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My Housekeeper is Adorable!

He's wider than he is tall, but he works like a charm. Never complains, just gets down to work vacuuming every floor in the house making sure to get close to the walls as he goes. Needs absolutely no supervision either – he just does his thing and then goes home.

Roomba Box Did I mention that his name is Roomba…and that he is a robotic vacuum? I love this fascinating machine. He's more fun than having a pet around. We bought the Roomba to stand in for the lady who cleans for us but has not been well lately.

Roomba This little wonder works in a very random pattern, and it is hard to leave it alone at first. You want to move it and make sure it gets a certain area. But patience, as always, pays off. It has its own "built-in" pattern of cleaning. It's amazing how much stuff this little guy picks up. We have different floor surfaces in our home including carpets, ceramic tile, and wood. This little robot handles them all with ease. It even takes itself back "home" and parks where it also recharges. I feel like I'm in a Jetsons episode!

Here's what Investor's Business Daily said about my new helper:

“The Roomba has a lot of smarts built in. It uses strategy to clean rooms, with different behaviors for different room patterns. It has sensors for detecting dirt and cliff sensors for avoiding stairs. It also can figure out how to get around obstructions, adjust to different floor surfaces and free itself when it's stuck.”
This is another assistant that I have just added to my team. Now I'm vacuuming the Type E way!

What's this got to do with real estate? Think about people you delegate work to. Do you hover over them to make sure they get the job done "right"? I've found that once you delegate you need to let go. You wouldn't give the person work if you didn't think they could handle it, so step back and let them do the job. Micromanaging a Roomba is a waste of time – he knows exactly what he's doing, and all you do is slow him down. Works the same with people, don't you think?

The official name is now Romeba!

Posted by Margaret Rome- Baltimore, Md.-HomeRome.com on 09/17/2007 02:30 PM

Comments (38)

delegating, supervising, roomba, cleaning, type e, romeba

Originally posted at: Margaret Rome's Blog: My Housekeeper is Adorable!

Post is included in group: $100 or 100 minutes, Techy time savers!

38 Comments on My Housekeeper is Adorable!

SEP

2007

Ha! I love this post...thanks for the good laugh :-) I've been wanting one for awhile...glad to hear some good feedback on it.

Margaret, I think all Type E's should get a Roomba. We should have one issued to us at birth. Because we need our time freed up to do all the projects we have on our list that are a lot more productive than house cleaning!! Don't you think? So Lee stopped carrying the Roomba from room to room? You're right, the Roomba has a job to do, knows how to do it, and gets it done and even gets itself energized again.....we just need to stay out of the way and let it do what it does best. Love this post - thanks for the fun!

Margaret...

I used to be really bad about hovering over my cleaning lady.

Now I just get ticked off when she doesn't actually clean the tub.

I bet you're wondering why I don't replace her huh? I can't. I really like her. She's just absent minded :)

I wonder if they make batteries/chargers or something for that problem :)

TLW...ROAR!

Margaret -- I am off to purchase one right now! What a perfect thing for a type E!

Margaret - the other things it has to do with real estate is that if you don't have to do the vacuuming yourself, you have more time to be productive, be with people, be a solution to their problems, and make sales. Room - ba!

I heard something on NPR about these. People are naming them, putting stickers on them and having them repaired. People are getting attached to them so much that they don't want to give them up. I can only hope clients feel the same way

How fun! We could sure use one of these at my house... the entertainment value of watching the cats with the machine would make the purchase price worth it!

i'm thinking about taking him hostage. get your best negotiator ready.

Scott and Jamie, We have friends who have had one for a while and entertained us with it one afternoon.

Pat, I just knew you would have loved this.

TLW,We don't replace our housekeeper for very the same reason. The "battery" they need is called Aracept.

Colleen, I bet a Type E designed it...who else?

Sharon, I knew you would understand!

Dena, Hopefully all our clients will be attached to us in the same way.

Sandi, I think we will be seeing cats and Roombas on U tube soon. And it will probably be someone on Active Rain.

Uh uh Erica...you gotta go get your own. And "da monkey" will go nuts over it.

