How can I compare two house-cleaning quotes that include different tasks?
Quick answer
Compare the work, not just the total. Write down the rooms, tasks, frequency, supplies, and exclusions in each quote, then ask both cleaners to price the same scope. Mark anything unclear as “confirm” rather than assuming it is included. Keep optional tasks separate from the regular visit, and compare the final quoted totals only after you understand what each covers.
The question, the details, the next step.
I have two house-cleaning quotes, but one lists rooms and the other lists tasks. How do I compare them fairly?
Make a shared comparison sheet and translate both quotes into it. Use the same rooms and task rows for each cleaner. For example, list the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and common areas, then note tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning sinks. Write “not stated” wherever a quote does not say whether something is included. That is different from “not included”: it means you need to ask.
Also record the visit frequency and whether the price is for a one-time clean or recurring service. The goal is not to guess which cleaner means more; it is to get both offers described in comparable terms.
One quote says “two bathrooms,” while the other says “clean bathrooms.” What should I ask?
Ask what each phrase covers, using specific tasks rather than a general label. You could ask whether the quote includes the toilet, sink, mirror, shower or tub, and floor, and whether both bathrooms are included. Ask the same questions of both cleaners.
Clarify room counts and boundaries elsewhere too. If “kitchen” could mean counters and sink but not the outside of appliances, write that distinction down. Focus on tasks you care about and anything that could change the scope. Keep the cleaner’s wording next to your notes so you can distinguish confirmed details from your interpretation.
What about supplies, frequency, and extra tasks like inside the oven?
Give each of those its own line. For supplies, ask whether the cleaner brings them, whether you provide any, and whether a particular product or tool is needed. For frequency, compare the same schedule—such as every two weeks—rather than lining up a recurring quote against a one-time visit without noting the difference.
Put inside the oven, inside the refrigerator, or other occasional jobs under “optional/add-on,” not in the regular-cleaning scope unless both quotes include them. Ask whether an add-on is available and what it would cost. If you do not want a task, mark it “not requested” so it does not muddy the comparison.
Can you show me how to use the sheet without pretending the two quotes cover the same things?
Here is a fictional example to show the method, not a price recommendation. Suppose Quote A says “kitchen, two bathrooms, vacuum and mop,” and Quote B says “whole-home standard clean.” Leave the totals aside until you confirm the scope. You could write:
- Kitchen counters and sink: Quote A—details to confirm; Quote B—not stated. Ask both what is included.
- Bathrooms: Quote A—two bathrooms, tasks unclear; Quote B—“standard clean,” number and tasks unclear. Confirm both.
- Vacuuming and mopping: Quote A—stated, rooms unclear; Quote B—not stated. Confirm which rooms or floors.
- Supplies: Neither quote states who provides them. Ask both.
- Oven interior: Not stated. Keep it as an optional add-on.
- Visit frequency: Not stated. Request the same schedule.
After you get replies, update the notes with confirmed answers. Then ask each cleaner to quote that same regular scope and schedule, with optional jobs priced separately. If a cleaner cannot offer a task, record that instead of treating the offers as identical.
What should I send them so I get useful answers without a long back-and-forth?
Send a short scope request with your details in brackets and ask for corrections or confirmation. For example:
“Could you confirm or revise your quote for: [rooms and number of bathrooms]; [tasks wanted in each room]; [visit frequency]; and [who provides supplies]? Please list anything excluded or unclear. Please price [optional task, such as inside oven] separately, or say if you do not offer it. I’m comparing quotes for the same scope, so please identify any assumptions you have made.”
Before choosing, compare the confirmed regular scope, schedule, exclusions, and total. If one quote still has unanswered items, keep them visible and ask about them rather than filling the gaps yourself.
A practical checklist
List the rooms and number of bathrooms covered by each quote.
Match task details room by room; mark unclear items “confirm,” not “included.”
Compare the same visit frequency and distinguish one-time from recurring service.
Ask who supplies products and tools, and note any stated exclusions.
Move occasional jobs to a separate add-on list and request separate pricing.
Request an updated quote from each cleaner for the same confirmed scope.
A few more useful answers
Should I compare only the total price?
No. First confirm that the rooms, tasks, frequency, supplies, and exclusions match. A total is useful for comparison only when you understand what each quote covers.
What if a cleaner uses a vague phrase like “standard clean”?
Ask for the included tasks and rooms in plain terms, then record the answer in your comparison sheet. If an item remains unspecified, leave it marked as unclear.
Should occasional deep-cleaning jobs be part of the regular quote?
Keep them separate unless you specifically want them included in every visit. Ask whether each is available and request its cost separately.