Cleaning business guide
How to quote a cleaning over the phone
To quote a cleaning over the phone, ask five things before you say a number: home size, bathrooms, pets, when a pro last cleaned it, and how often they want service. Then give a starting price for the first clean and the recurring visits separately, and say the first visit confirms it.
Almost every cleaning inquiry starts the same way: "How much for a three bedroom?" Say a number too fast and you're either too high for a tidy house or too low for a home nobody has cleaned since spring. Refuse to give any number and the caller moves on to the next listing. The fix is a short set of questions, then a starting price you can stand behind.
The five questions before any number
Each one changes the hours. Ask them in this order, because it feels like a natural conversation rather than a form:
- "How many bedrooms and bathrooms, roughly how big?" Bathrooms matter more than bedrooms. Ask about half baths too.
- "Any pets?" A long-haired dog can add real time every visit. Ask what kind, not just yes or no.
- "When was it last cleaned by a professional?" This is the question that tells you whether the first visit is a regular clean or a big one.
- "How often are you thinking: weekly, every two weeks, monthly, or one time?" Frequency sets the recurring price and tells you if this is a client or a single job.
- "Anything specific you want us to focus on?" This is where the oven, the inside of the fridge or the pet hair on the stairs comes out.
Script: a new recurring client
CallerHi, how much do you charge for a three bedroom house?
YouHappy to help with that. So I give you a real number and not a guess, can I ask a couple of quick things? How many bathrooms, and about how big is the house?
CallerTwo and a half baths, maybe 1,900 square feet.
YouAny pets?
CallerOne dog, a golden retriever.
YouSay no more. When was the last time a cleaning company came through?
CallerHonestly, never. We've done it ourselves.
YouThat helps. The first visit is a deep clean to get everything caught up: baseboards, the buildup in the showers, the tops of things. For your home that usually starts around $300. After that, every two weeks would start around $165, because the house stays caught up. The first visit confirms the regular price, and if anything's going to change, I tell you before we leave.
CallerOkay, that's fair. When could you start?
The prices in the script are example numbers. Use your own.
Why that script works
- It asks permission to ask. "So I give you a real number" tells the caller why you're asking, and nobody minds answering after that.
- It splits the first clean from the regular price. Two numbers, each with a reason, sound fair. One big number sounds expensive. The longer explanation is in why the first clean costs more.
- It says "starts around." That leaves room for the walk-in surprise without sounding like a bait and switch.
- It promises a heads-up. The fear behind every price question is a surprise bill. Answer the fear, not just the question.
Script: the caller who wants an exact number now
Some callers push back on "starts around." Don't cave with a firm price you can't hold. Offer them a way to get certainty instead.
CallerI just need a flat number. What's the total?
YouI get it. For a home I haven't seen, I'd rather not promise a number and then change it on you at the door. Two options: I can come by for a ten minute walkthrough tomorrow and give you an exact price on the spot, or we book the first clean at the starting price and I call you from the house if anything's different. Which is easier for you?
Giving two choices keeps the call moving toward a booking. If they want neither, they were probably shopping for the lowest number. Wish them well and let them go.
What to write down on every quote call
Keep a simple note per caller, even on calls that don't book. You'll want it when they call back in three weeks.
- Name, number, address with unit and city.
- Beds, baths, square feet, pets.
- Last professional clean and requested frequency.
- The exact prices you quoted and any add-ons mentioned, so the first clean invoice matches what they heard. Add-on prices are covered in pricing ovens, fridges and pet hair.
The habit that raises your close rate
Call quote requests back fast. A caller comparing three cleaning companies usually books with whoever answers first with a clear price and an open day. If you can't pick up during a clean, return calls at every break, not at the end of the day. For the bigger picture on setting the numbers themselves, start with how to price house cleaning, and find the rest of our guides for cleaning business owners.
Questions owners ask
Should I ever give an exact cleaning price over the phone?
For empty homes, apartments you already know, or small repeat jobs, a firm price is fine. For a lived-in home you've never seen, a starting price with conditions is more honest. Exact numbers quoted blind tend to either scare the caller off or leave you eating two extra hours.
What if the house is much dirtier than the caller described?
Stop and call the client from the home before you go over the quoted price. Describe what you found in plain terms, give the new number, and let them choose between paying it or trimming the scope. Most people accept it when they hear it before the invoice, not after.
Is a walkthrough better than a phone quote?
A walkthrough gives you a more accurate price, but it costs you a drive and half an hour, and some callers won't wait for it. Many owners use phone quotes for standard homes and save walkthroughs for large houses, heavy jobs, post-construction and anything commercial.
How do I handle callers who only want the cheapest price?
Answer their question with your starting price, explain once what it includes, and let them go if it's not a fit. Chasing the lowest bidder fills your calendar with clients who leave the moment someone cheaper calls. Spend that energy on callers who want a steady, reliable cleaner.
Should I ask for the caller's email to send a written quote?
Yes, when they want to think it over. A short written quote with the starting price, what's included and the first clean price gives them something to compare. Follow up once a few days later, then leave it alone.