Hiring a maid service

[Night Elf]

I'm thinking of hiring a maid service to come in once a month. I found one company near me and the endorsements on their page are impressive. However, to get a quote, I have to fill out all this information that includes my name, address, email and phone number. The pricing plans are the last thing they show. So, if I decide this is too expensive and choose not to book a cleaning, I'm worried they'll phone me trying to get me to change my mind. That sounds annoying. Now, I'm just guessing but I believe that would happen because they want my personal information. What I'd like to see is a website that has it's plan options and prices posted without going into personal details. Is this too much to expect? I've checked out another maid service too they want my personal information too. 

 

I'd love to know a ball park figure of what it would cost to have my house cleaned once a month. DH says we can look into it but hasn't given me a dollar amount to work with. I think he just wants me to get estimates.

 

Do I fill them all out so I can compare services? How do I choose one? Do I go by price alone? I got a flyer in the mail that listed all the cleaning details they do and it was WAY more than I do to my house in a year let alone each month. But no prices were listed. I threw it out and now regret it because now I'm seriously considering the services.

[AK_Mom4]

I avoid giving them all that information by calling them on the phone and asking them for prices over the phone. Usually a cleaning service can give you an estimate based on the number of bedrooms/bathrooms/square footage. If you like the estimate, they will then come out to look and give you an actual quote.

 

I would not bother giving them all that info online.

[Night Elf]

I avoid giving them all that information by calling them on the phone and asking them for prices over the phone. Usually a cleaning service can give you an estimate based on the number of bedrooms/bathrooms/square footage. If you like the estimate, they will then come out to look and give you an actual quote.

 

I would not bother giving them all that info online.

 

That's a good idea. I'll do that.

[Liz CA]

:bigear: :bigear:

 

My house would benefit from a good cleaning - my back does not. I am tossing the idea around as well. Do people have a person or service come in while they are gone? It sounds weird maybe even foolish but I am not home most afternoons and when I am home I am working from home except in the evening hours. Neither I nor dh would want someone to be cleaning in the evening and surely nobody would want to be doing that at that hour anyway. So I would have to have someone come in when I am gone. This freaks dh out - don't really get why. We don't own jewelry or have other valuables (okay, electronics I consider valuable) sitting around. And, add to this that we have a dog - very friendly but it would have to be someone who is okay with dogs.

I just want to blink and have my house be clean... :closedeyes:

[Ailaena]

 

I would never give info like that online unless it was all fake just so I could look at prices :p

 

Also, a service will often require an "initial cleaning" that will be a deep cleaning so they just have to upkeep that. In my market, with my small 3/2, they wanted $2-250 for that first cleaning.

[J-rap]

We hired a housekeeper a couple years ago when I was feeling overwhelmed.  She comes once/month, although we're now on our second housekeeper.  (The first business closed.)  For the first one, I found a local ad and just called them.  For the second one, I went on care.com or some site like that, plugged in my personal info, and received a call in about 60 seconds from a housekeeper who was linked with my information.  But, we live in a small town and tend to trust everyone.   :)

 

This is the housekeeper we now have, and she is wonderful!  As far as price, which I know will vary...  She charges $125 for about 3-4 hours of cleaning.  There are always at least two people.  They get a LOT done in that time.  It is very thorough.  That averages to about $20 hour per person if it's 3 hours.  But they stay until it's done, focusing on the main living areas (and bathrooms), but also doing a quick cleaning in all of the bedrooms, and even sweeping the front porch, etc.

 

The first cleaning was more expensive, but they really thoroughly cleaned the house at that time, even moving our piano and vacuuming behind that, and there were 3 people.  The hourly wage probably amounted to the same or even less for all the time they put into it.

 

My mother lives in a larger city nearby, and she has a housekeeper who comes once/month and charges $25/hour.  

 

ETA:  I've never used a big-name service either.  (We don't even have them in our area.  Just independent mostly one-person businesses.)  I generally leave the house when they come.  Usually I stay for the first 15 minutes or so and then leave.  A couple times I've left the key under the mat and they let themselves in.

