AIBU to think that £35 an hour is a lot for a cleaner

[Mamamia2020]

My elderly parents are moving house. My Mum has recently been in hospital with pneumonia. She is the sort of person who in the past when moving house would have all carpets cleaned and scrubbed the bathroom with a toothbrush. The thought of moving out and not doing this is abhorrent to her. Her home is immaculate.

Anyway, she is panicking about moving day and wanted a cleaner for the move day as she has been under the weather. It literally just needs someone to whip around with a hoover because as furniture is moved there will be dust behind etc. My Dad said he would do it but she says she wants a 'professional'. My Dad will scrub the bathroom and insides of the kitchen cupboards the day before but we wanted someone just to do a last-minute wipe down. Someone is already coming in to clean the hob and oven two days beforehand.

I contacted a cleaner and explained that I just wanted to book 4 hours, one-off, to hoover through, mop the kitchen floor, clean the bath and toilet, and a final wipe down of the cupboards. I said the property would be empty from 2pm and would probably take 2 hours but would pay for 4. I stressed it is not a full-on 'end of tenancy clean required' just a final whip-round. They are moving 2 hours away and wanted to get off as soon as the van is loaded before it gets dark. She originally quoted £20 an hour which I said was great and I said that I would confirm with them then arrange payment to book the slot. When I came back to her, she asked for photos of the property which I thought was odd as we'd already agreed on a price.I sent them to her from Rightmove and she then changed her mind and said it would be £140 for the four hours. Is it just me that things this is really OTT? I emphasized that it wasn't an end of tenancy clean but she still kept saying to me that I would never get someone to do an 'end of tenancy clean' for £20 an hour. I stressed (again) that I don't need that - just a hoover around, a quick wipe down of the bath, toilets and wipe down the insides of kitchen cupboards (that would already have been cleaned).

I live abroad otherwise I would do it for them, it would take me 2 hour tops.

AIBU to think that £35 an hour is OTT? She said it was also because it was out of hours but only because she couldn't come at 2pm and would have to delay it until 4.30 pm

YABU and therefore I need to start my own cleaning company and earn £35 an hour.

That’s really expensive. Definitely ask around, you will find someone cheaper. Even if it were a full end of tenancy clean, £35 an hour would be too steep!

The house is just beautiful. I wouldn't even think it needs a last clean.

I paid a cleaner 12/hour for 5 hours to do a deep clean of my house before I moved in and she was so good I've kept her on. I think what you've been charged is ridiculous. It's not like an end of tenancy where students haven't cleaned for years

For that price I'm sure the buyers would prefer you to leave flowers (assuming they're moving in that or the next day) and or a bottle of wine/box of chocs. That amount is extortionate!

I've tried a couple more this morning. I know my Mum will want it immaculate for the new owner, for her own pride more than anything. Can you believe this has been really stressing her out? Because she's been in hospital with pneumonia she says she doesn't have the energy to do the last-minute bits before setting off. When I think of the state that most people leave their houses in.

Someone asked if my house was as immaculate - no . I've got two boys and a Golden Retriever and have lower standards. Having a house that clean comes at a price - my house is clean but if it is a choice between doing something with the family or putting the duster round, the former wins every time. In the 80's my Mum had net curtains. Before we used to go on holiday, she used to take every net down and wash them because that is what she felt was the done thing. She'd be exhausted by the time we went on holiday.

Go on local Facebook page. You will find plenty there who won’t take the piss. That cleaner is beyond cheeky, it’s a way easier job than a normal clean

@Savoretti
That's where I got her details from, Facebook. I working through the others now and have just had a quote from a very professional-looking company that will charge £80. I think that is much more reasonable and what the other lady quoted originally (before I sent the photos).

Either she's trying it on or she thinks you're trying it on and she'll turn up to a massive job. Find someone else.

I have been a professional cleaner for over 10 years & often we don't always want these type of jobs, that's probably why she quoted you the high end of tenancy price etc. £20 an hour for a one off when Someone's not relying on you getting their end of tenancy bond back is fine though & I would do it, but I don't do end of tenancy any more as it's too problematic for me Lots of people try it on though & want end of tenancy cleaning for nothing. Its a tough job & harder than it looks. Customers often don't realise this & nit pick etc also some landlords find any excuse not to return bonds, so it often has to be immaculate which can take many hours. I earn £12.50 normally & am self employed with my overheads it's not great to be honest & people cancel at short notice. Please don't think we earn £35 an hour as it's not true.

Hiya, I'm a cleaner. That is more of a quote for a full end of tenancy clean!
I can pm you if your still looking. As I cover that area @mamamia2020

@MagicFairyella
Oh, bless you. It's a shame I didn't know about you earlier as I've just accepted a quote.

@howsicklyarsekissy
I totally agree that end of tenancy must be really hard work, especially as the tenant wants their deposit back and I am sure that many have been very thrifty with the housework.I was really clear and upfront about what was required and it not being end of tenancy. Her attitude completely changed after I came back to her and said, yes please, we'll accept your quote and pay the fee to hold the slot. Then she asked for photos - never mentioned before and raised her quote by £60. I told her how many rooms but she said it looked really big, I'd sent Rightmove photos and they always make the rooms look massive. To be honest, I would have been prepared to pay the price she asked BUT it made her look unreliable and a bit of a chancer. She was going to be left alone in the property and she made me doubt her. I actually would have respected her more if from day one she'd said that she didn't like the one-offs and the rate was uplifted as a result.

I don’t really understand why EOT attracts such a high rate. Is it because it’s a one off, so harder/less worth while? Is it because cleaning the top of cupboards is harder than worktops? I would expect it to take longer to clean more intensively, but not for the hourly rate to go up.

I think the £35ph was to reflect the difficulty of finding some dirt to remove.

I am literally waiting for my new cleaner to arrive, as I type!

As I've obviously been looking myself just now, the average seemed to be £18phr and they also supply all the cleaning products.

The lady I have coming this morning has just started her business & and £12phr.

This is for a deep clean today, then a rolling monthly clean.

I live in the South, not sure if that makes any difference though.

My cleaner (Scotland)is £30 for 2 hours. For that she does 2 bathrooms, kitchent ( not oven) all floors inc living room & hall and a general clean round. My dads cleaner is £25 for 2 hours. Seems a lot to me.

That house is beautiful.
Definitely agree that she’s charging ‘posh tax.’

Your mum sounds like my mil! I think its bonkers to spend any money on additional cleaning, the folk moving won't appreciate the additional effort. Madness

@TestingTestingWonTooFree I guess the difference is in the business model. Regular hours vs unreliable ones

Such a lovely house. She's upped the price after seeing the photos and thinking your parents are rich and can afford a higher price. She's being a CFer. Don't employ her.

Yeah I agree then, she is trying it on. You explained exactly what you wanted. (Not an end of tenancy Clean) Not professional of her at all.
I Am Surprised though by how many people on here don't realise how tough true end of tenancy cleans are, I honestly have had some nightmares. The dust left after furniture removed can be unbelievable, I often have bathrooms that have never been cleaned & limescale build up to deal with. Kitchen cupboards inside can take ages to, it Can take hours to get it all shiny & clean.

Sorry not read the full thread but I saw it's in reading. Get onto Facebook on reading gossip girls and caversham gossip girls and ask for recommendations. Someone will do it for way less than that
I used to work as a cleaner in reading and i would do it for £15 an hour, but realistically I think you would need 3-4 hours to do the whole house