It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is that no cleaner can give you a real number without knowing something about your house. What we can do is explain exactly what drives the price, so you can tell a fair quote from a bad one.
The five things that actually set the price
1. Size — but not the way you think
Square footage matters less than the number of bathrooms and the size of the kitchen. Those two rooms take the majority of the time in almost every house. A three-bedroom home with one bathroom can take less time than a two-bedroom with two and a half.
2. How often you have it done
This is the biggest lever you control. A house cleaned every two weeks never gets far behind, so each visit is faster. The same house cleaned twice a year needs a deep clean every time. That is why almost every cleaner charges less per visit for weekly and bi-weekly service — it is not a loyalty discount, the job is genuinely smaller.
3. The condition it starts in
The first clean is nearly always more expensive than the ones that follow. Cleaners call it an initial or deep clean, and it exists because someone has to catch the house up before a regular rhythm makes sense. Be suspicious of anyone who quotes a first-time clean at the same rate as ongoing service — either they are going to rush it, or the price is going to change once they arrive.
4. What is included
This is where quotes diverge the most. Ask specifically about:
- Inside the oven and refrigerator
- Interior windows
- Baseboards and blinds
- Changing bed linens
- Laundry
A cheap quote that excludes all five is not cheaper — it is a different job.
5. Pets, kids and real life
Pet hair genuinely adds time, particularly on upholstery, baseboards and carpet edges. It is not a penalty; it is just honest scoping. Any cleaner who does not ask about pets is not thinking carefully about your quote.
Flat rate or hourly?
Both are legitimate, and they protect different people.
- Flat rate gives you certainty. You know the number before anyone starts. The risk sits with the cleaner, so it tends to be priced with a small buffer.
- Hourly can be cheaper on a house in good condition, but the total is open-ended. If you go hourly, agree a cap.
For ongoing service, most people prefer a flat rate. You want a predictable line in the monthly budget, not a surprise.
Warning signs in a quote
If a price sounds too good, something has to give — and it is usually insurance, time, or the person doing the work.
Watch for:
- No insurance. If a cleaner damages something or is injured in your home and carries no coverage, that becomes your problem. Ask for proof. A real business will not be offended.
- A quote with no questions. A number given before anyone asks about bathrooms, pets or condition is a guess, and guesses get revised upward on the day.
- Cash-only with nothing in writing. You want the scope and the price recorded somewhere, even if it is just a WhatsApp message.
How we quote
We give you a firm price before we start, based on what your home actually needs — not an estimate that moves once we are inside. Send us the details through the booking form or message us on WhatsApp, and you will get a straight number back.
We are fully insured, and we are happy to show proof before we take a job. That should be the minimum you expect from anyone you let into your home.
