Cleaning company needed

[mark pale]

Can anyone recommend a good cleaning company that will clean in Sandestin? I've called several in the book and most don't service Sandestin. I finally got one company to do it "DAYSTAR CLEAING" but they would only take new homes on 'an hourly basis' and that bill turned out to be $215! and this is a 3 bedrom 1900 sq home were talking about. any suggestions?

[Mermaid]

Can anyone recommend a good cleaning company that will clean in Sandestin? I've called several in the book and most don't service Sandestin. I finally got one company to do it "DAYSTAR CLEAING" but they would only take new homes on 'an hourly basis' and that bill turned out to be $215! and this is a 3 bedrom 1900 sq home were talking about. any suggestions?

Actually, Mark, $215 for that much square footage is not as unreasonable as you might think. You wouldn't believe some of the cleaning bills my friends pay on their beach cottages.

You might want to send a private message to one of our fellow posters, Tivoli. She has a big condo over at Sandestin. She might point you in the right direction.

[Smiling JOe]

If it will make you feel better about the $215 quote, I will clean your house for $300. Let me tell you now, if they do a good job and show up, you have yourself a bargain. Look for the prices to increase even more as affordable housing gets pushed further and further away from this area and as more rental units are built.

[tivoli]

Can anyone recommend a good cleaning company that will clean in Sandestin? I've called several in the book and most don't service Sandestin. I finally got one company to do it "DAYSTAR CLEAING" but they would only take new homes on 'an hourly basis' and that bill turned out to be $215! and this is a 3 bedrom 1900 sq home were talking about. any suggestions?

Mark,
PM me and I will give you my guy's name from Sandestin.... Price for
Sandestin is $200.00 a week and our Summer's Edge....$275.00.....
I would highly recommend him. I have worked with him for two years
now and he is dependable and our rentals are immaculate. Believe me,
I'm anal about our cleaning and have never been disappointed in anyway!!
Please feel free to PM me and I will give you his name and business number...
Have a great day!
Tivoli

[Mermaid]

Mark,
PM me and I will give you my guy's name from Sandestin.... Price for
Sandestin is $200.00 a week and our Summer's Edge....$275.00.....
I would highly recommend him. I have worked with him for two years
now and he is dependable and our rentals are immaculate. Believe me,
I'm anal about our cleaning and have never been disappointed in anyway!!
Please feel free to PM me and I will give you his name and business number...
Have a great day!
Tivoli

I've never seen cleaner places than yours, Tivoli. You don't exaggerate! Any cleaning person that meets your standards is on the Gold Standard and is worth the cost.

[Beachlover2]

Mark

I sent you a PM about someone I can recommend

[goin' coastal]

Wow, I am confused why it cost so much in this area for cleaning. I live in Nashville and upper end cost for cleaning a home this size is $100. I am very respectful of anyone who does housekeeping for a living, but one person can clean 2 homes in an 8hr day. That is $420-550 per day???? I do not know anyone in health care(RN's, Lab, x-ray, or ultrasound technologist), police, firemen, or teachers who make anywhere near this salary in our area. These are college education folks and if you do not get the ring out of the bathtub nobody DIES.Who gets the money? the agency?or the worker bee?
The cheapest rentals in Nashville is about $650-750 mo for a one bedroom in a dangerous part of town. My daughter cleaned houses in college and grad school and if she made this she would still be doing it.
We have a friend who has a 2Br unit at sandestin. I will try to find out who does the cleaning. He would never pay this rate. I am just old and believe whatever you do just do it well-- be respectful of others and have a loving heart. I am upset if paying guest come to my rental and it is not clean.

[Beachlover2]

I have townhomes off Old 98 (Miramar Beach) 1200 sf and pay $75.00 -

[Smiling JOe]

Wow, I am confused why it cost so much in this area for cleaning. I live in Nashville and upper end cost for cleaning a home this size is $100. I am very respectful of anyone who does housekeeping for a living, but one person can clean 2 homes in an 8hr day. That is $420-550 per day???

But how many 2000sf homes can one person clean between 10a-4pm on Saturday?

[lindatat]

But how many 2000sf homes can one person clean between 10a-4pm on Saturday?

Um, one maybe???????

