I'll just add one more angle here -- I pay for a service that I researched first, because I wanted the service to provide both health insurance and retirement benefits to its employees. So yes, I'm paying a bit more (not much) than some others. But to me it's worth it.

Its funny to me that no one has mentioned the quality of cleaning. If you think she does an excellent job then by all means she is worth the raise. If you think that any housecleaner can do it as well, then you should shop around. Does she move furniture, clean baseboards, take on special projects??

We pay $95 for a 1600 sf house (with two small baths and 4 small bedrooms).

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

Are you being obtuse? It's not so much about an extra $20 as much as the OP feels like the regular rate is already too high.

I think the current price is high. And location matters, the prices differ. (PP from SF, is that San Francisco? My friends in CA pay a lot less than I do in DC or at least on a comparative space basis)

I pay $100 in upper NW DC for bi-weekly clean of an 1800 sqft house. 3 bd, 2 baths. It is to a woman that runs the business and she has about 3 women that come with her. It is always the same people. I completely trust her with keys to my house and that is worth a lot. I have been thinking about giving a raise and probably will soon, we also give a holiday bonus.

Square footage matters, but not as much as number of bathrooms and size of the kitchen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

I feel like there is some sort of freakonomics or economies of scale going on that I need someone to explain to me. She is telling me I need to pay more because of the economy and I am telling her I can't because of the economy. I would hate to have to cancel services because then we both lose. I emailed her about going every three weeks at $135 and she said she would get back to me. Still that would be a $1000 dollar loss for her per year.

everybody's expenses are going up... that it makes it tighter for you is irrelevant to her part of the equation.

so you have to decide is it worth it to you to pay that... I've had no raise at work for 2+ yrs but my expenses keep going up. those are 2 independent equations/ issues (I can't force a raise, nor can I stop my fixed costs from going up).

a less than 10% increase after that time is reasonable IMO.

we pay $144 for 3 people for 90 min.-2 hrs. or so every other week.

I also think you are already paying too much. I am in Maryland (Bethesda), but pay $135 for a 3500 sq. foot house with 5 bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms (cleaned every other week). My cleaning lady has been with us for over 8 years (is fantastic) and cleans for many other neighbors in the area). Of course we have increased her pay over the 8 years she has been with us (when have actually moved houses during this period) and give her generous bonuses when due, but my point is that I think you can find a better deal for quality that is just as good.