Meet the Pros: Katya

Welcome to Meet the Pros series, where we introduce you to our franchise partners and people of the trade. It’s been a while since we talked about our cleaning sector, so we are getting right on with it. Meet Katya, who’s been with us for over six years and has a story to tell you as to why, a cleaning franchise is the right choice.

Read the transcript from the interview below:

Introduce yourself in a few words:

Hello. My name is Katya Marinova. I’m 61 years old and I am from Varna. Presently, I work as a cleaner.

How long have you been a cleaning expert?

I’ve been cleaning properties for 15 years.

What were you doing before you became a cleaning expert?

Before I got into cleaning, I ran my own business in the retail sector.

Why did you decide to become a cleaning expert?

Totally by accident, I spotted an advertisement in the paper, looking for cleaners for London. I applied in person, got approved and went to London.

What is the most interesting job you’ve ever been to?

I’ve cleaned lots of houses in London for the last 6 years. I’ve come across many different situations but there is one case that I’ll never forget and I can share it with you. I was cleaning this house, where I was met by the client. It was a two-hour job. So, I was cleaning the sofa and under the seat, I found a very expensive, luxury men’s wrist watch. I knew what to do – leave the watch somewhere visible and just a few minutes before I was finished with the work at the address, the client returned. I saw how the client went to the table and noticed the watch. He was over the moon about finding his watch. He started crying, gave me a hug and said: “You know, this is my favourite watch. I collect this sort of wrist watches.” He looked extremely pleased. I’ll never forget this – the tears in his eyes and his happiness are simply unforgettable.

What are the most frequently asked questions from customers?

The first thing clients would ask me is where I’m from, what my name is, some may ask about how long I’ve been working for Fantastic Services. These are their most frequent questions.

Describe your day to day routine. What’s a typical day like?

I have my jobs scheduled on the day before… I know how many houses I’ll have to do on the next day, whether it’s two or three. I get up, have breakfast and go. The jobs I get are organised in a very convenient way for me, not far from where I live. I get a chance to have a rest between jobs. I don’t feel stressed about doing my daily work.

How long does it take to train to do your job?

I suppose, after a month, I felt confident that I could do this job. But even to this day, I feel apprehensive when I get to do a new job – who’s going to meet me, what the property’s going to be like, how long it’ll take me to clean it. This sort of anxiety has stayed with me. I always get it.

What are the tricks of the trade?

To work as a cleaner in London, you must have a feel for it… A feel for this type of work, a willingness to do it conscientiously. You have to clean the property in such a way that when the client comes back, they say: “I wouldn’t have any other company clean my house but this one.”

Are you proud of what you do?

Yes, I am, because there’s this option where the customers have to rate our work. 5 stars is the highest rating. And well, yes, I constantly get 5 stars.

What do you like and dislike most about your job?

Not so much that I dislike anything but I do feel anxious when I’m about to go to a new house address because there’s always this concern about what it will be like and where it is. The most I like about my job is when I clean a property and the customer comes and says: “Wow, the house looks as new. You’ve done wonders with it.” – this is enough for me. The client’s appreciation.

Can you ever imagine doing anything else? If you hadn’t started this job, what else would you have done?

I would go back into the retail business, say, I’d run my own little shop, but still, I believe that I’ll be doing this job until I get retired if I have the option and feel fit enough.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like wandering about in the big shopping centres in London because I love retail and it’s the one thing I get excited about.

What is your advise to the newcomers in Fantastic Services?

It’s a very good work opportunity if you’ve got the motivation. If you’re willing to do your job well enough, you’ll get paid well and you’ll be able to change your life for the better. I can only say that my work experience in London changed my life.

What do you like most about living in London (UK)?

For me, London is an orderly chaos. There’s everything you need but it’s also so well ordered that I feel at ease in London.

What have you achieved in your personal life thanks to working at Fantastic Services?

I don’t feel stressed out, I’ve found myself, and I’m better off financially. I feel very grateful for what the job as a cleaning expert in London has given me so far. I’m thankful to the agency that made this possible. They’ve simply changed my life.

