Residential Customers

[Kevin]

So for you residential services out there how many customers do you think you need to make a living just doing scheduled residential cleaning? (if you were by yourselves) If your doing two houses a day every working day is that enough? Maybe its three houses everyday? When do you add on a helper to lighten your load, when is it time to have someone else do the cleaning of the accounts, and you supervise?

Doing alot of residential also, we look forward to the random jobs, interuptions in normal routine to really bring in extra money, the special cleanings.

I you had the oppurtunity would you prefer just doing special one time cleanings or do you prefer to work for customers on a regular basis?

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

If you are working by yourself you need 2 homes a day to make enough money. I personally like the special cleanings or initial thorough cleans because you get so bored doing the same houses week after week, year after year.
Patti

[Roman Cleaning Services]

I like move outs cuz there's a larger some of money coming but its good to have the steady flow coming in weekly. I'd like to see how others about when to hire a certain number of people.

[ultraman]

I just do residentials (just started 3 months ago) and am just clearing rent/ other expenses with a dozen clients. But then, I'm a single guy who lives pretty simply with few financial obligations. I think I can handle a dozen more before I think about getting help. The most I do in one day is two houses. I'm always amazed at the time estimates other cleaning agencies give prospective clients, because I always take much longer on average. But then, some current clients said when they hired others for less time, they usually missed pretty obvious things by hurrying to get done.

I enjoy doing regulars so far. Since I'm still getting into the groove of things, one-times and initials can be a bit daunting, as I always take longer than I think I will.

[jruner]

I prefer repeat customer's for steady income. Two houses a day is my max as said before . It takes time to do a good Job. I would like 25% one time cleans because the profit is higher $20 an hour in Idaho vs $15 for repeat customer's.

[rhapsodyvf]

I only have 2 residential cleans right now, then i have an office also that i clean. Between the office and the residential cleans my monthly operating expenses are covered (for now!) then the apartment turns are extra money for supplies. I am not however making enough money to pay myself right now but it is coming! Luckly my husband has a gread job and is supporting us right now I am working on getting commercial accounts now so i can do apartment turns/residential during the day and commercial at night!

[earthlydream]

I have been cleaning houses part time for 15 years! I worked for Merry Maids so learned how to clean professionally. I charge by job $75 for one bathrm size house or apt & up.

I've been trying to get two houses a day for the past year! I go on alot more estimates & have calls daily but still haven't reached my goal! I can't believe it! I live in New Haven Ct & get clients from flyers & Craigslist posts. How could it be so hard to get two houses a day from alot of diff towns?

I even added services. Organizing, Painting, Errands, Packing. I also started a Home Staging /Redesign service which I will learn from a Int Designer who wants to sell my Faux Finishing services. I do alot of diff services but these clients are real Flakes. They call & want cleaning & organizing or painting, then disappear into the air!

I am competing w/alot of low charging cleaners. I charge what the agencies charge. Some clients appreciate my services & will pay but alot are looking for CHEAP!!!! I only need a few more clients to be doing two a day but they cancel, move run out of money, or are one time so I'm always looking.

I get bored cleaning same houses too but need to have a steady reliable income. Is this the norm? Why is it so hard to get just two a day & be all set?

[Kevin]

Welcome to IJCSA! Other than looking at adds on craiglist and flyers what other type of advertising are you doing? Its pretty much the same story about the customers they all want cheap! and more!

[earthlydream]

Thanks for reply!

I do doorhangers occasionally. I get most clients from my flyers on poles here in New Haven cause it's a college town & everybody walks down street I post on. Alot of clients here are Yale grad students who move quick! Here today gone tommorrow. I know the money is in the burbs but I don't really want to travel far as I have other businesses I do.

I get calls alot from Craigslist but from alot of people looking for deals more than for looking to pay reasonable rates. I get so many calls & sometimes they cancel before I even can answer them.

Is cheap everyones Motto these days? I even had clients I went on estimates for in the coveted burbs who only want to pay $10 hr! Yuck! Tell them to go clean someones house for a living for $10 hr & see how far they get w/paying their bills!!!!