Anybody clean houses?

[Octoberbride03]

About how much does it pay if you work for a company?

I currently work at Target and its becoming too physical for me among other things. Also need a bit more flexibility in my weekends. I don't mind physical work or cleaning, though its not my ideal job. But then neither was Target and I've been there 6yrs now. Its getting to be time to go. I'm looking for an out that pays a little more than $8.50hr.

So who do you work for and do you need your own car?


TIA

 

[wgwtgb]

I don't work for a company, nor do I go through a company...I was wondering why you don't do it for people you know. A lady put a flyer in our lounge at school and 5 people called her the first day. Prices vary depending on what she does for you. I only needed someone to do my bathrooms and mop mistly. The majority of everything else I do myself. It probably takes her an hour or an hour and a half and I pay $30.00. Seems like that's more than you woud get from a company and you would have complete flexability since you would set your days... Just a thought.

 

[smkiya]

About how much does it pay if you work for a company?

I currently work at Target and its becoming too physical for me among other things. Also need a bit more flexibility in my weekends. I don't mind physical work or cleaning, though its not my ideal job. But then neither was Target and I've been there 6yrs now. Its getting to be time to go. I'm looking for an out that pays a little more than $8.50hr.

So who do you work for and do you need your own car?


TIA

I would think that if you worked for another company, you'd definitely get paid an hourly wage, but it may not be much. If you got your own clients though.... You'd need your own supplies, liability insurance, transportation, and advertising... but it could end up being a worthwhile venture, even part-time (like people who babysit/provide childcare) as a supplement to your income.

Here's another question for fellow Disers, have you or someone you know had a business cleaning houses? Were they successful? How much do you pay to have someone come and clean your house? Do you pay by the hour, room, etc.?

 

[wgwtgb]

I would think that if you worked for another company, you'd definitely get paid an hourly wage, but it may not be much. If you got your own clients though.... You'd need your own supplies, liability insurance, transportation, and advertising... but it could end up being a worthwhile venture, even part-time (like people who babysit/provide childcare) as a supplement to your income.

Here's another question for fellow Disers, have you or someone you know had a business cleaning houses? Were they successful? How much do you pay to have someone come and clean your house? Do you pay by the hour, room, etc.?

Just a FYI in my situation: I supply the supplies b/c I chose what ones I like. Every now and again she'll ask for something that I'm happy to get. Hey, she knows what works best... she does it for a living. And she doesn't have insurance. I think she trusts the people she cleans for... and we trust her with being there when we aren't!! Advertising can be cheap... like mentioned b4... flyers, cheap newspaper ads work well too. Just trying to be encouraging!!!!

 

[Octoberbride03]

I don't work for a company, nor do I go through a company...I was wondering why you don't do it for people you know. A lady put a flyer in our lounge at school and 5 people called her the first day. Prices vary depending on what she does for you. I only needed someone to do my bathrooms and mop mistly. The majority of everything else I do myself. It probably takes her an hour or an hour and a half and I pay $30.00. Seems like that's more than you woud get from a company and you would have complete flexability since you would set your days... Just a thought.

See bolded. I don't have the money in my budget for all that currently. Not to mention the tax implications it would mean as a self-employed person.

And I only just thought of this a few days ago sitting on the beach with my best friend.

I would think that if you worked for another company, you'd definitely get paid an hourly wage, but it may not be much. If you got your own clients though.... You'd need your own supplies, liability insurance, transportation, and advertising... but it could end up being a worthwhile venture, even part-time (like people who babysit/provide childcare) as a supplement to your income.

Here's another question for fellow Disers, have you or someone you know had a business cleaning houses? Were they successful? How much do you pay to have someone come and clean your house? Do you pay by the hour, room, etc.?

 

[Evi]

I currently pay a company $50 for 1 1/2 hours of cleaning every other week and window 4x a year. I don't have them doing laundry or changing beds honestly they really mostly dusts, vacuums and mop the floors. I have really bad dust mite allergies so it helps tremendously to have someone else do it. Granted this is a lot of dusting though they go over the sills, baseboards, counter tops, dressers, doors etc. I have no problem cleaning the bathroom and kitchens myself though I'll confess to having them do the fridge once. I should add I have hepa filters everywhere so dust doesn't really build up that fast in my house.

 

[descovy]

Well, I'll tell you this, we pay our cleaning lady $70/visit... which takes her about 2.5-3hours. So hey, $20/hour!

She works for a company M-F. She has her own clients on the weekends. She actually quit the company to go at it herself (making more on her own than with the company) but they begged her back. Why? Because she's bilingual and speaks/understands perfect English!

So she probably makes $10/hr with the company. She says she makes considerably more on her own.

The company charges $120 to clean vs her private $70 clean...

