Blog Highlights:
- A lot of people think that hiring a professional house cleaner is a luxury
- The average cost per hour is $25-$45
- There are different advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider when it comes to choosing between the cleaning company and the individual cleaner
- Most cleaning services will include basic cleaning tasks as well as the cleaning list that the homeowner provides
- There are major cleaning tasks that will cost you extra
A lot of people think that hiring a house cleaner is a luxury that they cannot afford. But to get the facts straight, I am going to give you the average rates that professional house cleaners will typically ask from their clients.
House cleaning can be a very tedious task, this is especially true if you have a fulltime job, and if you need to take care of your kids at the same time. This is why many busy homeowners end up hiring a professional house cleaner to help them with their cleaning chores.
But how much does the service cost and what exactly does the homeowner get in return whenever they hire a maid or a cleaning company?
The Charges
When it comes to the service charges, cleaning services can either charge you by the square foot, or by the hour. The average cost per hour can range from $25-$45. The square foot charge, on the other hand, is typically done for a “first clean”. The first clean is actually expensive, this is because the cleaners have no idea how much it will take to clean the different parts of your home. There might be areas or rooms that require a lot of work. This will include the children’s play room, as well as the additional bathrooms.
The charge will also depend on how many people are doing the cleaning for you. For example, you can have two professional cleaners clean your home for four hours for $180. After that, you can expect the hourly price to go down to $30 per person, per hour during the next cleanings. There are also other companies that will charge as much as $69 per hour for two cleaners during the first cleaning, as well as a flat rate that is based on the square footage for subsequent cleanings.
The rates will also change depending on how often you want to have your house cleaned. In most cases, the home cleaner will decrease the rate if the homeowner chooses to have his or her house cleaned by the same company multiple times per month. The decrease in cost will be $5 to $10 per cleaning. You might also be able to get discounts if you choose to pay multiple cleanings up front, or if you sign a long-term contract.
Should I go for cleaning companies, or for Individual cleaners?
First of all, you should understand that there are a lot of differences between these two providers.
While cleaning companies are able to provide you with licensed employees, they can actually charge you more for the services that they provide. But because the company’s employees are bonded, if you are not satisfied with the cleaning that they provide, you can file a complaint, or take the company to court. In most cases, the company will provide you with two cleaners, and the company will also give you a minimum price no matter how big or small your house is.
There are also those who run their own cleaning businesses on their own. They may not be licensed, but they can provide you with lower rates. These individuals will ask to be paid in cash, or through a personal check. There are individuals who can give you amazing results when it comes to their cleaning capabilities. However, there is little recourse for the homeowner if he or she is not satisfied with the results. This is true especially when the cleaner will no longer accept cleaning jobs. If the cleaner gets ill, or if he or she will get a medical emergency, you can expect the cleaning to stop, or to be postponed. The cleaning company, on the other hand, will be able to provide you with backups if necessary.
What are the cleaning services that they offer?
Most companies can provide you with basic tasks such as vacuuming floors, dusting surfaces, cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the toilet and the shower, as well as tidying up the entire house.
After taking care of the basic tasks, most professional cleaners will ask for a cleaning list from the homeowners. They will then do other cleaning tasks such as dealing with soap scum, cleaning the oven, dealing with carpet stains, and cleaning blinds.
Most of these professionals will also bring their own cleaning tools and equipment. But there are those who will ask the homeowners to prepare their own cleaning tools beforehand. This is also true when it comes to cleaning supplies as some companies will bring their own, while others want that the homeowners themselves will provide the products.
Taking care of the extra costs
Homeowners who want deep clean or specific products because of their allergies or sensitivities can expect to get a bigger bill.
Some companies can charge you upfront and bring whatever is necessary to do the deep cleaning. Other companies, on the other hand, will ask you to prepare the products that you want them to use beforehand. If you want the company to use eco-friendly products and equipment, or if you want them to use a specific type of duster or product brand, you can also expect to pay a higher rate.
Difficult tasks such as window washing, wall cleaning, cleaning ovens, and cleaning the refrigerator will also cost extra.
Both the cleaning company and the individual cleaner can actually provide you with a lot of value for your money. Just make sure that you choose a reliable service provider, and that you set your comfort level and preferences ahead of time.
