Send a consistent brief
Include approximate size, bedrooms, bathrooms, cleaning type, current condition and the rooms to be cleaned. List appliance interiors, windows, laundry or other extras individually. Mention access, parking, pets and delicate materials that affect the work.
State whether you want one visit or recurring service. Ask for the first-visit price separately if it has a different scope.
Use this comparison worksheet
| Item | What to record for each quote |
|---|---|
| Service | Maintenance, deep, move-out or another defined scope |
| Included tasks | Rooms, surfaces and exact extras |
| Price unit | Per cleaner-hour, team-hour, visit, room or measured area |
| Staffing | Number of cleaners and expected time on site |
| Minimum | Minimum labour or minimum spend |
| Products | Who supplies products, vacuum and other equipment |
| Extra charges | Parking, travel, booking, disposal and special treatment |
| Taxes | Included, extra or not yet confirmed |
| Recurring terms | First visit, later visits, discount and conditions |
| Service issues | Reporting deadline and proposed remedy |
Convert hourly prices correctly
If a quote is $120 per team-hour for three cleaners, it represents $40 per cleaner-hour. If that team works for two hours, the base labour charge is $240 for six cleaner-hours. These figures illustrate the conversion; they are not local benchmarks.
Do not convert a flat price into an hourly rate when the duration or team size is missing. Compare its scope and complete price instead.
Account for minimums and first visits
A three-hour minimum applies even if your estimate suggests two hours of work. If the minimum applies to each team member, the billable labour can be higher again.
For recurring work, ask whether the introductory or first-clean price differs from the maintenance price. An annual comparison should include the actual first visit and the number of later appointments you plan to book.
Compare responsibilities as well as price
Ask who handles replacements, equipment, damage reports and schedule changes. For direct employment, check payroll responsibilities separately. An included feature matters only if it is useful to you and defined in the agreement.
Before accepting
Resolve unclear items in writing. Ask how a change in condition or requested work affects the price, and require agreement before additional work is charged. Keep the quote and task list together for the final review.
Next: company versus direct hire, cleaning taxes and payroll, and check cleaning quality.