Deciding Whether Professional Cleaning Services Are Worth It
For some families, the expense of hiring home cleaning services are no big deal, but for the average
middle-class family, it may be a tougher decision. There are a few things to consider when you're
deciding whether or not to splurge for cleaning services; here are some steps to take to weigh
your decision.
Step 1: Make a List of Home Cleaning Services You'd Need
Before you start soliciting quotes, think about the tasks that are most important for you to
accomplish. You may need help with simple weekly tidying. Other people prefer to hire cleaners
for those tasks that it's tougher to get around to, such as carpet cleaning and upholstery
cleaning. Whatever it is, it helps for you to write it down first. That way, when you call for
cleaning quotes, you can resist the upset of additional services you don't really need.
Step 2: Get Your Quotes
Next, it's time to call different cleaning companies to come up with the best rates you can find.
It's not always accurate to get online quotes, since there may be additional charges for things
like pet hair. If you have small children, your house may have a few more stains and messes
than the average quote, too; consider this factor when you're looking at the average cost of an
hourly cleaning service.
As you do your research and get quotes from many companies, you might be wondering what
differences there are between professional home cleaning services and individuals. Price may be
one that you notice right away; since there is lower overhead with an individual cleaner, they
might be able to offer rates. But they don't always offer the same insurance for home damage or
property theft. It's a balancing act to find a cleaner that is both affordable and reliable.
Step 3: Evaluate the Costs
Once you have an estimate of how much it would cost to hire a cleaner, it's a good idea to
compare this to what's called your "personal hourly rate". This isn't exactly correlated with your
salary; it takes into account the amount of economic value you could have provided yourself
with the time you spend cleaning. Whether it's having time to prepare cheaper and healthier
meals or having time to take the bus instead of calling a cab, all time has some dollar value
attached to it and your hours spent cleaning do come at a cost. It's up to you in the end whether
the cost is worth the dollars to save by cleaning, or if you find that the professional cleaning
rates are worth it after all.