Margaret, Ok, now we have to name it. It's getting so popular it needs a name. Here are some suggestions -

O.J. for On the Job (also O.J. because he gets in and out of places almost without getting caught ;)

Rambo - Well, kind of obvious, and a fun play on the name Roomba

Bob - for Robert Duval who loves to Rumba (he's a ball room dancer as well as actor)

Well, we have to have some feminine names too so here goes:

Martha - because "It's a Good Thing"

Hillary - Nothing makes her back off

Connie - short for Condoleeza - She has to clean up messes

Pat Hommel, Annapolis, Maryland

Love this post, Margaret, and the analogy is right on target. Delegating can be a tough thing to do, especially when you are a high control-type person. Hmmm, could be a perfect holiday gift!

Jeff

SEP

2007

Pat, you are tooooo funny. I think you should start your own contest..."Name the Roomba" and then give tours of Annapolis to the winner! I kinda like the name Roomba...it does fit!

Jeff, Delegating is a challenge for people who need to be in control. First ... figure out what needs to be done and then... assign it and still maintain a bit of control. True delegating ... find someone else to push the button. I am not there yet!

Margaret , I have been thinking of getting one for a couple of years, but did not know anyone who has one. I will buy one. What model do you recommend? i have seen 2 kinds.

Margaret, Good idea! That will be a fun blog to write.

Gita, I bought the one that was in the store..Bad Bath and Beyond. Did no research...I had a 20% coupon on one item. Nice savings. This model is iRobot Roomba 530. (See I photographed the box in the post.)Let me know how you like it.

Pat, Look forward to your blog. I want to see how you relate it to real estate....hey maybe give a Roomba to anyone who buys or sells with you. Could be a neat ad campaign...and cheaper than a home warrany..and definitly more memorable!! Call it a Patoomba. There's yuor first entry from me.I will call mine a Maroomba.

Type E here. One that has learned to be clear and specific about my expectations and then give them rope to hang or swing. Yes I am known to give a checklist, thing is I pay for the service I expect as I want to be compensated for what I do. Lord, continue to help me delegate without the OCD-like micro-management.

I would probably try some modifications for my Roomba so for now I just will slave the poor step-son evwry now and then.

Glad to hear the little guy is working for you. It sounds like I need one of those. :)

Toni, A step son or any other kind of kid would be fine....if they were reliable.

LaShon, It is working just fine.

Ooh ooh! I got one of these for my "Techie" clients when we closed escrow. Apparently there's a similar one that does lawns!

Chris, The lawn robot sounds like a winner.

I bet your techie clients won't forget you.

Margaret, We have to check out the Lawnoomba - that would make a lot of people happy too.

SEP

2007

I had to come check what Pat was talking about. I have a friend who has a Rome-ba! : ) and almost had a nervous breakdown when her Roomba broke down! It was hilarious! (if only they would come up with a quieter model)

Rick and Inea, The Rome-ba is a little bit noisy. I guess I better go buy a back up to prevent the breakdown.

SEP

2007

OK, I've been resisting, but now I just gotta try one! Did the maker of Roomba pay you for this post? Sounds like you sold quite a few!! :)

Chris, What a great idea! Think if I sent this post to the Roomba powers to be, they would send me a few or at least give me a discount?? I would be happy to advertise for them...hmmmmm

SEP

2007

Margaret, Thanks for the tip about the coupon. I will go to the store next tiem I get a 20% off coupon. I was waiting for a sale at Kohls but this way I can get it sooner.

SEP

2007

Sounds like a wonderful toy... my wife will love this!! Keep doing what you do.

Gita, You are welcome, hope you find the coupon soon.

Vincent, I think YOU will love it also.

OCT

2007

Well, I weighed in on the name so I'm here wondering..does it really work well enough that you don't have to vacume?

Dianne, Well enough for me not to vacuum.

OCT

2007

Margaret gifted me a Roomba as an early birthday present. Love it. Thanks Mama!

My dear LBG, Enjoy your Romeba ...so glad you are loving it.

NOV

2007

Margaret, Happy Thanks Giving. My son bought me an early Christmas gift .He bought me a Roomba.I just opened it .I have to figure out how to use it.We will try it today.