Cleaning service price

[Anonymous]

Our long term cleaning lady (a sole proprietor) hasn't asked for a price adjustment in more than five years and I think I should proactively offer one. She comes weekly and uses (mostly) products she supplies (I buy Bona for our floors). She stays for around 4 hours each week. The exact timing is flexible. We pay her every week, and she comes to do deep cleaning when we're on vacation in order to keep her cash flow steady. I also give her a one week bonus every December. I've referred a number of her clients to her, and while I know that's helpful, it just occurred to me that might also make her hesitant to ask for an increase - which was not my intent at all.

Do you think $125/week is fair? We're in north Arlington FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our long term cleaning lady (a sole proprietor) hasn't asked for a price adjustment in more than five years and I think I should proactively offer one. She comes weekly and uses (mostly) products she supplies (I buy Bona for our floors). She stays for around 4 hours each week. The exact timing is flexible. We pay her every week, and she comes to do deep cleaning when we're on vacation in order to keep her cash flow steady. I also give her a one week bonus every December. I've referred a number of her clients to her, and while I know that's helpful, it just occurred to me that might also make her hesitant to ask for an increase - which was not my intent at all.

Do you think $125/week is fair? We're in north Arlington FWIW.

What size house and what all duties?

[Anonymous]

I pay mine $200 now. It used to be $160, but I went up $20 in 2021 and 2022 because of inflation. She didn’t ask me.

Honestly I don’t care if I’m getting a “good deal” though, I can afford it and she’s important to me and my family. So I’m fairly aggressive about giving her raises and bonuses. I’m also a bit out of her way so as her business has grown, I think she could replace me with someone more conveniently located.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pay mine $200 now. It used to be $160, but I went up $20 in 2021 and 2022 because of inflation. She didn’t ask me.

Honestly I don’t care if I’m getting a “good deal” though, I can afford it and she’s important to me and my family. So I’m fairly aggressive about giving her raises and bonuses. I’m also a bit out of her way so as her business has grown, I think she could replace me with someone more conveniently located.

PS this is PG county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our long term cleaning lady (a sole proprietor) hasn't asked for a price adjustment in more than five years and I think I should proactively offer one. She comes weekly and uses (mostly) products she supplies (I buy Bona for our floors). She stays for around 4 hours each week. The exact timing is flexible. We pay her every week, and she comes to do deep cleaning when we're on vacation in order to keep her cash flow steady. I also give her a one week bonus every December. I've referred a number of her clients to her, and while I know that's helpful, it just occurred to me that might also make her hesitant to ask for an increase - which was not my intent at all.

Do you think $125/week is fair? We're in north Arlington FWIW.

What size house and what all duties?

It's a big house (5000 sq ft) but I don't think that matters too much. She works a set amount of time and doesn't do the whole house. She does the first and part of the second floors every week (three bedrooms, office, two baths, carpeted hallway) and vacuums the basement monthly (and then does less on the second floor). I make sure she's never lugging equipment from the basement to the second floor (which I would pay extra for). Vacuum or wet mops floors, cleans counters and bathrooms regularly. Periodically - when she decides it's necessary - dusts baseboards and lights. She never does laundry, collects trash, empties dishwasher, picks up after my teens (if their rooms aren't ready for her, they get skipped that week) or cleans the oven, fridge or grill (I do those).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pay mine $200 now. It used to be $160, but I went up $20 in 2021 and 2022 because of inflation. She didn’t ask me.

Honestly I don’t care if I’m getting a “good deal” though, I can afford it and she’s important to me and my family. So I’m fairly aggressive about giving her raises and bonuses. I’m also a bit out of her way so as her business has grown, I think she could replace me with someone more conveniently located.

This is helpful - thank you!

[Anonymous]

We pay $140 a week, and I feel like it is a good deal. Two people for about 2 hours a week.