What is a fair price to charge to clean someone's house or condo?

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years ago

   What is a fair price to charge to clean someone's house or condo?
   
   Just curious.  If someone has a 1500 sq foot house that has no carpet or drapes, kids, pets, etc., how much do you think a house cleaner should charge?  I have seen rates that go anywhere from a flat rate of $40 to $120 and from $15 to $25 per hour.  What think you?
   
   

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   manatita44posted 8 years ago

   Where I am, some charge about £9.00/hr, roughly, $13.00 at a guess. The decent ones charge £10.00/hr, about $15.00 dollars.
   
   £11.00/hr is expensive in West Ealing but worth it, and the work can be quite hard, even with the best of them. So for instance, a good one may be quicker with the sinks, bath and kitchen, but there is still a fair amount of scrubbing to do.Most cleaners do about 3-4 hrs per house, so $13x3 or x4 equates to about $39.00 -52.00, all told. $120.00 is too much.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I think a lot depends on where you live.  The figures I gave are for the US, and I've seen some that are totally outrageous!

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   Austinstarposted 8 years ago

   You can also look for coupons. You will see them sometimes on Amazon Local or RetailMeNot or even in your mailbox.
   I would call three or more places and get an average per hour charge, then figure out who is giving the best rate.
   You might also check your neighborhood, if possible, for a teenager than might want the work.
   Good luck!

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I found some forums where house cleaners post.  It seems that most of them are pushing for $25 per hour plus and are urging each other to refuse to take less, even when the job is an easier one. Some are asking $70!

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      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Highway robbery! But I assume many people are only too willing to pay that price.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  These people have no education, no training and very little overhead, yet they want to make almost four times the current minimum wage!  It's a real problem for people who need their services and cannot afford  (or want to) pay those prices

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 8 years ago

   In northern California, in 1995, I charged 15 dollars per hour for housework. I had no trouble getting it.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      In those days, California was booming, so I can see why people could afford to pay that amount then.  I wonder if the same would be true today.

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      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      For all the poor mouthing in this country, people find ways to pay for what they want.  Otherwise, ball players would not get paid 30 million dollars, give or take a million or so.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      RTalloni   I agree with you, but this does not relate to the question.  How can someone with no education, no training and often poor work experience expect people to pay  upwards of $25 per hour?  Far more than minimum wage for manual labor?

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      Sherry Hewinsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It's a free market. I guess if they are charging too much, nobody will hire them. If they are getting it, that's how much they are worth. People don't have a right to cheap housekeeping. If they can't afford it, they will have to do it themselves.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I agree.  Nobody has a right to cheap house cleaning.  However, there are many elderly and disabled people who need but cannot afford to pay high prices.  Shouldn't there be some sort of fair standard for them ?

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      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I think us old folk are just goung to have to fend for ourselves. I'm trying to declutter before it gets to the point that I can't do it anymore.

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      cat on a soapboxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Having a housekeeper is still considered a luxury that many can't afford.

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      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Initially, the question made me think that you (or someone you know) wanted to start a business.  My first comment was about what the market will bear and if a person wants to succeed in a business like this they generally can't be shy about fees.

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   cat on a soapboxposted 8 years ago

   Hotel maids get an average of $10 per hour. Cleaning services usually send out maids in groups of 2-3 to do a house and charge by the job. The girls get paid much like hotel maids. I think the prices charged by these companies set the standard for what the market will bear. Expect to pay them $100 or more for a first time clean of a 1500 sq. ft. home. (Cleaning supplies/equip. included.) Rates will usually do down if cleaning is regularly scheduled on a weekly basis. Individuals tend to charge more because it is harder work for just one person. Here in Los Angeles, expect to pay $65 for one or $85 for 2 independents who use your own cleaning products. (They have transportation costs and get no perks or benefits.) Real value depends on the thoroughness of the job. some are worth it, others are not. Think how much YOU would charge to clean someone's home?

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I can understand a higher rate if several people are working, but if it just one and he or she will work for $10 pr hour as a hotel maid (or thereabouts) why would that same person expect $25?

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      cat on a soapboxposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It depends on how thorough the job is. Good housekeepers work hard and deserve to be compensated whether educated or not. There are many well-paid yet inept and lazy people in the business sector who deserve less than a good housekeeper.

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      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's the real question, isn't it?  Independents also must pay various taxes and costs other than transportation, depending on their location and other factors. Federal, state, and local tax burdens placed on small businesses can be unbelievable.

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      Sherry Hewinsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Cleaning a single house is a lot different than hotel work. At a hotel you can be guaranteed a certain number of hours. When you are doing private homes the hours will be limited. It's harder to put together enough jobs to make a living.

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