Information about freelance housekeeping...?

Question

I would like to start cleaning houses as an independent contractor. How should I charge...by the hour or by the job?? How MUCH should I charge??

Answer 1

I think I would be more open to hire someone with options available to me. Example, a set price to get my kitchen back in shape, then a price to maintain weekly. I would shy away from a business charging by the hour, especially if you were bonded and I was to leave you alone in my home... whose to say you were working the entire time. That's just me. Good Luck with your new venture!

Answer 2

You should definiatly charge by the job, what if you go in and the place is a total sty! Also you need to be bonded, because if anything disappears in the house, guess who gets blamed? If you are bonded this gives people more trust in you. My housekeeper charges by the job, this includes the size of the house, the state of the house, the duties expected, and the time involved. So every week my bill could be different, depending on how messy the house is when she starts. And with a 3 1/2 story home, it's not cheap. Same thing with my landscaper.

Answer 3

Hi April. One of my best friends does that. She lives outside of Chicago, does primarily houses for moderate income families.
Her average customer will have her 1 day per week for 4 hours at $40.00, which breaks down to $10.00 per hour.
What she usually does is makes an appointment to first look at the home. If she finds that she will have to do a lot of catch up work she charges more. If it's routine maintenance she charges less. She also looks at amount of laundry, dishes, etc. While she's looking she's adding or subtracting to the standard $10.00 per hour, then gives them a quote.
P.S. She's been doing this as a living for many years and routinely turns down jobs because she's in high demand.