Is this a fair price for house cleaning?

[MadamPomfrey]

Hi, I am just about to get a cleaner to help me, as I’m just about to start a new job and it’s something I’ve longed for - I’m not very good at keeping on top of the housework myself, no matter how much I try!

I have a 3 bedroom, one bathroom house in the SouthEast, and have been quoted £50. She didn’t specify how long that is for so I’m not sure of the hourly rate, but she gave me this list of what she’ll do:

• Hoover Throughout
• Mop Throughout
• Dust Throughout
• Clean Mirrors
• Clean Kitchen Sides
• Clean Toilets
• Clean Sinks
• Clean Bath/Showers
• Empty bathroom bins
• Wipe down cooker top
• Wipe down door handles/light switches
• Wipe down all reachable skirting boards
• Dust all light shades and ceilings
• Dust accessible photo frames

Does this seem reasonable? I’ve not really got any experience with this kind of thing so just want to sense check this!

Thank you 🙏🏻

Yes that seems reasonable for me. If it took 3 hours to do that then she’d be taking home £16.60 an hour which is really quite cheap for a cleaner. If she took 2 hours it’s £25 an hour which is a normal price but I’d imagine it will take longer than that as there’s quite a lot on the list.

I’ve paid more for far less before and if it’s what you need then I’d say you have been quoted fairly.

I’ve only ever had a cleaner charge per hour. My current (and best one) is £20 an hour and does 2 hours a week. After a few weeks she got into a proper routine and now whistles through the house - kitchen, living room, hall, downstairs loo, stairs, upstairs bathroom (doesn’t do bedrooms, my choice), in an hour and then does deep clean tasks the rest of the time. She works to a really good standard.

I’d not massively enjoy a non time capped list, mainly because I would find it impossible to manage the timings around my WFH logistics etc.

I’d ask her how long she’s looking at.

I pay £60 for 4 hours to do a 5 bed. I think that it might be worth asking for how long roughly will that take if you're not sure, but it seems reasonable to me.

That is cheap.

I pay £44 as a set price for a 3 bed 1 bathroom house in the NW. Takes between 2 and 2.5 hours

3 bed house including skirtings and light fittings should be more like £60. £50 minus light fittings and skirtings and providing no unusual or more labour intensive fittings.

If you have any of the following it creates more work:

• mess and disorganisation of belongings
• glass lightshades
• stainless steel or gloss wrapped cabinet/ appliance frontages
• shaker-type wall panelling
• very hard water
• black sanitary ware
• dogs or cats or inhabitants with long black hair (!)

I had a lovely lady offering to be my cleaner.

However, I only want to pay her including her tax and pension, so yea, I'll just continue to do my own.

Cleaners - I've done it - deserve full employment rights too.

I also don't want anyone snooping around in my house

Soubnds really good for £50. May I borrow her?