[goin' coastal]

I would think two homes in a six hour period. The home this person ask about was 1900sq ft 3BR. I am lucky enough at this time in my life to have help with house cleaning. I have worked in health care all my life and it is hard physical work at times also. My housekeepers here in Nashville are a mother and daughter team that clean a 2100sq ft house in 2 hours and do a good job. I pay them $75. We both are grateful for this agreement. They clean 2-4 houses a day and drive across town.
Rental houses should be left with dishes in the dishwasher, trash taken out etc--that is the policy. Maybe salaries are just better there.

I do understand your point about only working on Sat. but some rentals are Sun rentals also. Either way you only working one or two days a weekday which is very different than working a 5 day work week with evening and night shifts. Compare the salary at $12-25 hour for the health care workers, service workers--some with benefits some without--should they choose to work less than a 40hr work week. Do folks down there only need cleaning for rentals? I would imagine the full time residents would prefer cleaning during the week.

[SHELLY]

The cheapest rentals in Nashville is about $650-750 mo for a one bedroom in a dangerous part of town.

There are no "cheapest rentals" in and around SoWal for services workers to live (low rent neighborhoods have been mowed down to make way for "upscale" subdivisions)....therefore service workers face long commutes to SoWal. With the recent massive increase in the number of vacation homes/condos in the area requiring cleaning services; the fact that we are in the high summer season; and fewer workers willing to commute (on those very dangerous and gas-guzzling roads everyone talks about), makes for a notable increase in demand for locally available cleaning service. Dwindling supply of service workers + higher demand for said service = upward pressure on price.

Those folks who already live in area can pick up some quick spending money for a bit of part-time work. They know that these absentee owners cannot operate without the service they provide, therefore they can demand top price for their service (and the best service merits a higher price)--it's simply the result of economics and capitalism at work.

[Smiling JOe]

Ditto Shelly. Supply and demand. The demand of housekeepers (reliable ones) is extremely high and the supply of those housekeepers, extremely low. Typically, the housekeeping fee is placed on top of the rental cost, as is the tax. In the end, it is the rentor who is charged for the cleaning.

[goin' coastal]

I have a 3BR home that I have rented as a vacation rental for 5 yrs. I have ALWAYS paid the cleaning fee even on a 3 night rental. I have only increased my rates once and it is reasonable. This is the first year I have not been booked solid and have reduced rates considerably to fill it. I felt one person could do 2 houses in a day because I clean mine before I leave( out by 10AM) to assure it is SPARKLING for the next guests.

Yes, it does seem very dangerous to drive on 98. The commute must be much greater than my city. People in Nashville drive at least 25-30 minutes one way to jobs, some as long as one hour or more. Many folks must live in other counties just to be able to own a home, but no one speaks about it much. It is just a given. My husband is from Long Island and it is the same there.

Thank you both for elaborating on the supply and demand--just like the real estate market now flooded with property no one desires.

Please do not think I am disrespectful about cleaning crews. I have worked very hard since I was 14yrs old. Owning a home in South Walton is truly a dream realized. I get the impression sometimes people think all the second home owners are rich, selfish people. It is certainly not the case with us. We love South Walton and this website that keeps me connected to the area. Also my wonderful v-tour provided by Kurt.
With taxes and insurance in the area so HIGH I may be down to clean some houses to help pay them. I have done much worse jobs in my life than clean a beautiful beach house.

[Smiling JOe]

I have a 3BR home that I have rented as a vacation rental for 5 yrs. I have ALWAYS paid the cleaning fee even on a 3 night rental. I have only increased my rates once and it is reasonable. This is the first year I have not been booked solid and have reduced rates considerably to fill it. I felt one person could do 2 houses in a day because I clean mine before I leave( out by 10AM) to assure it is SPARKLING for the next guests.

Come on down. We could use some more housekeepers.

There is notable difference between you cleaning your own rental house for other guests prior to 10am and cleaning a rental house which has been trashed by rentors for a week, not to mention that there are still rentors in those homes at 10am and more on the way by 4pm, some knocking on the door even earlier in hopes to get settled in. If I had a rental home in which I was staying and knew I was going to clean if for guests upon my departure, I would keep if fairly clean the entire stay. Do not assume that most rentors do not do this when staying in a rental home which is not theirs. They could give a rat's @ss about housekeeping.

