I clean a 3 bedroom house with kitchen, living room, den, game room, and 2 bathrooms. I mop, sweep, vacuum, do lots of dusting, wash some clothes, and whatever dishes are in sink wash by hand.
I've been charging the same price for about 5 years; once a month for $150. She now wants it twice a month for less since she feels it will be less dirty, however, she has 2 hairy cats and a dog inside which of course shed a lot so I have to sweep and vacuum all floors before moping.
The home is about a 12 mile drive round trip. She calls me last minute lots of times so I am very convenient for her and trustworthy. I was getting ready to ask for $25 more, but don't want to be over charging if its not fair price.
By lmr
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If you are doing the exact same cleaning twice a month and it takes you the same amount of time, you should ask for more. Or start charging for last minutes cleaning calls. If your customer can't stick to a schedule then she should have to pay for last minute requests.
Hi this is Deborah an house cleaning is some thing to be proud of. People need to be more thankful but mostly like you I'm a house keeper , maid , care taker with 12 years experienc. Stay firm on your contract you have a good thing going. I would charge 75$ for the second visit and if its last minute a extra 25$ making it a even 100$. You have a life with bills and unexpected happenings. keep your vehicle maintaineced. I take great pride in the quality of work I do in a timely manner. Our perfetional housekeeping makes their lives less stressful , stress in women can be a silent killer! You and your time is worth what you are asking , just do a great jib and keep smiling :)
I charge $25 an hour for basic cleaning, same work as you do for the 3 bedroom house. I have one client that is an hour drive to get there and I supply cleaning supplies for her also. I charge her $150 to clean her place plus add extra money for the gas and cleaning supplies.
In Northern NJ ... any employment one has, they pay to use mass transit, otherwise, their choice. It can be $250.00 per month. NO employer pays an employee to come to work. You want the job .... pay your own way. Part II: it is an employees choice not to eat lunch, not the employer. Get a grip. I gave up plenty of lunches over the 40 years I was employed. Part III: look at the BLS for housekeeping. If you do not pay for insurance and just spray and wipe and mop, the average salaries are $11-15.00/hr. If you want more, where is your education and do you know how to use current products? This is the problem.
I would charge her the $175 you were planning on and tell her that is the price per visit. She may tell you she will find someone else, but for what you are doing, she won't find anyone.
You can certainly justify raising your rate to $175 - you've kept your price at the same level for 5 years while costs of supplies have gone up, you accommodate her last-minute requests, etc. If your client wants her house cleaned twice a month, you would still be doing the same cleanup. Dust and dog/cat hair still accumulate, whether 2 weeks or 4 weeks go by!
You have proven your professionalism by being trustworthy and available at a moment's notice (unlike others who might not do so). Your client should honor these wonderful traits!
$150.00 is a lot of $ unless you are cleaning the oven & fridge too. Dusting & sweeping is not hard work at all.
I would be happy to have you come to my house to clean everything in it for $150.00.....and that would include the oven and fridge.
I am 68 and would gladly take a job that pays that much for half a day's work with no taxes paid!
At 68 I would like to see that one. Besides, age does not matter when it comes to running your business it's all about your time, expenses, level of cleaning, travel time and yes, your taxes. You are assuming that professional cleaners pay no taxes. Not sure about you, but I do.
Just sayin
In my own experience, cleaning twice a month does take less time than once a month. But not much... 20 to 30 minutes at best. The going rate for cleaning by the hour runs from $10 to $35 depending on where you live. Here in the PNW I charged $30 an hour. the cost of living here is high...similar to NY and LA.
You do not say how long it takes you to do this cleaning, nor what the going rates are for cleaning or other work in your area. That makes a difference. Certainly no one would pay $30 an hour for housecleaning where I live.
That being said, if you haven't raised your prices in 5 years, it may be time for an increase, and I do know that many people in rural areas charge a mileage fee because of the cost of gas. I also think that the fact that you come just whenever and not on any sort of regular schedule makes you more valuable. And I think the same number of hours requires the same rate of pay.
