Looking for a cleaner for the whole season. The area is Kentroma/Agni region. A lovely new villa. Contact judi natan on 6938770058. Thanks
Message posted by Bob and Wendy (Uncle Bob) on 23 January 2010 at 1:16am - IP Logged
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Bob and Wendy
Blimy, this post has been here for three hours with no replys, perhaps everyone is sorted,
Anna, I'm sure you'll find local Greek cleaners willing to help you.
Bob.
Message posted by Anna K on 23 January 2010 at 8:26am - IP Logged
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Anna, I have a house in Kentroma and don't personally know anyone from the UK who is looking for work in this area. Most British people who move over to Corfu looking for work would normally go to live in areas such as Sidari, Kassiopi or Acharavi where there is also bar work etc. to be found. I do know a couple of people who have cleaners who are Greek so they don't come on these message boards. I think Bob hit the nail on the head when he said you would probably find local Greek cleaners as the travel would normally prevent British people from working to the area.
Message posted by janmanessi on 23 January 2010 at 2:16pm - IP Logged
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I know this may be controversial- and I do understand the need for people to find work who come to Greece- but cleaning jobs have traditionally been lifesavers for the Greek village women living in or near tourist areas.
If English people start taking this kind of work too will it not risk unbalancing the relationships between locals and 'incomers'? No-one grumbles in UK about heart surgeons coming into the country- but the supermarket check out girl or the labourer- that is another matter
If they are seen as threatening the local peoples' livelihoods surely they will not be welcomed so sincerely?
Times are hard for all at the moment I know, but more and more it seems to me that some English people coming abroad isolate themselves from the local community- to their great detriment.
Please don't anyone take this personally. I am well aware of the advantages of employing someone who speaks the same language as you, but there has to be a balance, and it will greatly enrich your life in Corfu to get to know the local community, and how better than by welcoming someone into your home to work
Message posted by Bob and Wendy (Uncle Bob) on 23 January 2010 at 3:40pm - IP Logged
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Bob and Wendy
Jan, I agree wholeheartedly with your comments.
Bob.
Message posted by Bill on 23 January 2010 at 4:00pm - IP Logged
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I can see where you are coming from Jan, but (isn't there always one!)to reply to your comments...
Villa and apartment cleaning is the one area of work within the tourist industry where, in the north at least, demand seemed to outstrip supply last year. I have many Greek female friends, and I didn't hear a single one complain that they couldn't find cleaning work - although Greek friends who own properties did have trouble finding cleaning staff.
I'm not sure that English (or perhaps we should more correctly just say 'migrants', as it isn't just English, but other Brits, other Europeans and not forgetting Albanians who look for work on the island in the summer) may "start taking this kind of work". They have been doing so for many years already. Conversely, British and other non Greeks who own property on the island also generate employment for the local community (irrespective of nationality) in building, maintenance, gardening,cleaning and numerous other trades.
In respect of threatening local peoples' livelihoods. Again, this is a situation that has been around for many years and there are those in the local community who resent non Greeks working here per se, whatever the nature of the work. On a broader note, Greece is part of the EU and EU citizens are entitled to live and work anywhere within the community. This might not sit well with everyone in the local community (look at the fervour about the use of migrant workers in the UK over the last few years), it is nonetheless a right that we all have.
In situations where the owner of a property is not a Greek speaker and is not living locally, I'm not so sure that it's simply an advantage to employ someone who can speak the same language as you, but necessity. That is not to say that the employee needs to be the same nationality, but, as is the case in many privately owned villas, the cleaner is also the keyholder and deals with minor 'on site' difficulties for the absent owner, making good communication essential, especially if the property is rented out to visitors.
However, when all said and done, I firmly believe that you will be hard pressed to find a more thorough and effective cleaner than a Greek village lady! I've done cleaning work myself (including for a Greek apartment owner who wasn't in the least bit concerned about employing a non Greek). It's hard, thankless work that demands high standards and commands low wages, but the Greek ladies normally do it very effectively, whilst keeping a smile on their faces
Message posted by janmanessi on 23 January 2010 at 4:12pm - IP Logged
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Understand all you say but do explain one thing- surely the cleaner if she is also the keyholder will be better placed to quickly sort out the maintenance problems that arise if she is Greek and knows local workmen than someone from abroad (point taken, not only English!) who may only have been on the island for a few months and not know who to turn to.
Surely responsible owners would make sure that additionally to the cleaner their tenants have a phone number they can call to speak to someone who speaks their language to avoid any confusion?
Message posted by Mrs D on 23 January 2010 at 4:51pm - IP Logged
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I tried to get a local Greek lady to look after my little 2 bedroom house. All I wanted her to do was open up on good days occasionally over the winter and to have the house ready when we visited twice a year. I also wanted her to clean and wash the bedlinen etc when we left.
She didn't speak english but her son offered to interpret for us. I nearly fell off my chair when he said that they wanted 500 euro per month all year round!!! I expected to pay the going rate but to my mind this was excessive. Needless to say we still haven't got a cleaner/housekeeper.
