Today we’d like to introduce you to John & Wendy Culkin.
Hi John & Wendy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My wife and I had previously helped out a “friend” who was a property manager for several Vacation villas here in the Kissimmee and Clermont areas of Fl. when she got in a jam with her other cleaners. I am the heavy worker, and Wendy does what she can, due to her medical issues. She inspects the house, and my work, and then she does those special final touches after a good cleaning to make sure the house looks inviting for new guests arrivals.
We complinent each other as a team. I can reach the high spots, and she reaches the low ones. My wife always does those little extra touches; we think of the guests. We clean and stage the home as if we were staying there with our own family.
We had also helped a neighbor who was a senior as he had some health issues; so we did a deep clean of his trailer for him. He and his sons were so appreciative of the detail we did, they suggested we open our own cleaning service. Well while we felt we provide an amazing service compaired to other cleaners that we had seen the end results of, we said why not give it a go on our own. So I took the initiative when I was still Furloughed from Disney’s Textile department in May of 2021, and started Happy Couple’s Cleaning Service. It was a leap of Faith to go out on my own after being with Disney for 6 years, and leaving all that behind me, but we did it, and I haven’t looked back.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My wife and I have ALWAYS struggled throughout our whole 26+ years of marriage together. We’ve had MANY ups and downs, ( too many ), feast or famine times; but with the Blessings of GOD, and my loving wife by my side, we always make it through some how, some way. Life is a struggle, and you MUST KEEP YOUR FAITH to get you through.
Leaving Disney was worrisome. I left a lot behind to start a new adventure; but I have my lifelong partner by my side, and I feel Blessed; and couldn’t be happier!! We love helping our neighbors, friends and family when they are in need of anything; and I have the time to do more now that I am not pressed by the Disney time clock, but my own. It’s a great feeling of being free to do what I want, when I want. We love it!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We’ve had our hands in a few businesses over our lifetime so far. Most of the time they were quite successful, and it has always been something out of our own control that changed our course, and we end up somwhere different. This last one was me leaving Disney as a truck driver to start a cleaning service with my wife. Who would have thought! Well here we are. As a new business, work comes in dribs and drabs, but it comes in. We are not rich by no means. We are not out of debt, but our bills are being paid, we have food on the table, a small roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. What more could we ask for?
I started out using Craigslist for adds, then found a cleaning gig app to get work, slowly building up. We ended up getting a contract with a big corporate company in Clermont cleaning Vacation Cottages, and commercial bathrooms, then we met a newly formed property management company, and we are hitting the ground running with them too. We just keep our Faith strong, and work rolls in.
What sets apart from other cleaners in the area? Well we are Licensed, Bonded and Insured. We also joined the American HouseCleaners Association. My wife has taken a couple classes and received her Professional cleaners certificate. I’m working on mine.
We are very thorough, and go above and beyond what we have seen other cleaners do. We check under beds, drawers, move furniture to check behind them, making sure nothing is left behind. When we clean, we want the Vacation home to look like noone was there! Our biggest thing is making sure there is no hair left behind; especially in the bathrooms and kitchen!
We noticed many cleaners want to go do the quickest clean possible and leave. We take the time to make sure its done right the 1st time. We stage the home, display the towels in special designs, we leave guest supplies to get their vacation off to a good start. We went a step further and we use ECOLAB professional cleaning products used in Hotels, hospitals and restaurants for a good quality clean, disinfect and sanitized home. We tell our new clients
EXPECT THE BEST, NOTHING LESS when it comes a good vacation rental.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
We have several lessons we’ve learned over the years… Only count on yourselves! Never count your chickens before they hatch! Know your worth, and most of all KEEP your FAITH STRONG, and GOD will provide a way!
We have been promised so many things, and those promises go undelivered too many times. We only count of ourselves and our Great Creator.
Pricing:
- $25 + per bedroom
- $30 + per bathroom
- $50 + Kitchen, Livingroom, Diningroom
- $.25-.50 cents per Sq Ft for DEEP CLEANS
- $.10-.25 per Sq. Ft. General cleans, and more
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HCCS.LLC and https://www.Happycouplescleaningservice.com
- Instagram: @happycouplescleaningservice
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HappyCouplesCleaningService/
Image Credits:
Wendy Culkin John Culkin
