A good quote does two jobs. It tells the client exactly what they are paying for, and it protects you from a three-hour job turning into a six-hour job at the same price. Most disputes in house cleaning come from vague quotes, not bad cleaning. Here is how to write one that is clear, fast to send and fair to both sides.
Get the right information first
You cannot quote well without knowing what you are walking into. Whether you ask by phone, text or a form on your website, collect the same details every time:
- Address and type of home (house, apartment, townhouse)
- Approximate square footage, bedrooms and bathrooms
- Type of clean: standard, deep, move-in or move-out, post-construction
- How often: one time, weekly, every two weeks, monthly
- When it was last professionally cleaned
- Pets, and whether they shed heavily
- Extras: inside oven, inside fridge, interior windows, baseboards, laundry
- Access: will someone be home, lockbox, codes, parking
- A few photos of the kitchen and bathrooms, if they are willing
Photos are the most useful item on that list. Two pictures of a kitchen tell you more than any square footage number.
Walkthrough or remote quote?
Remote quotes based on a form and photos are faster and save you a drive. They work well for standard recurring cleans in average-condition homes.
In-person walkthroughs make sense for large homes, move-out cleans, homes that have not been cleaned in a long time, and anything that feels unclear. They take time, but they also build trust and let you meet the client.
A middle path many cleaners use: quote remotely, but state that the price is confirmed after the first visit. If the home is in very different condition than described, you will discuss it before continuing.
Choose how you will price it
Most cleaners quote one of three ways: a flat price per visit, an hourly rate with an estimated number of hours, or a flat price for the first deep clean followed by a lower recurring price. Flat pricing is easier for clients to accept. Hourly protects you when you are unsure. Whatever you choose, the quote should make it obvious. Our guide on how much to charge for house cleaning goes deeper on setting the actual numbers.
What every cleaning quote should include
- Your business details: name, phone, email, website.
- Client details: name and service address.
- Quote date and expiry: for example, valid for 30 days.
- Type and frequency of service.
- What is included, room by room or as a checklist.
- What is not included, so there are no surprises.
- Price, with any first-clean price shown separately from the recurring price.
- Add-ons with their own prices.
- Assumptions, such as the condition you based the price on.
- Key policies: cancellation notice, payment timing, lockouts.
- How to accept: reply to confirm, sign, or book online.
A simple house cleaning quote template
Copy this into a document, email or invoicing app and fill in the brackets.
[YOUR BUSINESS NAME] [Phone] | [Email] | [Website] CLEANING QUOTE Quote date: [date] Valid until: [date] Prepared for: [Client name] Service address: [Address] SERVICE Type: [Standard / Deep / Move-out] Frequency: [One time / Weekly / Every 2 weeks / Monthly] Home: [beds] bed, [baths] bath, approx. [sq ft] sq ft INCLUDED - Kitchen: counters, sink, stovetop, outside of appliances, cabinet fronts, floors - Bathrooms: toilet, tub/shower, sink, mirrors, floors - Living areas and bedrooms: dust reachable surfaces, vacuum, mop hard floors, make beds (linens left out) - Empty trash cans NOT INCLUDED (available as add-ons) - Inside oven: [price] - Inside fridge: [price] - Interior windows: [price] - Laundry: [price] PRICE First clean: [price] Recurring clean: [price] per visit Add-ons selected: [list and price] NOTES Price is based on the home being in [described] condition. If conditions differ a lot, we will talk before starting. Cancellation: please give [X] hours notice. Payment: due [on the day of service / by card on file]. TO ACCEPT Reply "Approved" or book at [link]. Thank you, [Your name]
Tips for sending quotes that get accepted
- Send it fast. A quote sent the same day often beats a cheaper one sent three days later.
- Offer a recurring option every time, even when they asked for a one-time clean.
- Keep the format the same for every client so you can send quotes quickly and compare them later.
- Follow up once a few days later if you hear nothing. Many people simply forget.
- Save every quote, accepted or not. Over time you will learn how long different homes really take.
When the job is bigger than the quote
It will happen. You arrive and the home is in much worse shape than the photos suggested. Do not quietly absorb the extra hours, and do not surprise the client with a bigger bill afterward. Stop, explain what you see, point to the condition note in your quote, and offer options: a revised price, or focusing on the most important rooms within the original time. Clients usually respect a cleaner who handles this calmly and in the moment.
Get quote and booking forms built for you
Our house cleaning starter kit includes a branded website with instant quotes by home size, booking and quote forms, recurring booking and a supply checklist. We build it once 25 people vote for it, and voters get 20% off at launch. Vote for the house cleaning kit.
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Consumer and contract rules vary by state, so check your local requirements before you rely on it.
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