Message posted by janmanessi on 23 January 2010 at 4:58pm - IP Logged
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Mrs D I am a cleaner who works in the Sinies area. I may be able to help you out. So long since private messaged cannot remember how to do it (not very good with internet sights). Send me a message so that we can talk if you would like to. leigh
Message posted by Bill on 23 January 2010 at 5:31pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by janmanessi on 23 January 2010
Understand all you say but do explain one thing- surely the cleaner if she is also the keyholder will be better placed to quickly sort out the maintenance problems that arise if she is Greek and knows local workmen than someone from abroad (point taken, not only English!) who may only have been on the island for a few months and not know who to turn to.
Surely responsible owners would make sure that additionally to the cleaner their tenants have a phone number they can call to speak to someone who speaks their language to avoid any confusion?
Yes I agree Jan, although I think it would be true also to say:
"surely the cleaner if she is also the keyholder will be better placed to quickly sort out the maintenance problems that arise if she knows local workmen"...
This isn't so much what you know as who you know! I agree entirely that a cleaner/keyholder who has little local knowledge and few contacts wouldn't be well placed to resolve immediate difficulties.
Conversely (lets forget about actual nationalities here), just as an example: you have a local cleaner/keyholder who does not speak your language. There is a small fire at your property and the kitchen wall and oven is frazzled - yes they could find a painter to redecorate and a probably organise a replacement oven, but how do the articulate the problem to you, and would they be equipped to deal with this type of minor catastrophy? This isn't something that one would expect the visitor to deal with...
We could debate the pros and cons of this all week, and I can see benefits on both sides. In an ideal world villa owners (whatever their nationality) if not in the locale should have a cleaner for cleaning and a property manager to liaise and keep an eye on the place, then the problem doesn't arise! However, as you say in your original post, times are hard at the moment, and savings have to be made.
Perhaps the moral should be -
a) if you are employing an excellent cleaner who doesn't happen to speak your language, be sure that you have a local intermediary who can liaise for you. Whether that's a friend or acquaintance who can act in an informal capacity, or a property manager of some sort. b) if you have local tradesmen that you prefer to use, make sure a list of them and their contact numbers is available to whomever is 'on site' on your behalf.
c) always make sure your guests have your contact numbers, just in case the worst happens.
Message posted by Mrs D on 23 January 2010 at 5:32pm - IP Logged
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I'm not sure that I agree with you Jan (sorry!!) I think that a British cleaner, who however should speak Greek, will do a better job, by and large. I have experienced numerous situations where a Greek cleaner, who may be geographically much closer cannot quickly respond to a problem because a) she doesn't drive, b) husband has gone out and she has to stay with children/goats/hens c) it's siesta time d) no mobile phone so you can't reach her, e) her father will not let her out late at night, etc. etc.
None of this has anything to do with the standard of cleanliness and results achieved, of course. I think there are good and bad cleaners of all nationalities, though.
Also at what point does someone cease to be a foreigner and become a local? For instance, I know someone who is British and looking for a job. She has been in Corfu for 20 years. Doesn't she have the rights of a local?
Message posted by Linda2 on 23 January 2010 at 11:26pm - IP Logged
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I agree with many of the various points raised but, having owned a property on the island for 17 years, would have to come down on the side of the British cleaner.
I tried the local route. On more than one occasion, my outside furniture was 'shifted' over to my neighbours in my absence. I know this because they were silly enough not to even return it until after I arrived and it had suffered damage. On one spectacular occasion when I turned up late at night without prior notice I found that all of my dining room furniture was missing. I was awoken by many scraping noises on the terrace at about 5 o'clock the next morning only to find that all my furniture had been miraculously returned and dumped outside! Needless to say, that was the last time I allowed those particular people access to my house, in fact I didn't need to dismiss them because they ran away whenever they saw me!
For many years now I have had a British person looking after the house in my absence and I have no complaints. Others will have different stories of course....
Message posted by kinninviekid on 23 January 2010 at 11:46pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by Susanna on 23 January 2010
Also at what point does someone cease to be a foreigner and become a local? For instance, I know someone who is British and looking for a job. She has been in Corfu for 20 years. Doesn't she have the rights of a local?
Here in our local Teesdale villages I know of families that have lived here for over 30 years and people still call them "incomers" even though some were born less than 25 miles away!
Message posted by Anna K on 25 January 2010 at 10:44am - IP Logged
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For tony and leigh
I cannot message you because I haven't any stars
also I am a techno fobe and unsure how to retrieve your email.
Please just ring the mobile number listed or this number 6943464075
Thanks
Message posted by tony and leigh on 25 January 2010 at 11:35am - IP Logged
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I had and still use an Albanian lady who is utter magic. A white tornado and a complete gem. Sadly nowhere near the Agni area so that was a useless piece of information.
Good luck
Message posted by jessfarley on 02 February 2010 at 4:55pm - IP Logged
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Hi there, I've been living in Corfu for a year now, been working here in the summer for 4 years. I currently live in Sinies where I am doing part time work for a real estate agent but my skills are quite all round, I work in Wave bar, Agios Stefanos in the summer with my partner and would love a cleaning job. Please let me know if it's still available or if anyone knows of any other work give me a message! Thankyou, Jessica
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Yes I agree Jan, although I think it would be true also to say: 