***

Welcome to Meet the Pros series, where we introduce you to our franchise partners and people of the trade. It’s been a while since we talked about our cleaning sector, so we are getting right on with it. Meet Katya, who’s been with us for over six years and has a story to tell you as to why, a cleaning franchise is the right choice.

Read the transcript from the interview below:

Introduce yourself in a few words:

Hello. My name is Katya Marinova. I’m 61 years old and I am from Varna. Presently, I work as a cleaner.

How long have you been a cleaning expert?

I’ve been cleaning properties for 15 years.

What were you doing before you became a cleaning expert?

Before I got into cleaning, I ran my own business in the retail sector.

Why did you decide to become a cleaning expert?

Totally by accident, I spotted an advertisement in the paper, looking for cleaners for London. I applied in person, got approved and went to London.

What is the most interesting job you’ve ever been to?

I’ve cleaned lots of houses in London for the last 6 years. I’ve come across many different situations but there is one case that I’ll never forget and I can share it with you. I was cleaning this house, where I was met by the client. It was a two-hour job. So, I was cleaning the sofa and under the seat, I found a very expensive, luxury men’s wrist watch. I knew what to do – leave the watch somewhere visible and just a few minutes before I was finished with the work at the address, the client returned. I saw how the client went to the table and noticed the watch. He was over the moon about finding his watch. He started crying, gave me a hug and said: “You know, this is my favourite watch. I collect this sort of wrist watches.” He looked extremely pleased. I’ll never forget this – the tears in his eyes and his happiness are simply unforgettable.

What are the most frequently asked questions from customers?

The first thing clients would ask me is where I’m from, what my name is, some may ask about how long I’ve been working for this company. These are their most frequent questions.

Describe your day to day routine. What’s a typical day like?

I have my jobs scheduled on the day before… I know how many houses I’ll have to do on the next day, whether it’s 2 or 3. I get up, have breakfast and go. The jobs I get are organised in a very convenient way for me, not far from where I live. I get a chance to have a rest between jobs. I don’t feel stressed doing my daily work.

How long does it take to train to do your job?

I suppose, after a month, I felt confident that I could do this job. But even to this day, I feel apprehensive when I get to do a new job – who’s going to meet me, what the property’s going to be like, how long it’ll take me to clean it. This sort of anxiety has stayed with me. I always get it.

What are the tricks of the trade?

To work as a cleaner in London, you must have a feel for it… A feel for this type of work, a willingness to do it conscientiously. You have to clean the property in such a way that when the client comes back, they say: “I wouldn’t have any other company clean my house but this one.”

Are you proud of what you do?

Yes, I am, because there’s this option where the customers have to rate our work. 5 stars is the highest rating. And well, yes, I constantly get 5 stars.

What do you like and dislike most about your job?

Not so much that I dislike anything but I do feel anxious when I’m about to go to a new house address because there’s always this concern about what it will be like and where it is. The most I like about my job is when I clean a property and the customer comes and says: “Wow, the house looks as new. You’ve done wonders with it.” – this is enough for me. The client’s appreciation.

Can you ever imagine doing anything else? If you hadn’t started this job, what else would you have done?

I would go back into the retail business, say, I’d run my own little shop, but still, I believe that I’ll be doing this job until I get retired if I have the option and feel fit enough.

What do you do in your spare time?

I like wandering about in the big shopping centres in London because I love retail and it’s the one thing I get excited about.

What is your advise to the newcomers in Fantastic Services?

It’s a very good work opportunity if you’ve got the motivation. If you’re willing to do your job well enough, you’ll get paid well and you’ll be able to change your life for the better. I can only say that my work experience in London changed my life.

What do you like most about living in London (UK)?

For me, London is an orderly chaos. There’s everything you need but it’s also so well ordered that I feel at ease in London.

What have you achieved in your personal life thanks to working at Fantastic Services?

I don’t feel stressed out, I’ve found myself, and I’m better off financially. I feel very grateful for what the job as a cleaning expert in London has given me so far. I’m thankful to the agency that made this possible. They’ve simply changed my life.

***

• Last update: November 4, 2020

Posted in Fantastic Family