I’m sorry, but the numbers to each question have disappeared and it looks a bit run together!

We are also retired, so we are home when the cleaner comes. We have a regular day, and schedule appointments around the cleaner. No to a key. Just because. Some cleaners are fine with dogs. Talk about the dogs during your interview process. Our cleaner likes dogs, we only had to be cautious about open doors. You can get a portable gate and keep the dogs in one room, then change rooms when the cleaner needs to clean that room.

We are always home, just do what you usually do, and move out of the room when the cleaner needs to get in there.

As for valuables: at one house, I had a small (less than 2x2) safe bolted into the floor. I don't have that here, but yes, you need to put things away. There is no other way around that issue, IMO.

Thanks, Sushipup!

First decide the type of cleaner/housekeeper you want:

1) One or two people that come every week and spend more time at the house because they are only one or two people.

2) A bigger group that might be the same 3 or 4 people every week and spend less time overall to do the work. Not as good when the 3 or 4 people aren't constant, because you keep getting newbies and they tend to be the ones that make mistakes, like using a wrong product.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both types. I've had both and prefer (1) if you have the right person(s).

Currently I have a group of 7 ladies that work together. 4 come one week (with the owner in this group) and 3 the other week. They've had some personnel changes over the last few years, but have been pretty steady lately. Worst case the group will have one new person, so they aren't guessing what to do, but I usually keep an eye on any new people. Usual mistake is using the wrong product to try to mop wood floor or tile, that require different products.

I have never given out keys and stay home. With the 3 or 4 ladies they get our larger house done in 2 hours. I used to put the big dogs out in the lanai, but I only have a big calm/friendly one left and they all know her. This dog usually asks to be let out ... doesn't like the central vacuum! A few times, when I had 3 dogs, I locked the dogs in the laundry room and office, and then switched them out when they needed to clean each space.

When they are here I do laundry, tidy up, water plants inside/outside or sometimes I get my laptop and sit outside away from the sound of the vacuum!

I don't leave valuables out. Also think about financial papers, credit cards, etc. ... put things away at first, but after a while you have to trust the people you let in your house.

Also set rules right from the start, like there should be no reason for them to be opening drawers/cabinets if they are just cleaning the rooms and they are not being asked to organize/put stuff away.

Thought of something else. Will they be using your products or using their own?

Mine use their own for bathrooms, but use my products for the floors. I did have one issue with them using a very scented products to clean the bathroom. Quickly fixed by talking to the owner. I have a central vac system and they like using that.

We have one person who comes every other week - we have a small study that she doesnt clean and we gate our dog in there for the day she is there (that is also where i am if i am not at work the day she comes) - she has a key but has been doing our home for years - we also have an alarm that we set when away so even if someone got in via her key they couldnt stay long — honestly we mainly have her so our floors get done, we are empty nesters so not a lot needed on a day to day basis. I wouldnt feel comfortable having to leave my dog/s outside no matter what the weather is

We have a 2-person team who come every other week. I stay with the dogs in the sunroom, until they finish the den, then we move there. Often, i just stay outside with the dogs. I pay a bit more for this crew versus the estimate i got from a comparable crew, because they couldn’t guarantee the same people every cleaning. Our previous cleaner, who i really liked, was stealing my husband’s pain pills. We had gotten her name from our DIL, who had used her for a couple of years. Our DIL was quite offended when i told her we suspected theft until she herself set a trap with a pill bottle with 3 pain pills. 2 were missing after the cleaning. So, i do not want a parade of different cleaners.

Oh my gosh, thank you so very much for all these great ideas and suggestions! I appreciate them all so much! It’s time to start dinner, but I’ll be reading and rereading these tomorrow and more. 🥰👍😁

Do you have a garage? That would be a logical place for dogs for a few hours.

You could make a habit of taking your dogs to a nearby park or dog park when the housekeeper is there. Your dogs might really like that. Or, a doggie spa for baths, hair and nail trimming, etc.

If you have ”quite a bit” of expensive jewelry, you should have it locked up somewhere, regardless of housekeepers or not. Strewn around valuables on a daily basis would make me uncomfortable.

When we lived in LA, the break-ins were usually in the morning when people were at work/exercising or running errands, and they just spent enough time to run around and snatch jewelry, IDs and CC from surfaces around the house. Alarms didn't deter them, as they knew they had at least 20 minutes before the police showed up.

If you aren't going to lock up the jewelry in a safe, at least find a good hiding spot or two.

All such good advice, thank you! As for my jewelry, because we have a large Doberman, who very much prefers to stay inside our home (long story) unless he’s with us on one of our 3 patios, we feel our home is safe unless we end up with a unsafe housekeeper.
Our acres around us here in our mountains are unfenced with mainly natural beauty. This equals an unsafe, many cacti, rattlesnakes, giant bull snakes (5-6 ‘ long!), centipedes, ticks, bobcats, mountain lions, wild horse herds, mule deer, coyotes, etc. So, our Boys are never allowed to roam. But, yes, I do keep my jewelry in several easily available places. Putting the Boys out in the garage for the housekeeping duration is a good possible idea, because the dog door into their double walled kennel (for relieving themselves only, not a longtime hangout!) is there, too.
I’m happily surprised at how many of you stay at home while your home is being cleaned! Another good idea I hadn’t considered! I could stay in our study/library which is right off the front foyer and has a large door-wall! And a room that’s hardly ever dirty.
So, again, you’ve given a number of great ideas and warnings!
Question: do housekeepers come with a lot of their own supplies or prefer yours?

Ask that last question when you do interviews. I've had cleaners come with/without supplies. And you are being careless with your valuables. Don't kid yourself.

Lots of good advice here. Just want to say thanks for saying “housekeeper” instead of “maid.” It shows that you are treating them as professionals.