Most domestic cleaning is charged by the hour, so a quote is really an estimate of time: how many hours the job should take, multiplied by the hourly rate, plus any extras. This post explains how cleaning quotes are worked out, what you will be asked and why, so the number you are given makes sense. For the rates themselves, see our current rates.
What you will be asked
To estimate the time, a cleaning company needs a picture of the home and the job. Expect questions about:
- your postcode
- the type and size of the property
- the number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- its condition: lived-in and tidy, or in need of a catch-up
- how often you want a clean: weekly, fortnightly or a one-off
- your preferred day and time
- any extras, such as inside the oven or interior windows
Having these answers ready, and being honest about the condition, gives you a more accurate quote and fewer surprises.
From answers to hours
Those answers become an estimate of hours: the rooms set the starting point, and the condition, how often you book and any extras move it up or down. If your home needs a catch-up before regular visits, the first quote may be for a longer visit, or for a one-off or deep clean. Our post on what affects the cost of a cleaner explains each of those factors.
The hours are then multiplied by the hourly rate for the type of clean, which is lower for weekly visits than for occasional ones. Every visit has a minimum call-out charge, which you still pay if the clean finishes sooner, so for a small home the quote is often simply the minimum visit.
Quotes before the first visit
Quotes are free and come with no obligation. For regular domestic cleaning, give us the details above and we will work out an estimate from them. For larger or unusual jobs, such as a big house, a property in poor condition or an end of tenancy clean of five bedrooms or more, we give a personalised quote based on the details of the property.
What can change the price on the day
An estimate is only as good as the information behind it. The time may change if:
- the home is in a different condition from the one described
- extra rooms or tasks are added on the day
- the cleaner cannot get in on time, for example because no key was left
If a job is going to take longer than quoted, ask to be told before the extra time is used, so you can decide whether to go ahead or keep to the original hours.
Before you book, our guide to questions to ask before booking a cleaner covers the practical arrangements, and what happens after you book explains the first visit. To get a quote for your home, see our prices, call 01483 773531 or send us your details.