house cleaning prices - Klean Kulture

House Cleaning Prices – What factors determine the rate for House Cleaning Services? (Part 2)

In the previous article, we examined two of the four major factors that determine house cleaning rates: home layout & design, and the type of cleaner. Here, we’ll cover the remaining elements: the type of house cleaning services needed and the day/time required.

The Day/Time your cleaning is required – How does it impact your rate?

Typically, how day/time impacts rate will only affect a small group of homeowners.

As an example, our current business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm PST. During the summer months we’re also open on Saturdays from 11 am – 5 pm.

Life and work events can occur quickly and many home cleaners will attempt to make exceptions when needed for events such as the following:

Guests or family members arriving
Real Estate Agent handling an urgent move out cleaning request or open house event.
Meeting event has been moved to your home
Cleaning schedule booked for several weeks out

Type of House Cleaning Services needed & how it impacts your cost

As stated in the previous article, no two homes are alike, and each cleaning project varies and presents a new set of challenges and opportunities.

Most residential house cleaning services generally offer three cleaning options:

Move-in/out, Standard Cleaning, and Deep Cleaning.

Move-in/out:
Cleaning services offered before or after the occupant(s) move in or out of a home.

Standard Cleaning:
It is often described as maintenance cleaning, and it is offered after the first cleaning of a new customer or after a recent cleaning.

Deep Cleaning:
Typically, a thorough cleaning of the entire home or designated area.

Each service has its nuisance and although one may be perceived as easier than the other, this doesn’t necessarily translate into a cheaper rate.

Similar to the example in the previous article, a particular layout or material can potentially increase the time needed to clean that surface depending on saturation.

For example, there are roughly seven types of rangehood.

Wood (usually of high quality)
Stainless steel
Copper
Bronze
Zinc
Tempered glass
Nickel Silver Range Hood

Over time, buildup from steam, oil and grease can encase your hood in a translucent film of sticky residue. The type of material used in your range hood will not only determine the time needed to clean but also what cleaning materials should be used.

Stainless steel is typically the easiest material to maintain; however, abrasive sponges and cleaning solutions with bleach can damage the hood; therefore, it is imperative that your home cleaner is knowledgeable of how to maintain various surfaces in addition to the cleaning guidelines of appliance warranties.

Fun Fact: On many newer and higher-end models of ovens, manual cleaning can potentially void your warranty.

Due to these factors, and more, providing over-the-phone or website quotes can potentially lead to frustration for homeowners. There are countless online reviews of customers being charged considerably more than quoted. This is due to the home cleaner not being able to anticipate variables such as layout, materials, etc., resulting in additional cleaning time.

Knowing the itemized service(s) that you need, clarifying expectations, and having the house cleaner conduct a free in-home or video estimate will reduce rate fluctuations upon completion of service.

House cleaning isn’t about cleaning areas and putting things away. It’s about making your home look and feel beautiful.

House Cleaning Prices – What factors determine the rate for House Cleaning Services?

by Klean Kulture

House cleaning prices depend on a number of factors. These factors may include but are not limited to the following:

Size, layout and design of the home
Type of cleaner
House cleaning services needed
Day/time cleaning is required

In this first of a two-part series, we’ll focus on layout/design, and the type of cleaner.

Why your home layout is critical to House Cleaning Pricing

No two homes are alike. Depending on the layout, frequency of cleaning, and type of surface materials, a house of exactly equal size can take twice as long to clean as an adjacent home.

As an example, textured plastic or fiberglass shower floors may require numerous cleanings due to dirt and grime buildup within cracks and crevices. Non-textured floors usually require less time and effort to clean with an equivalent level of buildup. This can potentially have an impact on your overall budget depending on what areas will be the primary focus for house cleaning.

Another house cleaning pricing factor is the quantity of souvenirs, awards, and various trinkets on desks, consoles, and shelves throughout the home. Removing and replacing these items can be a time-consuming and delicate process for a house cleaner. As before, this could potentially add more time, thereby increasing your budget.

One of the most effective solutions we recommend for avoiding mixed expectations is to request an in-home estimate. Most professional home cleaners will conduct a free in-home estimate that will allow you to customize your needs and set attainable expectations within the agreed budget.

Why the Type of Cleaner you hire is Important for your home and your Safety

Over the last five years, the residential cleaning service industry in the US grew faster than the overall economy. The surge in demand for house cleaning services has created tremendous opportunities for many individuals to start new business ventures and/or supplement their income. This is due to the increased cost of living nationwide.

House cleaning services are ideal for those with limited start-up capital due to the low barrier to entry. Many are able to start with friends and family and eventually work through referrals for new clients. House cleaning rates at this start-up level typically have a range between $20/hr – $35/hr.

Homeowners may choose these businesses due to their low rates; however, many homeowners may not be aware of the safety concerns that may arise.

Many house cleaners operate without a business license, insurance and/or bonding. Depending on your state, city, or local municipality, it may be required to have a business license when providing house cleaning services.

In the state of California, a business license is required, and a background check is performed with each license issued to a house cleaning company. This potentially protects homeowners from individuals with possible criminal backgrounds.

There are multiple incidents on sites like Nextdoor where owners discuss missing items from their home after a house cleaning service. Typically, it’s the same few companies in a certain geographical location and in many instances, the companies are not licensed and insured.

Insurance for a cleaning business is extremely critical for both the homeowner and the cleaning service. In the unlikely event that something is damaged, the homeowner knows they will be reimbursed, and the cleaning company doesn’t use company funds to pay for damages.

The simplest solution to ensuring the safety of your home is to request proof of license and insurance. Additionally, you can check if the company has a website and reviews.

Many newly established house cleaners operate without a website which may allow for a reduced house cleaning fee but removes the visibility of professionalism and past performance.

In our next article we’ll examine two additional factors that determine house cleaning pricing: day/time service needed and type of service needed.