Raising Rates on House Cleaning Gigs - Know-It-All Clients Driving Me Nuts in North Jersey

SpotlessSteve

·1mo·36 replies·37 participants

SpotlessSteve⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo

127

Man, these house cleaning clients in north jersey think they can tell me how to do my job after I quote them $150 for a 2-hour deep clean with my Hoover commercial vac. One lady last week spent 20 minutes arguing she could get it cheaper from some guy on Craigslist, but I stuck to my guns and raised my base rate to $75/hour starting this month. It's infuriating when they nitpick every spot I missed while ignoring the value of using pro-grade Method cleaners that don't leave residue. I've been at this 8 years, and if I don't hike prices now, I'll be burning out before 40. Who's dealing with the same pushback?

PipeLord42025⚒️ Journeyman1mo

send em a quick email explainin the increase due to higher costs on stuff like method cleaners and inflation, and offer a one-time 10% discount for loyal clients to soften the blow.

V6174🔧 Apprentice1mo

how do you even deal with those know-it-all clients without losin your cool, man?

RoofRat6⭐ Expert1mo

those know-it-all clients are the WORST, always thinkin they can haggle down to nothin while we bust our asses with pro gear. in north jersey, it's like every homeowner watched one youtube video and suddenly they're experts. screw the craigslist cheapskates, good on you for raisin rates to $75 an hour, they need to value the work or go elsewhere. we're all gettin screwed by this entitlement crap, time to band together and charge what we're worth.

AmpedUpAndy⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those cheap-ass north jersey clients are the WORST, always haggling like they're doing us a favor while expecting pro work for couch change.

SpringSpecialist7⚒️ Journeyman1mo

north jersey hagglers are like that one uncle at thanksgiving who thinks his two bits on turkey carving makes him the chef, but damn if they dont expect a five star meal for free.

PickMaster2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

yeah those know-it-all clients in north jersey are the worst, always thinkin they can haggle down to nothin while i bust my ass. been there with the craigslist lowballers tryin to undercut us legit cleaners, its frustratin as hell. stick to your guns man, better to lose em than burn out.

V7429🔧 Apprentice1mo

those cheapskate clients in jersey are the WORST, always haggling like theyre doing us a favor while we bust our asses with pro gear they couldnt handle.

HammerTimeHero3⚒️ Journeyman1mo

same shit up here in the tri-state area, clients always tryna haggle like they're the boss and i'm just some scrub with a mop, stick to your guns man.

HandyHank⚒️ Journeyman1mo

stick to that $75/hour rate and start weeding out the cheapskates by quoting higher for the know-it-alls, i lost too many good hours to craigslist bargain hunters before switching to jobber for better client screening.

LaminateLegend🔧 Apprentice1mo

bumped my rate to $90 an hour last month and the know-it-alls started vanishing, left me with clients who actually appreciate the work. jobber's quote templates make it easy to layer on extras for the pushy ones without the hassle.

CoilCleaner⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those north jersey know-it-alls are the WORST, always haggling like they're doing you a favor when they're just cheap bastards dodging pro work for some shady craigslist hack.

BrushStrokeBoss6⚒️ Journeyman1mo

had a lady once demand i use her 'special' sponges cuz mine 'probably scratch her antique cabinets' - ended up charging her double just to watch her squirm.

OpenerOperator⚒️ Journeyman1mo

had a client in north jersey last week insist on 'eco-friendly' wipes that fell apart mid-job, now my hands are wrecked and im charging her an extra $50 next time just cuz.

NotAnElectrician24⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those know-it-all clients are the worst... had one insist on my using their cheap microfiber rags cuz mine would 'ruin' her marble counters, and i still charged full price just to shut her up.

PaintSplatPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo

stick to your $75/hour and hand 'em an option sheet with add-ons like $20 for baseboards or $15 for windows, weeds out the cheapskates quick.

ColorCraze2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

stick to that $75/hour and start requiring a 50% deposit upfront to weed out the cheapskates. i've been using method cleaners too and clients love how streak-free they leave the counters, makes upselling easier.

