How Much Should I Charge to Clean a 3 Bedroom House?
“How much should I charge?" is one of the most common questions if you start a house cleaning business or clean houses for yourself. Pricing could be especially tricky for bigger homes like cleaning 3 bedroom houses, but there are a number of factors that help to calculate the fair pricing.
Factors That Affect Cleaning Prices
Before just deciding on your 3 bedroom cleaning price, consider the following variables
Size of the home: Square footage makes a huge difference in cleaning time. Take a measurement yourself or get a square footage estimate from the homeowner. Larger 3 bedroom homes take much longer to clean.
Number of bathrooms: A higher number of bathrooms means you will have more toilets, showers, counters and floors to clean. A full bathroom also takes longer than cleaning a half bath.
Cleaning frequency: Is this a one time deep cleaning or an ongoing service, weekly, biweekly, monthly? One time cleanings actually take the most work and should be priced higher. Ongoing cleanings require less time because maintenance is easier.
State of home : Is the home well maintained or very dirty/very cluttered? Dirtier homes take more time to clean. This amount should be increased if the home will need more time and elbow grease.
Hunting tasks needed: The less involved cleaning like dusting, vacuuming, mopping, etc., will be paid less than add-on services like laundry, dishes, interior oven/fridge cleaning, etc. Clearly state what your job encompasses.
Your expertise level: Seasoned pros with many years in business and good reviews will be able to charge a premium over their relatively new competition. Know your worth.
Your location. Cleaning prices differ by city and state. Learn the going rates in your area so you can remain competitive.
Average 3 Bedroom House Cleaning Prices
Using national averages, here are some typical cleaning price ranges for a 3 bedroom house:
Basic cleaning: $100-$180
Deep cleaning: $200-$375
Move-in/move-out cleaning: $300-$450
These ranges are assuming 1-2 bathrooms. Add $25 - $50 for each additional bathroom.
For a normal 3 bed/2 bath house approximately 2,000 square feet, a light clean would be in the $150-$250 range; deeper cleanings ranging from $300 to $450. Move-in/move-out cleans can run upwards of $500-$600+
Hourly vs. Flat Rate Pricing
Some cleaners charge by the hour; this can range from $25/hour up to $60/hour per cleaner. Other ones prefer flat rates based on the size of the home and the intensity of the cleaning.
Hourly is easier and guarantees utilization but has the problem of clock-watching clients: "Will it take long? How much will it cost?" Flat rate gets you more money if you are fast and your clients know up front how much it will cost, but then again it does not work so well if you underestimate.
Many pros charge a hybrid-flat rate for recurring cleans and hourly for deep cleans or new clients. It's good to test the waters to see what works best for your business.
Additional Pricing Strategies
Offer tiered packages at various prices to capture more clients
Offer repeat business, new client, or referral discounts
Charge premiums for last-minute requests, work done on weekends or evenings, or for one-time cleans
Clearly articulate through your service what is provided so you do not succumb to Scope creep, a contract has to state your fee, policies and expectations from clients. You should competitively price yourself but not low priced, because your clients are hiring you for quality of service. Check https://seattlegreencleaningfairy.com for more information.
In a nutshell, the cost to clean a 3 bedroom house varies considerably but expect to earn anywhere from $150 to over $450. Assess the job scope, determine how much of your time it will take, and decide on a price that you feel is fair for both of you as well as the client. You get better judgment about pricing a job with experience profitably.