charges

[jesssed]

I charge per rm I was wondering should I deduct money off if there's stuff like a bed ,nightstand ,etc etc..?. I charge 99 for the first 200 sq ft then 40 to 50 per rm is that a good way to charge? I use a rotovac 90% of the time

 

[Mikey P]

I prefer to charge for only what I'm actually cleaning, so I measure around furniture we are not moving..



Others charge for the whole room, regardless of furniture.


Only you and your marketshare can make that decision.



How is what you're doing working for you?

 

[jesssed]

It's working good I'm a part timer do one job a day and have a full time job

 

[ruff]

In real life, it takes longer to clean a room working around the furniture then if the room was empty and there was more space to clean.
So, if work and time needed is the criteria, you should charge more for cleaning around the furniture. And if you don't, you're discounting your work. Which is fine, if that's what you want to do.

It is more of how you like to handle it and how much resistance you get from your clients for not "deducting" the furniture space.
Also in a way, it is about how your client perceive your business.

Unlike Mike I charge for the full size of the room. I use the same logic throughout my business- It takes me longer, I charge more. It takes me less, I charge less. And it allows me to screen certain clients.
In 26 years in business, I can recall only one client I lost because of it. From the way she sounded, I think it was my gain.

 

[steve_64]

it often takes just as long to clean an empty room as it does a furnished. usually more traffic lane issues and prepping of the room like moving small items so as not to break them picking up trash cans and laundry basket.

im $60 for the first $40 a room after up to 150 sqft per room two room minimum. i rarely go look at a job first anymore but try and explain about extra charges for pet odor and stain issues and things like that. excessive soiling issues not cleaned for ten years ect ect.

 

[PrimaDonna]

We also charge by the room. Up to 250 sq ft. Agree with that others said about more prep time working around furniture than a full room. Our customers don't seem to mind. If someone really pushes, we offer $5 per room less. Hey usually just pay full price and have us move furniture then. Only exception is our stay beautiful program. We do open area cleaning every 6 months and wall to wall 6 months later. They get a discounted rate for the program but we aren't cleaning as much carpet at the one interval and true carpets don't have a chance to get heavily soiled when we are there every 6 months.

We are $190 for first two rooms and $85 each additional. (Over 250 sq ft is considered double or two rooms)

 

[Old Coastie]

No wonder I eat so many beans. I only charge $45 trip fee plus .37/foot on room dimensions. Only upcharges are for urine or really grody stuff.
We also prevac thoroughly, slide stuff that can be, vacuum under stuff that can't.

 

[ruff]

Beans and seeds/grains make a complete protein.

Add some seeds or whole grains and you'll be fine

 

[Travis Sonderegger]

@Ofer Kolton Thanks for the post above. Good stuff. I recall one of your other posts from some time ago about charging more for larger rooms and not to be ashamed. At least I think it was you.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I charge like @Old Coastie, by the sq' ft' and it works well for us. Our minimum charge is $150 so I always talk the customer into getting more than just one room or a spot cleaned so they get their money's worth.
I'm still playing around with our pricing structure and have been thinking about offering different packages that the customer can choose from. Not sure yet because I only like doing the premium cleaning but not everyone can afford it or wants to pay for it. So I'm asking myself whether I want those customers anyway. However those customers are still capable and willing to give reviews and referrals so do I really want to lose them?

 

[Spurlington]

Be nice if we could charge by the minute. You would be profitable no matter what condition or situation you encounter. What Mrs customer .. of course Ill go over that 10 more times. Urine contamination - sure Ill spend extra time !!

 

[Travis Sonderegger]

I need to start doing wall to wall pricing. It really is a pain working around everyone's stuff. Some houses are filled to the brim with stuff.

