Sole Cleaner - Time to Clean a House?

[Kevin]

If I clean, I like to make $100-$200 dollars an hour, sometimes I make over $1000 an hour. Sometimes I make under $10 for some labor.

Sounds like you made a deal with a customer, maybe your first customer, and now you want a raise.

I think it is fair to tell this customer the price is to low, that you made a mistake. If she is happy with your work, she might accept your new payment terms, flat rate prices.

Then again you might lose her as you stated. If you do not have many customers, and she is happy with your work. You might be throwing away that $60 and a good reference.

Think about it

When a customer skips a day, and re-schedules. We add a $25 fee.

I think I posted this story before, my very first residential was a 7500 sq. ft. mansion. Cleaned it every week, went there at 9am-ended at 5pm At that time, I charged $75.00, (never new anybetter) woman home owner was there all day long, wanted me to answer the phone, answer the front door, move furniture around the house (every week move area rugs from one room to the other)
The house was never dirty, most of the rooms and areas were closed off. So I was like a sprucer upper.

Did this for about 12 weeks, then told the woman. I need more money, I think I`m worth $150, she said she will think about it and let me know the following week.

Next week I came there to work, she introduced me to the new housecleaner. Paid me my days wages, and sent me on my way.

There will always be somebody out there that will do your job, if you decide to give it up.


You might want to charge a higher price, but the customers wallet dictates your rate of pay.

[domesticdiva]

Thanks.

Does anyone else have any input on the average time it takes to clean, when you are the only cleaner? I'd like to know if I'm doing ok time wise or going to slow.

[PCS of Delaware]

Hi There,

I clean 2 homes the same size by myself and it takes me approximately 4- 4 1-2 hours . I charge 100 to 125. The first cleans took me about 6 hours to do. I think that if you are doing a thorough job then you are averaging the right amount of time.
As you get to know the home better and get a routine down you may be able to cut your time some. As far as changing your rate now I agree with Kevin. You could try to but consider changing them in 6 months and see what happens or wait until you get more jobs then weed her out. My first job I bidded to low but I remain cleaning for her because it is some money and it was my fault I bidded to low not hers plus she has referred me to others which was a plus. Good Luck !

[FreedomClean]

Brandy,
I think you're on the right track, time-wise. We've all bid jobs too low over the years and it stinks having to live with that. At this point, you have a choice. You can ask for the money you think you deserve (and you're right!) and hope she'll see it your way. Or you can suck it up and smile as you live with your bid and hope she will give you refrences to all her other friends and neighbors. If nothing else, it's money in the bank, just not the money you would have liked. File this under lesson learned.

Mike

[domesticdiva]

Thanks everyone! That is about the same timing for me. At least I will have a better idea next time I bid a home that large.

Actually, when I started cleaning this house, it was just a "come and clean" kinda deal. Nothing official, no outline of stuff to do. I decided to form an actual business, real deal - thus the rate increase. My client understood, but we decided it was best if she found someone who could still clean her home on Fridays. I am running an errand / lifestyle management service as well, and I will not be servicing her area on Fridays anymore, as it would have changed to another day.

My biggest concern was time. If I was cleaning on average time for by myself or not. Thanks for the input! I love this board, I'm learning more and more each day.

Brandy

[quality]

I clean 2 buildings the first one takes me a 1/2 hour 2 full size bath rooms and a lunch room the first time I cleaned the first building it took me 1 hour and then after that it tok a 1/2 hour but the first cleaning ou charge more for the first cleaning and then after the second cleaning it doesnt cost as much. i make $65.00 for 4 cleanings. for the other building it took me 2hours and now it takes a hour but I make $215.00 a month for 4 times a month that is a good price so what you do is charge more for the vist cleaning becuase it is dirty and the second time you clean it wont take you as long but when you are cleaning your self it does take some time. the first time I cleaned I charged $20.00 an hour and I took 6 hours I would never do that again now I charge per job rather then by hour. So what you do is set up a set price for things like a fridge $25.00 in side oven $30.00 in side bath shower and tub $35.00
and so on. set priced and theat way you don't have some confution on trying to price things

[clarkeservices]

Most of the houses I do by myself takes around 3-4.5 hours to do, I almost always make approximately $30 per hour, which ends up being about $25 per hour after expenses. I figure that I need to make that much to make it work it, housecleaning after all is hard work.