Krystal Cleaning by Kate

"I would just like to say first of all that Member is one of the sweetest and coolest ladies in the I've ever had the opportunity to work for. I'm sorry it ended the way it did. But of course there's two sides to every story. Yes, it did end up costing $280 for me and my 4 year old daughter to live in and maintain Mr. and Mrs. Sergent's house for 2 weeks. We had agreed on $250 for the whole thing before they even left, but then they ended up giving me a check for $200 the morning I took them to the airport, so I figured it was a partial payment. They also gave me $80 in cash but I had to pay for multiple items that they did not have enough time to grab. First thing I needed to pay for was the landscaper who was "supposed" to come and mow the lawn twice in the period of time they were gone. I also needed to buy huge bags of chicken food, fish food, and food for myself and my daughter, so they said. Now, on top of their vacation falling on the first week of school that my daughter has ever attended (and me offering to house sit for them anyways, despite the obvious inconvenience I was about to face), there was ALOT of maintenance for the house, more than I was expecting I would say and ALOT more things for my daughter to get into than I had imagined. That fact in of itself, made this two weeks very tiring and impossible to relax (in fear of a broken house when they returned! lol). My eye balls couldn't leave her for 3 seconds! But it still didn't stop me, I did any and everything that needed to be done. On top of all the daily, regular tasks (taking care of plants, feeding fish, feeding chicken and keeping their coop clean, cleaning up after their parrot, feeding her 3 times daily, and keeping her company as much as I possibly could) I also did extra things for them that were not asked of me or I had never done before. I weeded part of the Member's husband garden, kept up with a underground pool, and mowed a lawn for the first time in my life (obviously the landscaper never showed!) I went ABOVE AND BEYOND for this couple. Partially because that's the type of worker I am, but mostly because the Member quickly made her way into my heart when I began working for her (as she was recovering from a stroke and battling parkinsons). Despite her poor physical condition, she was as happy and bubbly as could be! She constantly talked about keeping me for as long as her parkinson's progressed and said she wanted to adopt me multiple times! Regardless of this second comment on Angie's List, Member and I had great relationshiop and I honestly feel like there is nothing I could have done to take care of her house better than I did. I asked for $70 when they got back (with Member's seemingly complete understanding and agreement at the time), and I only asked because we had initially agreed on $250 anyways, and I ended up spending the $80 they had given me in cash before they left strictly on the up-keeping of the house. The couple was THRILLED after I picked them up from the airport and they got to see the house. Two days later i recieved a call from Member, relieving me. Are you as confused as me?!? All i can say is God lets everything happen for a reason and I still love Member with all my heart!! (Member: I have a replacement item I bought for you. I'll be giving you a call shortly.)"