What Are The Most Cost-Effective Ways to Use Personal Concierge Services?
One of my core beliefs about being a personal concierge is that my services are for everyone--not just the rich and famous. Your last name doesn't have to be Kardashian in order to have someone help manage your day-to-day routine!
That said, personal concierges do charge for their time. So how do you, as the client, make the most of the time that you have purchased from a personal concierge? I'm glad you asked, because I have some tips on how to do exactly that.
Getting the Most from Your Package of Hours
ChoreVoyant offers clients packages of hours. The larger the package of hours purchased, the lower the hourly rate and the longer period of time you have to use them. For example, when a client purchases a 12-hour package, they have four months to use those hours. That larger, up-front investment can go a long way if they do the following:
- Prioritize what needs done. I realize that this may be easier to say than to do, especially if a client is overwhelmed. However, this is crucial if your monetary budget is on equal footing with your time budget. Your wallet will thank you for taking a half-hour to think through all that you need help with, and put it in order of urgency or distastefulness ("delegate what you hate").
- Decide how many tasks you want completed in a session. This decision is the most important in making your package of hours to last beyond what feels like a "hot minute." If you can create a schedule of your tasks--again, in order of urgency and/or importance--a six or twelve-hour package should last at least several weeks, not several days.
- Plan. Once you've prioritized what you'd like your personal concierge to do, take the steps that will allow them to complete the task. If you've asked them to do returns, print out the return labels and bar codes, having them ready to go; email your grocery list, so your personal concierge can go directly to the store--saving some time for you.
- Communicate your plan. Email, text, or call your concierge with what you'd like them to do during their scheduled time with you. Having advanced notice will allow them to bring any "tools" that may help with completing your project.
An Additional Note
Once you've established a relationship with your personal concierge, you may find that they are willing to work with you on pricing as you continue to work together. Maybe that means a monthly retainer tailored specifically to the services you are using most frequently, or a "platinum membership."
The key to this is trust, mutual respect, and honest, clear communication. A personal concierge values both your time and theirs; we make our business decisions with both our head and our heart. If you are straight with them, they'll be straight with you.
If you've previously thought that personal concierge services were beyond your means, I hope you can see there are ways to hire a concierge without breaking the bank. With a little bit of forethought, you can get the services you need--within your budget. Would you like to talk it over? Schedule a complimentary call with me by clicking here.
