How to compare cleaning quotes for the same job

The short method: send everyone the same brief

Describe the home or premises once, including the date, current condition, priorities and access constraints. Send the same details to every provider. Without a shared starting point, two prices measure different jobs.

Separate essential tasks from optional extras. For example: “Kitchen and bathroom first; oven interior only if priced separately.” If you include photos, send the same views to both providers. A photo of one tidy bathroom does not show the condition of the rest of the property.

What belongs in a quote comparison worksheet?

Make a column for each quote and fill every row with an answer you can check. Write “to confirm” where a quote is silent; silence does not mean an item is included.

How do you read the total price?

Ask for the total for the described job, then a list of extras and how they are charged. “Starting at” is not a final price. Check whether tax is included, whether parking adds cost and what happens if the actual condition differs from the photos. Approve any scope change before the extra work begins.

Do not assume the quote with the most hours is best. Time depends on crew size, tools, condition and detail level. Compare the promised result and written limits first.

Which vague claims need a follow-up question?

“Complete cleaning” without a room list or exclusions needs clarification. So does a promise that old stains, mineral deposits or odours will certainly disappear without inspecting the surfaces. Ask the provider directly about insurance and responsibility; do not infer terms from a website slogan.

For a move, add the key handover time. For an office, add the alarm, restricted zones and person who signs off. For a condo, note elevator booking. These omitted details often change the job on the day.

What if the quotes still describe different work?

Send one precise question to each provider: “Can you confirm whether empty cabinet interiors and window tracks are included in this total?” Request an updated written quote. If a provider will not define the work, the comparison cannot be reliable.

Keep the brief, photos and answers with the final confirmation. A clear worksheet helps both parties: it records which surface was included, what counted as an extra and when access was arranged.