VentVet2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those know-it-all clients in north jersey are the WORST, always nitpicking like they know more than you after watching one youtube video. i've had 'em tell me my method cleaners aren't eco enough while their house looks like a hoarder special. started charging 'em an extra 20% for the attitude, weeds out the bs fast. shoulda done it years ago, my sanity thanks me.

PipeDreamer21⚒️ Journeyman1mo

deposits are for wimps, i just tell those know-it-all clients to clean their own damn houses if they think they can do it cheaper, and half the time they come crawling back begging for my services.

SewerSurfer2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

send 'em an email breaking down why your rates are going up, like how method cleaners and that hoover vac cut cleaning time by 20% without the cheap crap residue. frame it as value add, not just inflation BS, and give 'em a heads up with 30 days notice so they dont feel blindsided. works for me every time with the picky ones.

ACWhisperer🏆 Master1mo

north jersey clients are the worst for that nitpicky BS, been arguing rates with em for years. stick to your guns, man, or you'll regret it like i almost did.

DoorJammer4⚒️ Journeyman1mo

send out a polite email explaining the rate hike due to supply costs goin up 20% this year and highlight how your method cleaners keep things spotless without residue. most clients i've had stick around once they see the value in not dealin with cheap knockoffs.

V7028🔧 Apprentice1mo

screw the polite emails, just hike your rates 25% and let the know-it-alls walk, they aint worth the headache in north jersey anyway. real clients stick with quality, not bargain bin bs.

DirtDoctor⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those know-it-all clients in north jersey are the worst, always bitchin about prices while expectin miracles for pennies.

CoatCaptain⚒️ Journeyman1mo

try switching to a simple option sheet with your base $75/hr rate plus add-ons like $20 for windows or $15 for baseboards; it shuts down the nitpicking by showing them exactly what they're paying for and makes the value crystal clear.

VentMaster5⚒️ Journeyman1mo

man, those north jersey know-it-alls are the worst, always thinking they can haggle like it's a flea market while i'm scrubbing their grout. tried explaining the value once and the lady hit me with 'but my cousin does it for less' - eye roll for days. option sheets are a godsend tho, keeps the bs at bay.

PipeLord42023⚒️ Journeyman1mo

next time your cousin pops up, just say 'cool, send her over with her own supplies and i'll supervise for $50 an hour' - watch the haggling vanish like their dirty grout.

ScrewLoose2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those north jersey cheapskates hagglin over every damn dust bunny pisses me off too, had one try to knock 20 bucks off a 150 job last week cuz her 'friend does it cheaper' - total BS.

HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert1mo

man, those know-it-all clients in north jersey are the worst, always thinkin they can haggle down every detail like they're runnin a flea market. been there with my hardwood jobs, quotin fair and they still nitpick the grain or whatever. option sheets helped me too, keeps em from turnin it into a damn debate.

V4848🌱 Newcomer1mo

those know-it-all clients make me wanna quit this gig every damn time they nitpick my $75 an hour like im stealin from em.

PinTumblerPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those know-it-all clients in north jersey are the WORST, always think they can haggle down your hard work like it's some flea market deal.

DrainDiver2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those know-it-all clients are the WORST, always haggling like they're doing us a favor while we bust our asses with pro gear. north jersey folks especially think they deserve the world for pennies, and it's screwing over every cleaner trying to make a living. screw the craigslist cheapskates, raise those rates and let em walk if they cant see the value.

GreenThumbGuy⚒️ Journeyman1mo

those cheap-ass north jersey clients are the WORST, always thinking they can lowball us with their craigslist BS while we bust our asses with pro gear and still get nitpicked.

V4923🔧 Apprentice1mo

try emailing your clients a polite note about the $10-15 bump to cover rising supply costs like those method cleaners, most'll just nod and keep booking if your work's solid.

V1188🔧 Apprentice1mo

Don't bend on those rates, but document every complaint in writing or you'll end up with freebies that kill your margins.

HardwoodHero4⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Yeah, had a client try to dock me $50 for 'missed' baseboards that weren't even in the contract. Sent an invoice with photos proving it done right, and they paid up. But it ate two hours I could've billed elsewhere.

SparkFryer🌱 Newcomer1mo

Same crap here, clients act like they're doing you a favor by hiring pros instead of their lazy cousin with a Swiffer. I just walk away now if they push back too hard.