House Cleaning Service just requested a payment increase - is this normal?

[Anonymous]

Here is the background. We live in a single family home, two full time working parents and two kids under the age of 5 (in daycare during the day). Our home is a single family home, one level, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, living, dining, kitchen, den and some hallways.

Since I had my second kid (3 years ago) we have been using a house cleaning service. Every other week 3 ladies come over and clean the house. I've been happy with them and think they do a job. Right now I am paying $125 every other week. I always thought this was on the high end due to the size of our house but was okay with it but today I received an email from the owner of the cleaning business to start charging us $135. Can anyone here tell me what they pay for a house cleaner? $135 feels absurd I'd almost rather switch it to an every 3 week cleaning or just scrap it all together. Am I paying too much? How would you respond to the request for the increase?

[Anonymous]

If you think it's too much, get estimates from new companies. Then you can decide if it's worth it to start over with a new company or pay the increase and keep the current company.

But you've been using the same service for 3 years...in those 3 years do you think that the owner has provided an increase in wages for his housecleaners? Raises do end up flowing downward to the consumer.

[Anonymous]

We have a 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath condo and we pay $80 for every other week. We're in SF proper. You're definitely overpaying. Find new cleaning people.

[Anonymous]

We have a similar sized house to yours (3 bedrooms, 2 bath), but on 3 levels (including finished basement), and we pay $110 every two weeks. I actually think our ladies might deserve and increase at this point - they do a great job. We are in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think it's too much, get estimates from new companies. Then you can decide if it's worth it to start over with a new company or pay the increase and keep the current company.

But you've been using the same service for 3 years...in those 3 years do you think that the owner has provided an increase in wages for his housecleaners? Raises do end up flowing downward to the consumer.

We've been using our housekeeping service for 2.5 years... her quoted rate was $85, for every other week service. We paid her $90 to start, were extremely happy, and bumped it to $100 at the end of one year. The next year, we upped it another $10 -- so we pay her $110 every other week. At Christmas, I give her a "gift" equal to one cleaning cost.

If you have been paying her the same amount for 3 years, I definitely think she's owed and increase. everything else costs more, why not housekeeping? Also, do you really want to start over with having someone else come into your home? You already know and trust her.

[Anonymous]

This is the first increase in 3 yrs?

[Anonymous]

Are people getting raises? I can't remember the last time I got an increase.

[Anonymous]

Where do you all live? Is this Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the first increase in 3 yrs?

yes, first time its' been requested. I am fine with a pay increase but I already feel like I am being price gouged for the size of my house. The part of the house they clean is 2100 square feet. Its not in a fancy neighborhood either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you all live? Is this Virginia?

yes, suburbs of alexandria. and not the fancy part.

[Anonymous]

I think an increase request is perfectly reasonable. However, you are paying a lot. My house has more bedrooms and bathrooms and levels than you and that's what we pay.

Do a search, there are a lot of threads that will give you a sense of what is average. It varies by location too.

[Anonymous]

Arlington - 2400 sf house. cleaned every 2 weeks - 1 person - $120.

I have given her increases on a fairly regular basis (once/year) - like $5. After all, she is trying to make a living and the cost of living is skyrocketing.

BUT - I feel a little maxed out at this point. It's definitely been more than a year since the last increase.

I have seen someone advertising through our neighborhood list serv and she would be less expensive. But our lady has been cleaning for us for 7 years and I would feel really badly letting her go. I have been waffling about this for weeks!

[Anonymous]

We're in Kingstowne, 3 br townhouse, 2 full baths, 2 half baths and we spend $75.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the first increase in 3 yrs?

yes, first time its' been requested. I am fine with a pay increase but I already feel like I am being price gouged for the size of my house. The part of the house they clean is 2100 square feet. Its not in a fancy neighborhood either.

You posted twice that your neighborhood isn't fancy, but I'm not sure why that is relevant. After all it isn't harder or easier to clean a house in a fancy neighborhood.

Get some other quotes from cleaning services and see how they compare.

[Anonymous]

You can't afford an extra $20 a month???? Wow.