Does not matter how long. Are you getting cash which means not paying taxes so one can claim welfare benefits. That is what it is as long as the worker has one child by the age of 6. Must be nice and then services charge over and guess what $50/hr. To spray and wipe. They pay their employees $10-12.00/hr. What does one get for that amount of money without a high school degree? They do not even get rid of the bleach. Nice way to ruin your clothes.
I pay my housekeeper by the room for cleaning as she does not do the whole house all the time (guest bedrooms, sewing/office/music practice area almost never etc) It works out to about $30-$35/hr.
She does not do refrigerators, ovens, laundry, or windows. When she started, she charged a one time higher rate to get things in order. After that it was a flat fee. I am very satisfied with her work and her reliability. I give her a nice bonus at Christmas, too.
I provide all cleaning materials (although she occasionally brings something in) as she realizes that some customers have allergies or preferences. If you want to work for her 2 days/month, I think she should pay the same rate for each day - whatever it is you work out.
I also run a small cleaning business and contrary to what some have said it is very hard work when done correctly. If you are only cleaning her house once or even twice a month I hate to think of the amount of pet hair and dirt everywhere.
This sounds like a large home and I highly doubt it will take you any less time to clean it a second time considering the pets and the fact that you do laundry and dishes. These jobs are a constant, as are bathrooms and floors, it is possible, though not probable that the dusting will be less, but you should not take a pay cut and then double your work load.
I recommend you raise your rates as you first thought, that is already a significant price break. If she questions this, ask her if she would be willing to work 80 hours a week for the same amount that she makes now working only 40 hours. She is paying for your time, labor, and expertise. Don't be afraid to charge accordingly.
Sounds to me like this lady is trying to take advantage of you and wants to get all she can out of you. You give in and later down the road it will only be something else. My guess is she doesn't want to loose you. You haven't gone up in 5 years and she can depend on you showing up on a moments notice.
I think sometimes people who clean are considered a lower class by the people they clean for. I cleaned for awhile and people will take advantage if you let them. If the work were easy they would be doing it themselves.
I'm in Kansas (KC Suburb). I have a cleaning company (bonded) clean my house. Around here bonded companies/individuals charge more than those not bonded. I am charged per room for about 3.5 hours & 2 cleaners (no oven, fridge or clothes washing included).
I pay more for them to come weekly or bi-weekly than monthly. If they come bi-weekly there are scrubbing my floors each time then it takes longer than scrubbing it once a month. They also figure their rate based on the number of adults/kids living in the home. The cleaners here make just over minimum wage & use the companies supplies. The company gets the rest. Hiring an individual here cost less.
You need to make a living. Check Craigslist for what others charge. Call other companies & get prices.
Cleaning jobs are constant and a lot of hard work but you should not take a pay cut and then double your work load.
I run a small cleaning business. If you are only cleaning her house once or even twice a month and you don't know how much to charge your client, there are various ways to do it, say it and even share it.
I will not recommend any comforting words that will make you happy and contented but what I can say is check this link, www.greenaircleaningnyc.com/
I believe it will help you in many ways that you can never imagine.
I don't know if this will help...It will benefit you to clean every two weeks instead of monthly, meaning you will have more control over the pet hair situation. There are other factors: were you buying the products and washing the cleaning towels at your home? You should factor those seemingly little thing in ( including the added wear and tear on your car and gas.) You need to be comfortable with your price and be able to break it down for her. Remember you are almost doubling your time time. I personally would reduce the price by more than $ 20. It may take a little less time per cleaning ( 1/2 - 45 mins) depending on whether you were rushing at the end of your monthly cleaning time to begin with...you don't mention how long it was taking you to begin with.
You should state your city and state so everyone could help you.
2 day a week is fine how every u should charge her ex for the mass of the cats its only far after all u been with her a long time she its not far to ask someone to do something you would not do and cat hair is not easy to clean up
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