Edited November 20, 2017 by J-rap

[gardenmom5]

I've only occasionally used a maid service - I didn't do a big name brand service.  I think you pay more.   i used my mom's, and dh has one in his small business networking group.   she's really good - and is completly independent.  I've also known some women who started their own cleaning business, one when she was divorced.

 

The carpet guy there is also far better than any service I've ever used.  he made mulitple trips out (no extra fee) to get the medicated (makes it much more difficult) blood stains out of my mother's otherwise good condition wool carpet, then dyed it to match the rest of the carpet - so we didn't have to rip it out and replace it when we sold her condo.

[Janie Grace]

I agree with the PP who said don't use a big name service. More expensive and the quality is much lower.

 

I got a reference from a friend. I think this is the best way to go, if you know anyone who has a housecleaner. She came over to see my house and THEN gave me an estimate -- initial cleaning (more) and then every-two-weeks price. It makes sense to me that they would want to have personal contact before quoting a price. They don't know low large your rooms are, how dirty your house is, what your expectations are, etc. I think getting a solid recommendation and then having an in-person estimate is the way to go. I didn't commit to keeping her for any length of time. I wanted to see how long it took her and how good the work was. It was excellent.

 

I always leave the house when my lady comes. It's awkward and weirdly stressful for me to be here. I love, love, love coming home to a clean house. I honestly cannot articulate how happy it makes me. It is worth EVERY PENNY. 

 

I also like supporting the woman who cleans for me. She is an immigrant and she works very hard to support her family. I respect her and trust her completely. I do crate my dog because he makes her a little nervous.

If you can't think of a friend who has mentioned getting her house cleaned, maybe ask a realtor. They tend to know who is reasonable and good. 

[Harriet Vane]

I *hate* using big brand name services.

 

HATE it with the fire of a thousand suns.

 

I have had three negative experiences with three different services in two different cities. This is in stark contrast to my positive experiences for many years with individuals that I hired to clean. I paid the same either way, but the individuals were sooooo much better.

 

[Night Elf]

I have zero contacts so can't get a recommendation. DH works in a huge building so surely they have some big team of cleaners which he never sees anyway.

 

I looked at care.com and yes, they do have housekeepers but surely those are people who are looking for steady employment. I either used that site or a similar one to find my nanny many years ago.

 

I just want someone to come in and deep clean select rooms in my house: kitchen and dining area, living room, both full bathrooms and my master bedroom. I don't need the other 3 bedrooms touched. I want a full cleaning so I can take over maintenance. I also like the idea of having someone come in monthly, but that isn't a necessity. Really, I want one good cleaning.

[Harriet Vane]

I have zero contacts so can't get a recommendation. DH works in a huge building so surely they have some big team of cleaners which he never sees anyway.

 

I looked at care.com and yes, they do have housekeepers but surely those are people who are looking for steady employment. I either used that site or a similar one to find my nanny many years ago.

 

I just want someone to come in and deep clean select rooms in my house: kitchen and dining area, living room, both full bathrooms and my master bedroom. I don't need the other 3 bedrooms touched. I want a full cleaning so I can take over maintenance. I also like the idea of having someone come in monthly, but that isn't a necessity. Really, I want one good cleaning.

 

I think you should give those care.com contacts a try. Just tell them you want a seasonal deep cleaning of those rooms. Typically they are people who need work. While a long-term job may be desired, I think they get plenty of contacts who want just one cleaning or who want them to come 2-3 times per year. When it comes down to it, they need work and will do those one time cleanings both for the money and in the hope that you will hire again for your next seasonal cleaning.

[Xahm]

You can always try asking for recommendations on NextDoor or a Facebook group for your local area. Ours has lots of questions like that, and people are happy to share their experiences.

[Annie G]

I agree with Harriet Vane. Give Care.com a shot. Lots of folks want occasional cleaning help, like before the holidays, when there's a new baby, before putting the house on the market.  A one time cleaning might cost a little more than regular service but it shouldn't  be much more. 

[Zinnia]

I'm not sure how far out of the city that they go, but a popular one near me is hux.com.   People in my neighborhood have had nothing but good to say about them.

 

Another friend uses Love Maid Room, which she is happy with.  l