. So, does that mean

In the end, is it a matter of compatibility between the customer and the cast??

Well... that may be the case.
However, I don't think we should just dismiss everything with that (laughs). After all, I think it is very important to make an effort to become a cast member who can be properly accepted no matter which home you visit. I believe a professional is someone who does what they can to cover things with effort.

This is my own theory, but the role of a cast member as I see it is

“Sometimes Mary Poppins. Sometimes a stone hat. Leaving like the wind when it is time to go.”

That doesn't make sense, does it? (laughs) Please don't be put off...
To explain, it's like someone who arrives suddenly like Mary Poppins to brighten up the home, stays quiet as if wearing a Stone Hat (a Doraemon gadget) so as not to be in the way, and leaves like the wind when the service is over (laughs). To put it seriously,
“Being able to become various presences depending on the situation.”
I can't explain it well, but if I could become like this, I would truly be a professional.

For regular services, it is the greatest reward for a cast member if the customer thinks, 'I'm looking forward to [Name] coming today!'
When I visit and the customer is at home, I sometimes encounter them working remotely or a couple having a small argument. In such cases, if I have to work in the same space, I make an effort to erase my presence, hide my aura, and not listen. Just like wearing a Stone Hat. Since I have a duty of confidentiality, I cannot speak of such things to others. If I were a presence that made them feel guarded, I might still have a long way to go as a cast member (laughs).

And, at the time of departure. I think customers want us to finish quickly and leave. (Although it's quite difficult to pack up tools, etc.) Staying around forever is
of course, a nuisance and not good.

Even if I say 'quickly,' the ideal is, of course, a professional finish. On days when I think, 'This might be a good finish!', the people at that house will come to the entrance to see me off and bow their heads. Sometimes, the whole family does that. Finishing properly and leaving like the wind might be the most ideal service.

At the root, there is a bond called 'trust'.

The customer trusts the cast member and invites them into their home. That is the start of everything, and we, as cast members, respond to that by doing our best.
It's not easy to let a stranger into your home or entrust them with your keys, is it?
Since the customer trusts us, we must absolutely never do anything to betray that.
This can also be said for similar businesses; people in professions such as babysitters and home care workers
must always keep in mind their own position, what they should do, thinking from the customer's perspective, and being careful about complacency and negligence; I think that is truly important.

While writing this, I felt renewed and thought I would do my best again starting tomorrow.

Thank you for reading until the end. I will send you the next one from a cast member's perspective as well!