Housecleaner cost question.

[HannaBelle]

I pay $120 for a 3 hour clean every other week. We have a 3b/2.5b home with 2,000 SF. No small kids, but I do have 2 50 pound dogs that shed!

She is awesome and I think she cleans the kitchen better than I do!

 

[disykat]

I don't know where in Washington you are, but in the Seattle area $25/hour is cheap.

.

Aren't city prices always higher? Locations definitely vary!

 

[zurgswife]

I worked in a house with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, 5,889 sq ft and I cleaned 3 times a week for 4 hours. I was paid $20 per hour. Air conditioned to chilly at times - perfect for cleaning. Because I worked multiple days I didn't do all the vacuuming or deep cleaning every day. I did the finished basement once a week/ exercise area and TV area, vacuumed the bedrooms daily but not all the house. I made $240 per week and was paid when they left for vacation.

You are being underpaid at that rate in my opinion.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I clean a house that takes 4 hr (two bedrooms, tv room, living room, office, kitchen, 3 bathrooms and pool room). she suplies everything (and tries to feed me everytime!). I make $10 a hr and she often finds me extra stuff to do (like helping clean her closet). They have a huge dog who hangs out with me while I clean.

 

[KathyTX]

For a house almost exactly the size of your description, (except with the AC always turned down to comfortable coolness!) $140 every other week.

 

[sookie]

Wow, you all are opening my eyes! So apparently $80 each week is too little for the work I do. I don't need to do this job, but I like the 'manicure/pedicure' money from it!lol Yes, the heat is unbearable. I bring my own bottled water.

oh,,, forgot to mention...
I also bring my own vacuum, mop and broom!!! They supply the cleaning liquid supplies.
AND they are home the entire time. very rarely they will take the kids out, but they try to keep them in separate rooms.

They sound thoughtless.

You should be getting paid way more. At least 130 a week. I was paying about that for my itty bitty house in tiny Missouri - with hard woods and with little kids.

I remember that we always tried to leave with the kids - we had ours scheduled for noon and ours would come at 4pm. Are they just sticking around or is the time when you are coming at a time that is good for you or for them?

Also, the air needs to be down to your comfort level. You are the one getting a workout. Deep cleaning is hard work.

 

[DebbieB]

Is this "under the table"? Just wondering because if you are comparing what it costs to get a commercial company, they have to pay employer taxes, workers comp, etc. The housekeeper doesn't get all of the money plus taxes are deducted.

 

[LBIJim]

Thank you all for your input. I found the job craigslist, and since it less than 1 mile from my house, AND i love cleaning, I figured what the heck. They offered $80, and since never doing anything like this before, I figured it was 'going rate'. DH has been saying all along it didn't pay right. Guess he was right

Some of you pay $125 - $135 every other week, but would you pay that much EACH week? just curious.

Another vote saying you're well underpaid. My wife owns a housecleaning business. Based on the size of the house and the duties you're performing, you should be getting about $160 to $175 if it's done every other week. For every week cleaning, about $140 to $150.

My wife rarely takes on such large houses because many owners balk at her prices. But that's pretty much the going rate around here.

I would suspect that your client called a few places, got scared when they heard the prices, and posted on craiglist looking for much cheaper. Then they lowballed you, figuring on negotiating a bit, perhaps up to $100.

If you like cleaning for them, fine, but be aware that you could be doing much better money-wise.

Jim

 

[scrapquitler]

For anyone that IS a housecleaner... please tell me what the cost would be to clean house:

House:
approx 5000+sq ft
5 bedrooms plus large sitting room/office off master (dust,vacuum,mirrors)
4 1/2 bathrooms (scrub,sanitize,mop)
double staircases (vacuum)
dining room (dust, mop and vacuum)
living room (dust,vacuum)
large kitchen (clean,sanitize,mop)
even larger 'eat in' area (dust, clean, mop)
two 'antique' rooms (14 X 17 & 12 x 27) dust, vacuum

Occupants:
late 30's couple with two small children (2 & 3yo)
AND one set of grandparents

Takes approximately 5 hours to clean.