 

[momsully]

And she doesn't have insurance. I think she trusts the people she cleans for... and we trust her with being there when we aren't!! QUOTE]

Be really careful about hiring somebody who does not have insurance. What happens if she gets hurt on your property? Are you prepared to possibly have to pay her medical bills as even if she has health insurance they can and often do subrogate back if this was an injury that occured at somebody elses home. What if she damages something while cleaning?

Not trying to discourage the OP but if you decide to go into this on your own I would look for some basic coverage. With regard to cleaning we use a company that sends somebody in every other week. They do a great job. They do bring their own supplies and drive their own car.

 

[LovableGluttons]

oooohhh I have wanted to hire housework help for years. Just too chicken.

 

[Octoberbride03]

And she doesn't have insurance. I think she trusts the people she cleans for... and we trust her with being there when we aren't!! QUOTE]

Be really careful about hiring somebody who does not have insurance. What happens if she gets hurt on your property? Are you prepared to possibly have to pay her medical bills as even if she has health insurance they can and often do subrogate back if this was an injury that occured at somebody elses home. What if she damages something while cleaning?

Not trying to discourage the OP but if you decide to go into this on your own I would look for some basic coverage. With regard to cleaning we use a company that sends somebody in every other week. They do a great job. They do bring their own supplies and drive their own car.

Oh trust me, I am in NO WAY ready to start my own cleaning service. Even if I had the know how, I don't have the budget. And I am not at all sure that Self Employed is the right avenue for me.

I am just so tired of Target, and some days feel like more like I move houses than merchandise. It is sad to say but the physicallity of the job is becoming more than i want to handle as i spend the majority of my day moving merchandise in the back room, which is much more exciting than being on the sales floor. It also pays more and gets me more hours.

 

[abmitch01]

I haven't done it but I hire a woman who does it on the side. She charges $15 an hour. She's gotten tons of word of mouth referrals and is considering leaving her regular job to focus on her cleaning business

 

[arminnie]

When I had the house I paid $25/hour in Arkansas. She did all of the cleaning and laundry, polished silver, helped me move. She did what ever needed to be done - except ironing.

I used a small service when I lived in CA. I had them once a month as I was gone so much that's all I needed. I have no idea how long they (a team) were there as I was at work. The most important part was that I never had a no show in over a decade.

My house was always very clean and the sheets changed, but no laundry was done. I think I paid $80 but it was several years ago - 2br/2ba. Most places that charge a fixed fee charge by the square footage plus number of bathrooms. I paid more per visit for a once a month than twice a month or every week.

I've had horrible service from the big services like Merry Maids, etc.

 

[Gigi22]

My cleaning lady charges $75 to clean my house (1200 sq. ft.). It takes her about 3 hours. She brings her own dusters, I supply the cleaning solutions, and she uses my hepa vacuum--partly because I want my house vacuumed with a hepa and partly because it allows her to walk to my house (she lives close to our neighbourhood) rather than take her family vehicle to transport a vac.

 

[Mom loves Disney]

My mom cleans and gets $25 an hour.

 

[heatherleigh]

The lady who cleans our house speaks English great, and does it on the side (she doesn't have an actual licensed business). She charges $80, and it typically takes her 3 hours to do our house (4500 sq ft). I think it's a great deal, and that's pretty good $ for her. I just wanted to specify why I mentioned the good English. Where we are, it is a pretty big asset. I've hired expensive cleaning companies who sent non-English speakers out, and it has been an issue in the past.

 

[debranator]

I hire cleaning help once a week.
I put ads on Craigs list..and sort them out.
I pay 12 bucks an hour cash..about 50 bucks or so a week.
I have had the same 2 for awhile..and,I found that by putting in my own ads...
I got much better employees..than the ones that worked for my former service at 30 bucks an hour..these girls were being paid minimum wage..and were taxed on that.
you see..most of these services..pay nothing..and hire anyone who will work for cheap..no matter who they are.

 

[badblackpug]

My cleaning lady comes once a week. I pay her $75. I don't know from square feet, but we have a 3 story, 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath. She just cleans. Dust, bathrooms, vacuums, washes floors, kitchen. She doesn't do laundry or dishes. She brings her own products and vacuum.

 

[njcarita]

what if u try at a less demanding store............. I worked for years at Macys and LOrd & Taylors..... back in the 80's I was making 6 and hour plus commision.... it wasn't at all back breaking..... just alot of folding and straightening.......

 

[disneyofcourse]

The house cleaning companies who hire here pay $9-12 hour to start. So not bad!

 

[LovableGluttons]

at the risk of sounding like an idiot, may I ask a couple of questions?
How do you determine what you want cleaned and how often?

How do you find someone trustworthy?

What is a fair price?

I am so exhausted each day after work I do catch up cleaning on weekends.