by Germicidal Maids
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If you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy cleaning your house. Not only is it time-consuming, but it’s also a lot of work. Fortunately, professional cleaning services can do the job for you.
But, now that you have decided to outsource your housecleaning and free up your time, how do you go find a reliable company, and what is a fair rate for cleaning services? Especially in Orange County?
At Germicidal Maids, we survey the rates of other local cleaning services, independent house cleaners, and chains every few months so that we can remain competitive.
In this article, we will state what those averages are, specifically around Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, and Laguna Niguel, so you can make an informed decision.
We will also cover other costs associated with getting your house cleaned, such as tipping, and we will also cover how to negotiate to get a cheaper cleaning.
How Much Will House Cleaning Cost
The cost of hiring a cleaning service in Orange County varies depending on how long your home takes to clean. Most companies in the OC area will price themselves between $45 and $70 per hour.
This averages $130 – $250 per job.
To determine how long your home would take, companies will take into account the size of your home, the number of bathrooms, the number of pets, how dirty it is after each visit, and the frequency of service.
In addition, many companies have minimium amounts that they charge. From our sample, we found that many services will not show up for less than $100.
Deep Cleanings
If you’re looking for a one-time cleaning, most companies will stick with the same hourly prices, but will spend more hours cleaning making it more expensive.
A lot of times you will see large variations in the cost of a deep cleaning. You will see some companies quoting as little as $250 and some companies as much as $500 for the same job.
This difference has to do with how thorough of a job they will do.
If both companies value their work at $50 an hour, the $250 company will send a team of two for 2.5 hours while the $500 company will send the team for 5 hours, or until the job is finished.
Often times the $250 job will be rushed and you may need to do over spots. This is unacceptable especially if you are going to be selling the home or moving out.
If you are unsure about how long the job will take, you can always ask each company if you can buy individual hours.
How To Negotiate a Cheaper Price
Most cleaning services offer discounts for customers who sign up for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly services, with each frequency offering a bigger discount.
This is because they can schedule your cleaning around their other customers and they don’t have to worry about finding new customers as often.
If you have a larger home you will find that you get quoted a lot of really high prices.
This is because larger homes in the 3500-6000 square foot range take a long time to clean.
To get a cheaper rate, you can ask the company to clean less of the home and they will be happy to oblige.
Another way to save money is by asking the company if you can set your own budget.
With this option, you name a price and list your priorities, and the cleaner will stay the maximum amount of time they can while finishing as much of your list as possible.
If you want to save more money you can try hiring an independent house cleaner, however, this is a lot riskier and more time-consuming.
Independent House Cleaners Versus Cleaning Companies
If you’re considering hiring a professional house cleaner, you may be wondering whether it’s better to go with an independent contractor or a cleaning company.
While independent house cleaners are usually less expensive than cleaning companies, charging anywhere from $25-$45 per hour, or $75 – $150 per job, but you run a much greater risk.
First, they may not be insured or bonded, which means you would be liable if anything goes wrong.
Next, cleaning companies often vet and train their staff. With independent house cleaners, you don’t know who is going into your home.
There is also no one you can complain to if anything goes wrong, or something gets stolen.
You will also need to put the time in because it is likely you will go through a lot of independent house cleaners before you find someone that fits.
That is a lot of time and money spent on unsatisfactory cleaning.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to hire an independent house cleaner or a cleaning company is up to you. Consider your safety, your budget, your time, and your needs to make the best decision for your home.
How much does Germicidal Maids Charge?
If you are looking for a highly rated, reputable cleaning service, contact us.
We service San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente, Ladera, and Laguna Niguel.
We will be sure to give you a fair rate, and a great experience, and we are always able to work with you on your budget, just make sure to give us a call and we will work something out.