Remember that the 3 bedroom house which is 2000 sf may boast that it sleeps 20 people. Twenty people could leave a whole lot of mess, especially if kids or alcohol is involved.

[Beach Crazy]

I have a suggestion and if I were single I would do this in a minute if the opportunity arose. People that build the big huge homes for rental income should also include a separate maid's quarters. Let the maid live rent free in exchange for keeping the house in tip top shape. Also some yard maintenance, etc. A person could then live in SoWal AND get a job at one of the restaurants or get other cleaning jobs for food, etc. and have all this without having to commute. Now that my dear single funn friends......would be AWESOME!

[goin' coastal]

Yeah, we are pretty clean folks anyway. The people you speak of ---who do not give the RA's must have been in our place last spring. Pee on my best King mattress!

Who in their right mind would advertise a 3BR for 20 people? Yes, I am sure I would be shocked how some leave units. Is this the reason people pay deposits and are they not held for a mess? I know the housekeeper did not report the mess to my agency.

I have a tendency to expect from others what I would do. I am sometimes disappointed. I am co-dependant anyway ,but working on it!

[goin' coastal]

I think this is a great idea! Wonder how may people would be interested and do a good job? I have tried to barter weekly vacations for work and not had much luck. Would like to find a winter rentor for such. OR trade a weeks vacation to a sowal residents out of town family to inventory my house after guests leave.

[Beach Crazy]

I think this is a great idea! Wonder how may people would be interested and do a good job? I have tried to barter weekly vacations for work and not had much luck. Would like to find a winter rentor for such. OR trade a weeks vacation to a sowal residents out of town family to inventory my house after guests leave.

That's also a great idea!!! I hope we get royalties if anybody uses them!

[Smiling JOe]

I have a suggestion and if I were single I would do this in a minute if the opportunity arose. People that build the big huge homes for rental income should also include a separate maid's quarters. Let the maid live rent free in exchange for keeping the house in tip top shape. Also some yard maintenance, etc. A person could then live in SoWal AND get a job at one of the restaurants or get other cleaning jobs for food, etc. and have all this without having to commute. Now that my dear single funn friends......would be AWESOME!

Just like "Charles in Charge." I think it is a great idea. TWT 512 also has been pushing for guest houses in SoWal to use for the same purpose. What a waste of space so many people have - empty guest houses. As you state, it could solve so many labor problems. I think the County should strongly encourage it. Estate Managers. Heck, you wouldn't even need a rental company. The Estate Manager would greet the guests, issue keys, give a brief tour of the home pointing out the Guest Book along with Do's and Don'ts of the area. Upon departure, the Estate Manager would handle the check out and clean the unit for the new guests. Marvelous idea!!!

[goin' coastal]

What is TWT 512? I guess this was somehow offensive????? I do not have a guest house anyway.

[Smiling JOe]

What is TWT 512? I guess this was somehow offensive????? I do not have a guest house anyway.

[ame="http://www.sowal.com/bb/member.php?u=174"]SoWal Beaches Forum[/ame]

not offensive, just a SoWaller.

[Beach Crazy]

Just like "Charles in Charge." I think it is a great idea. TWT 512 also has been pushing for guest houses in SoWal to use for the same purpose. What a waste of space so many people have - empty guest houses. As you state, it could solve so many labor problems. I think the County should strongly encourage it. Estate Managers. Heck, you wouldn't even need a rental company. The Estate Manager would greet the guests, issue keys, give a brief tour of the home pointing out the Guest Book along with Do's and Don'ts of the area. Upon departure, the Estate Manager would handle the check out and clean the unit for the new guests. Marvelous idea!!!

Shoot, go ahead and sign me & my hubby up! What's a little money to give up when we quit our jobs. Talk about a stress free work environment!

The only stipulation we have is that we'll need to work next door to each other!!

[Maidnwaiting]

Hi, I clean condos in destin for resort quest and i get 25.00 for a 1 bedroom 1 bath so that does seem a little high but maybe im just under paid lol. I worked 2 summers in panama and got 80.00 for a 3 bed room 3 bath but after they bumped the pay down to 65.00 i quit for the job in destin. Anyone interested in having your condo cleaned i might be interested depending on the pay.