The jobs I hate are when you show up and they dont have anywhere to move their stuff, the whole clean one side of the room then move everything, tab it, and clean the other side. The other downfall is these people usually don't have a lot of money so you are doing twice the work for not as much pay. I think it is good to have to do a job like that every once in awhile. just not too often.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

My empty house price is lower than my furnished house price. I charge for my time not just sq' footage.
I never give a firm price over the phone and my sq' footage cost is determined differently at each house.

 

[hogjowl]

I move a ton of stuff.

And I've NEVER encountered a situation that required "moving everything to one side of the room".

 

[Travis Sonderegger]

I'll have to post pictures

 

[Nate The Great]

I charge like @Old Coastie, by the sq' ft' and it works well for us. Our minimum charge is $150 so I always talk the customer into getting more than just one room or a spot cleaned so they get their money's worth.
I'm still playing around with our pricing structure and have been thinking about offering different packages that the customer can choose from. Not sure yet because I only like doing the premium cleaning but not everyone can afford it or wants to pay for it. So I'm asking myself whether I want those customers anyway. However those customers are still capable and willing to give reviews and referrals so do I really want to lose them?

I've heard of guys who give the Gold/Silver/Bronze packages.... Make your Silver your normal cleaning package, Bronze is with a little less stuff, and the Gold is with fabric protection and furniture moving...

Rarely will people choose the Bronze as it's a physiological thing, people will choose the middle package over the least expensive one as they see more value in it.... Maybe make your Bronze with no furniture moving, no vacuuming.... Silver with light furniture moving, and vacuuming.... Gold with all the bells and whistles.... It really comes down to what type of cleaning you offer your customers and want to be known for...

I'm a SF price and don't give discounts for going around things or empty rooms... We sell flooring also and having the total room measurements makes it easier to give new flooring quotes too...

 

[Spurlington]

I measure wall to wall then subtract for items not being moved. We will log the wall to wall measurements as well as logging what was cleaned at the time of service. Its helpful with future phone quote inquiry's for repeats. I will give the exact price before starting. There are times I can look at a room and subtract sq footage without using a tape measure. For instance Ill already have the full dimensions recorded on my invoice, if not moving a queen bed, Ill subtract 4x6 even though the bed is 5x7 (to cover dipping under a few on 3 sides) and so on.

 

[hogjowl]

We were discussing packages back in the 90's.

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[Nate The Great]

We were discussing packages back in the 90's.

Some guys just live in the gutter..... I still discuss packages........

 

[hogjowl]

And in a danny kinda way, I'm sure.

 

[Old Coastie]

Beans and seeds/grains make a complete protein.

Add some seeds or whole grains and you'll be fine

Thanks Ofer. We just mash a couple of possums on the way home or on lucky days, the occasional portly tourist.

Goes good with pecan pie.

 

[hogjowl]

Purple hull peas and cornbread.

 

[Captain America]

I charge by the room as it is about the same time for empty and furniture....
30-50$ per room depending if it is rental or home owner..
Cap

 

[Old Coastie]

You like your tourist with purple hull peas?

 

[Able 1]

I move a ton of stuff.

And I've NEVER encountered a situation that required "moving everything to one side of the room".

Even when they did you a "favor", and did it themselves?! I hate that!

 

[Able 1]

Room price here if you take your average room size in your area it's good enough.. Measuring cuts down on efficiency. I would guess most square foot guys work alone?

Had my wife(she answers the phone) bump my prices this year, and have had little to no push back.. Way easier when I don't hear the uncomfortable silence. I think I might bump it again when we get busy..

 

[hogjowl]

Even when they did you a "favor", and did it themselves?! I hate that!

I've had that happen once or twice in the early years. Not in a long long time.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Room price here if you take your average room size in your area it's good enough.. Measuring cuts down on efficiency. I would guess most square foot guys work alone?

Had my wife(she answers the phone) bump my prices this year, and have had little to no push back.. Way easier when I don't hear the uncomfortable silence. I think I might bump it again when we get busy..

Slow incremental increases are hardly noticed or felt.

 

[Able 1]

Now you tell me!!