In order to make extra money I started cleaning the above house. It is very large and quite a workout. I come out of the house soaked from sweat as they refuse to turn the air conditioning down past 80 (even on the 90degree+ days). The occupants only pay $80 and DH says it is too little for amount of work I do.

What do you think? What should the cost be?

It sounds like you are being way underpaid. About 8 years ago I got a quote to have my house cleaned: 2000 SF 3 bathroom 3 bedroom. Wiping counters, washing floors, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the bathroom basic stuff. No vacuuming stairs, no washing windows (they would do those on rotation once every other month or so), etc. And the quote I had was $100 for every other week. Eight years ago.

I agree with your DH

 

[Nicolepa]

Is this "under the table"? Just wondering because if you are comparing what it costs to get a commercial company, they have to pay employer taxes, workers comp, etc. The housekeeper doesn't get all of the money plus taxes are deducted.

In my area the private house cleaners (aka under the table) are $25-30 an hour. The cheapest company I could find was $40/ hour but since I only wanted the heavy cleaning done (bathrooms, mopping etc), no dusting or vacuuming they were going to charge me extra.

 

[shortbun]

NO ONE needs a manicure/pedicure this bad. These people are taking advantage of you and it obviously isn't bothering them one iota.

ITA! When my cleaner comes, I turn down the air for her. It's just a few hours. My house is 3800sq and I pay $130 twice a month. I also tip her every time.

 

[ols386]

$80 per cleaning doesn't sound like very much for a house that size.

I think it's rude and inconsiderate that they won't let the A/C run cooler during the time when you are cleaning.

I think I'd have to be talking to them about that.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

ITA! When my cleaner comes, I turn down the air for her. It's just a few hours. My house is 3800sq and I pay $130 twice a month. I also tip her every time.

I got a groupon for 3 hours of cleaning and am trying to figure out how much to tip. There will be 2 people coming in. Do you tip 20%? I have a 1200 sq. foot condo with 2 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Never had anyone come in and clean before.

 

[LBIJim]

I got a groupon for 3 hours of cleaning and am trying to figure out how much to tip. There will be 2 people coming in. Do you tip 20%? I have a 1200 sq. foot condo with 2 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Never had anyone come in and clean before.

No tip necessary. Yes, it would be accepted and appreciated, but most cleaning service workers don't expect tips. If you'd like to, however, $10 each person would be fine.

Jim

 

[minnie56]

That's not enough and FOR SURE you must insist they put the a/c on!
My daughter has her apt in Manhatten cleaned and it costs (ME no less!) $85 plus gratuity for 3 hours and $150 for a deep clean which is 5 hours also plus grats! We use this company ...pay attn to what it says about no a/c!!

http://www.wizardofhomesnyc.com/

 

[Iott Family]

The going rate here is hourly $25-30. I think you are getting taken at $80/ 5 hours worth of work

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

No tip necessary. Yes, it would be accepted and appreciated, but most cleaning service workers don't expect tips. If you'd like to, however, $10 each person would be fine.

Jim

Thank you.

 

[minnie56]

I tip $20 on the $85 clean and 3x a year have a deep clean @ $150 and tip $40.

I am just grateful I don't have to do it and they work so hard.

 

[MrsPete]

Is this "under the table"? Just wondering because if you are comparing what it costs to get a commercial company, they have to pay employer taxes, workers comp, etc. The housekeeper doesn't get all of the money plus taxes are deducted.

I was wondering the same thing. If you're keeping the entire $80 for yourself, then you're getting $16/hour -- and that's not too shabby for a manual labor job. It's about twice what you'd get if you were working as a cashier or similar.

On the other hand, if you're paying taxes on it, you're getting considerably less and should ask for more.

However, the air conditioning thing and having the kids occasionally in the way are not fair working conditions. Also, why are you bringing your own vaccum, etc.? Don't they own these items?