Cleaning Quotes, Decoded: What’s Included, What Isn’t, and What You Should Ask

Note: The examples below are illustrative. They are not Get Set Clean prices. Get Set Clean does not provide full oven cleaning; we perform a light wipe only. Our minimum booking length is 2 hours per job, even for a two-cleaner crew.

There is nothing more deflating than two quotes that look the same on price, only for one of them to sprout hidden extras later. A bit like buying a pretty lamp and discovering the bulb is sold separately. In London, where parking, access and timing can turn even a simple clean into a small production, the difference between a fair quote and a vague one is huge.

Think of this as your friendly decoder. By the end, you will know exactly what belongs in a proper cleaning quote, how to compare like for like, and which tiny phrases are secret red flags.

The anatomy of a fair cleaning quote

A clear quote tells you what is included, how long it will take, who is doing what, and what happens if something goes wrong. If any of the following parts are missing, circle back and ask.

Scope room by room
List the standard tasks for each room, and call out any deep items separately. Examples: bathroom limescale removal, interior windows, appliance exteriors, skirting boards.
If you need a full oven clean, confirm if it is offered by a specialist. Get Set Clean provides a light wipe only.

Time and team
You should see people multiplied by time, plus an arrival window. For example: 2 cleaners x 1.5 hours, arrival between 11:30 and 12:00, finish by 14:00.
Get Set Clean minimum booking length is 2 hours per job, even when two cleaners attend.

Access and logistics
Parking arrangements, ULEZ or congestion, concierge or lift bookings, key handover or smart lock codes. London loves a rule. You want them noted and priced in, not left to chance.

Linen and consumables
Who supplies bedding and towels, and how they arrive. Are toiletries, bin liners and dishwasher tablets included, or will they use your stock.
With Get Set Clean, linen can be delivered on the day of cleaning if you use our service.

Proof of completion
Photo set, checklist sign off, or both. This protects you and speeds up any fixes.

Peak day policy
What happens on Sundays and bank holidays. Is there a surcharge and how is it calculated.

Guarantee or recall window
If something is missed, how long do you have to request a return visit, and how that process works.

VAT
Included or added. If it is not stated, ask. Surprises at invoice stage are never chic.

Tip to pin on your fridge: if it is not written, assume it is not included.

Side by side example: the same flat, two very different quotes

Illustrative only, not GSC pricing.

Imagine a one bedroom flat in Zone 2 with a checkout at 10:00 and a new guest at 15:00.

Quote A

• Scope: general clean; interior windows excluded; appliances exterior wipe only
• Time: 1 cleaner, approximately 2 hours, finish when done
• Access: parking to be confirmed
• Proof: none provided
• Linen: client to supply on the day
• Peak days: Sunday surcharge to be confirmed
• VAT: not included
• Total shown: £60

Likely reality: parking later added at £25, interior windows added at £15, VAT added at 20 percent. Real cost around £102, plus the stress of chasing photos and timings.

Quote B

• Scope: general clean plus bathroom limescale focus, interior windows, high touch sanitising; appliance exteriors included
• Time: 2 cleaners x 1.5 hours, arrival between 11:30 and 12:00, complete by 14:00
• Access: parking included and pre arranged, key code confirmed
• Proof: photo set and checklist uploaded at finish
• Linen: can be delivered on the day and beds made
• Peak days: surcharge may apply and is disclosed upfront
• VAT: included
• Total shown: £95

Likely reality: £95. No extras, no surprises.

Where the difference goes: parking, interior windows, VAT, proof, and the certainty that someone will be there at the right time with the right kit.

Red flags and green lights

Red flags
“From £…”
“Finish when done”
“Deep clean if needed on the day”
“Parking TBC”
“No photos”
“VAT n/a”

Green lights
Fixed room by room scope
People multiplied by time with a clear window
Access and parking written down
Photo proof and checklist
Peak day policy disclosed
VAT clearly included or excluded

How to compare quotes in three simple steps

Step 1. Match the scope.
Add any missing items to the cheaper quote and ask for the new total. Interior windows and bathroom limescale are frequent outliers. For ovens, confirm if a specialist is required.

Step 2. Match the logistics.
Ask both providers to include parking, access time and proof. If one cannot confirm those items, you already have your answer.

Step 3. Match the calendar.
If your clean sits on a Sunday or bank holiday, request the exact surcharge or a plan to avoid it by staging most of the work earlier with a light reset on the day.

London specific FAQs

Why do some quotes leave out parking and ULEZ?
Because the cost varies by postcode and time. Ask for an inclusive price or a capped allowance.

Do I really need photo proof?
Yes. It prevents back and forth, shows you exactly what guests will see, and makes any recall painless. Three angles per room usually does it.

Is a Sunday surcharge fair?
Often, yes. Fewer staff and trickier access make the same standard more expensive to deliver. The trick is to pay for the premium only when it protects your reviews and revenue.

What if something is missed?
Look for a recall window, typically 24 to 48 hours, and a simple way to request it.

What about ovens?
Many providers treat full oven cleaning as a separate specialist service. Get Set Clean provides a light wipe only.

What is the minimum booking length?
With Get Set Clean, the minimum is 2 hours per job. This applies even when a two cleaner team attends.

A gentle script for clarifying a vague quote

Hello, thank you for the quote.
To compare like for like, could you confirm:

1. Room by room scope, and whether interior windows and bathroom limescale are included
2. Time and team, for example 2 cleaners x 1.5 hours, with an arrival window
3. Access and parking, including any charges or permits
4. Proof of completion, such as photos and a signed checklist
5. Policy for Sundays and bank holidays, including any surcharge
6. Whether VAT is included in the total
7. Whether full oven cleaning is offered or requires a specialist

Once I have these details I can confirm the booking.
Thank you.

What a transparent provider looks like

• Scope is detailed and separates standard from deep work
• People multiplied by time with a clear arrival window
• Access, parking and building quirks are written down
• Photos and checklist are standard, not special request
• Peak days are explained with options to plan around them
• VAT is visible, not hiding at invoice stage
• A named contact and a recall process are included
• Minimum booking rules are stated clearly

It feels calm. Not because life is calm, but because the plan is.

If you want the calm without the homework

At Get Set Clean we build quotes the way we would like to receive them. Clear scope, fixed window, photo proof, VAT shown, and a simple plan for peak days. We are upfront about what we include and what we do not, such as full oven cleaning. Our minimum booking length is 2 hours per job, even with a two cleaner team. We can also decode a competitor quote if you are unsure what is included.

Ready for a transparent quote or want us to decode one you already have? Get in touch and we will make it easy.

TLDR

Match scope, logistics and calendar before you compare price. Ask for parking, access and proof in writing. Treat Sunday and bank holiday surcharges as a tool, not a tax. Pay them when they protect your reviews. Skip them when a weekday plan and a quick reset will do. For ovens, use a specialist. For Get Set Clean bookings, remember the 2 hour minimum per job.