How much does house cleaning cost?
We oftentimes receive phone calls or emails asking "how much does house cleaning cost"? Well, the answer isn't so cut and dry of course, but we can give you an idea of your options and what may increase or decrease the cost of house cleaning. Read on for more info.
Who is doing the work?
First and foremost, there are different types of house cleaning. There are independent house cleaners, there are larger, franchise cleaning companies, and there are small, local businesses. Here is a quick break down of each:
Independent house cleaner: This is going to be your next door neighbor, your best friend's daughter, your server or friend of a friend that "cleans on the side". There are many men and women who like to clean and pick up a few houses to supplement their income, or do it full time due to the flexibility of the hours. The good thing is you get to know your cleaner, and they get to know you and your home's specific needs. They are flexible with special requests and tend to be lower priced than a company. The downside is that they are usually uninsured, may not be planning on cleaning for an extended period of time, and can be unreliable in terms of showing up when you were planning on having them. They may also not have their own equipment or supplies, so that would be your responsibility to provide these things.
Next we have franchises. Most of us already know who the big guys are and could easily rattle off a few names. Each franchise has dozens of technicians and hundreds of clients. The benefit of using a larger franchise cleaning company is that they have their systems down to a "T". They will always be there, with checklists and teams and their own supplies and equipment. But who is going to do the cleaning? That may change from one cleaning to the next. These companies do a lot of volume, and tend to have high turnover, so sending the same technician, or team of technicians, is unlikely from one cleaning to the next. Their prices also tend to be more at market rate, which is higher than an independent cleaner.
Lastly we have small, local cleaning companies. That's us! I promise I won't be biased here and leave out all the negatives... but the positives really are far greater! They sort of have the best of both worlds. With these companies you will generally see the same technician at every cleaning. They will show up with their own supplies and equipment. They are (or should be) bonded and insured, with liability insurance as well as workers comp. And you are also supporting your local community, which helps your local economy, which, in turn, helps you! They are large enough so that they do use systems and checklists and always perform the same cleaning. The negative (I told you I wouldn't leave it out) is that they aren't always able to cover an absence immediately, and may need to move your cleaning on occasion should your technician get sick or have car troubles. But a well-run company will do everything they can to limit the impact on their customers when a technician is absent. In terms of cost, pricing will range from one company to the next, but small businesses tend to be more in line with the larger franchises.
A little side note- our company has very low turnover and we have trustworthy and professional cleaning technicians. We're proud of them and want you to know them. Click here for more detailed bios on each of them.
Scott and Missy with their two daughters and the Flower City Cleaning team
Ok, so what else impacts the price?
Square footage is one of the biggest indicators of price, of course. Then we would would like to know how many bathrooms you have, and how much use they get. Do you have a couple of little ones smearing toothpastes all over the vanities? How about pets? Or is it just you and your husband or wife, no kids, and you don't even have any fur-babies around?
The number of levels in your home also impacts the price. Do you own a ranch? Or do you have a two story and also would like the finished basement and/ or attic included?
We also take a look at your life style. Do you tend to hang onto papers and trinkets and have many sentimental items around your home? Or do you prefer clear surfaces with little to no clutter? This is something we take a look at when providing you with an in-home estimate.
Lastly, are you currently using a cleaning service, or do you need a Deep Clean or an extended Initial Clean? Sometimes The extent of the dirt and grime isn't so easy to judge, that's why we like to come see each unique situation in person.
So how much is it?
Well, now that you know all the different factors that could impact the price, we can go ahead and give you some rough numbers. One standard maintenance cleaning from our company for an averaged sized home can cost anywhere from $100- $200. Not exactly the clear answer you were looking for, we know. But if you call us or fill out our booking form we will set up an estimate. It takes about 15 minutes. It's so quick and easy, doesn't cost you a thing, and we well tell you exactly how much house cleaning costs for your home, right then and there at the estimate, really!