[Indigo Jill]

I'm a local and have used 2 cleaning services over the 5+ years I've been here. $200+ dollars that you paid for a 3 BR, 1900sq.ft. home sounds crazy to me, too! I have a 3 BR, 1600+sq.ft. home in Point Washington, two active and crazy boys who are home a lot and a dog (read: lots of mess!) The first service I used (Kasia) came 2x a month and charged $75 each visit. They were really good and thorough and my mom still uses them - they even cleaned my ceiling fans and swept my large wrap around porches. They got too busy in the high season and couldn't commit to coming at a certain time (and I hated to pack the kids up on short notice and vacate for the time they were there) so I changed companies. The second company I used was Bab's cleaning who came once a week and charged me $50 each visit. Again, they were really really good but my discretionary income has temporarily tightened so I had to stop the service much to my dismay. I will be calling them (Bab's Cleaning) again, though, once I am able to! PM me if you would like either of their numbers.

[swantree]

I have several cleaners on hand. PM me i'll help. I have a few that clean the pink villa's in front of the Hilton!

[beachbum67]

You have very good points in these discussions, first let me say I have cleaned condo/houses on the beach for 8 years and you would not beleive some on the things these housekeepers have to clean. Crap (literally) on the floors, tables, counters, maggots on the stove where things have sit there for weeks, this was mostly found when I worked with a local rental company because they don't want to send no one in to clean it until a couple hours before someone is coming in. Where people have thrown up on the beds, couches from getting drunk you would have to haul out so many beer and whiskey bottles. That is the main reason I work for my self cleaning now. When my home owner calls and tells me the guest left a day early or they leave regular time I go that same day or no later than the next to make sure there are no food or messes left that will create greater messes left unseen about. I don't enjoy cleaning them kind of messes, but in this business you have to take the good with the bad. I enjoy my job very much I take alot of pride in my job. I drive 175 miles aday or more depending on where my houses are. 175 is just from my house to Seagrove. I work off season about 3 days a week and peak 6 & 7 days a week. My point I am making is if you have a good housekeeper keep them and treat them good because most of us that clean drive out of town and you might have 2 good houses out of 5 that is not what we call a wreck or trashed. In peak season we don't have time to be taken a break every 5 minutes if you gonna do 2 or 3 large houses a day and do a good job you don't have time to be playing you got to work and work hard. So I appricate the ones that understand the price we charge and make is very well deserved. I

[tobiejo]

I clean houses and condo's as a side job for much less...reply to this message or email me at tobiejo (at) hotmail (dot) com.

[jkuhn]

For a 1900sf house that price is not to bad. My company is Emerald Clean and will do that size for about 225.00. We are very reliable, and do an absolutly perfect job everytime. We will be proudly serving Destin and all the surrounding areas starting June 15th. You can call us at 724-448-7454 or email Emerald Clean at jkuhn629@yahoo.com

[Smiling JOe]

If I were in the cleaning business, I would consider charging less for a regular, once a week visit to a primary residence than I would for a rental home of the same size. I've seen what people do in rental homes. In rentals units, I've seen vomit, poop, shrimp peelings left on the table, red wine stains on the ceiling, etc. A 1900sf rental home probably boasts of sleeping 12 people, which they probably get on occasion. The same size primary home probably rarely sleeps as many as 5 people. Knowing the amount of time it takes to thoroughly clean my own house, I would say that $225 might be a good price to get someone to drive to your house, provide cleaning supplies and equipment, and clean up your trash. Cleaning your own mess is one thing, but cleaning another's isn't nearly as nice.

[neice]

If you are in need of a cleaning service call me I would be glad to do your cleaning. I have my own cleaning service, I have been cleaning 8 years and 5 of those on my own. I do rental, residental, construction, remoldeling, move in and outs. Basically any kind of cleaning you need I will do and it is guarnteed satifaction. It does not matter if it takes 4 hours or 24 hours the price is the same and I will not be finished until you are happy. Please call or email if you still need a cleaner.

Neice's Super A+ Cleaning
shilohgirl67@yahoo.com
850-419-3298 cell & work
334-858-8846 home
call or email anytime day or night. Any work will be greatly appricated.

[BABS CLEANING A]

Thanks for the good things you said about my company, BABS CLEANING
IT MEANS A LOT .