FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My hourly rate for house cleaning is $25. (which includes quality cleaning supplies and equipment). I believe that my clients will realize after my first visit that I work non-stop and do not take breaks or waste time. I charge by the hour, rather than by the job, as there are so many variables. After discovering the basic time it will take to complete the cleaning job, I may stay for up to an extra hour at no additional charge! I use that time to be more thorough on specific areas through which I rotate during the month. I also use this time to do the extras! I may clean the dog's dishes and provide fresh water, weed a flower bed by the front door or water plants outside or in if they appear to have been missed recently. I have cleaned the tracks of sliding glass doors (the debris makes it difficult to slide the screen door) and then sprayed them with silicone! One client has a number of windows in the ceilings of his rooms and they become covered with debris, blocking the light and ruining the effect! I found one of these windows just outside an upstairs bathroom, so I crawled out the window and cleaned the window thoroughly! What an improvement! I like having the option of finding small details that I can attend to without any additional fee. Providing that free time at the end of my regular cleaning time allows me to attend to details that the client considers secondary (but is thrilled to discover completed when they return home)! ~
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I provide a quote, but encourage the potential client to give me further information or ask any questions that will help them make a decision. After I am hired, I ask for a detailed list of cleaning priorities. On my first day, I ask that the client is present for a few minutes, so I can see the layout of their home and do a walk through with them. I remind them that the first cleaning generally takes longer, due to my unfamiliarity with their home. I stay until I have completed the requested tasks, even if it takes longer than the agreed upon time. I only charge them the rate I quoted. If I am unable to reduce the time needed by the third visit, then I discuss the need for an increased rate or a reduced list of items on their priority list. Some things can be done every other visit, for instance! I leave a note for the client each time I visit and generally contact them by email later in the day. If there are any issues, I want the client to address them. Then we work together to establish a pattern that works for both of us!
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am constantly learning new things about....... EVERYTHING! Working in a hardware store for a number of years gave me the opportunity to learn about numerous things related to houses (structures, lawns, insect & other pest treatments, stain removal, etc.). I have actually fixed the inner workings of a toilet tank in a restaurant because the water kept running! I have replaced thermocouples in hot water tanks and a garbage disposal in a condo I was cleaning before it was put on the market. I have refurbished vacuum cleaners and taken bathroom sink drains apart to remove hair clogs!