“Clean the house” can mean a two-hour maintenance visit, a full day of household support, or a one-time deep clean. A useful role description identifies the space, priority tasks, frequency, and expected result before a candidate quotes a rate or accepts the work.
Choose the service model
Decide whether you need:
- recurring maintenance cleaning;
- an occasional deep clean;
- move-in or move-out cleaning;
- a housekeeper who also handles laundry, organization, groceries, or meal preparation;
- live-in household support.
A cleaner usually focuses on cleaning tasks. A housekeeper may manage a wider set of recurring household duties. Use the title that best reflects the real work and list every major responsibility.
Make a room-by-room scope
Walk through the home and record the rooms included, approximate size, number of bathrooms, flooring, stairs, and areas that are out of scope. For each room, distinguish routine work from periodic tasks.
For example, routine kitchen cleaning may include counters, sink, cooktop, appliance exteriors, and floors. Cleaning inside an oven, refrigerator, or cupboards may be a periodic deep-clean task requiring extra time.
State the condition honestly
Pet hair, heavy grease, renovation dust, clutter, mould concerns, smoking, or a long gap between cleanings can change the time, equipment, and safety requirements. Share clear information or photos with consent before asking for a quote. Do not surprise a worker with hazardous waste, needles, pest contamination, or unsafe conditions.
Specialized remediation and some high-risk tasks require trained services, not an ordinary housekeeper.
Decide on supplies and equipment
List who provides the vacuum, mop, cloths, gloves, and products. Note surfaces that need specific care—natural stone, hardwood, stainless steel, antiques, or delicate finishes. If fragrance-free or allergy-related products are essential, specify them.
Never ask a worker to mix chemicals. Store products in labelled containers and provide ventilation and safety information.
Add household logistics
Explain pets, children or adults at home, parking, elevator booking, alarm systems, cameras, keys, entry codes, and preferred arrival windows. Decide whether the person works while the family is home and how private workspaces are handled.
Estimate frequency and time
Choose a schedule based on priorities and budget. If the desired task list cannot fit the available hours, rank work into “every visit,” “rotate,” and “when time permits.” A realistic scope prevents rushing and repeated disappointment.
Set budget and employment expectations
Clarify hourly versus per-visit pricing, cancellation rules, supplies, overtime, taxes or payroll as applicable, and whether the arrangement is an employment relationship or a genuinely independent service. The facts of control, tools, schedule, and relationship matter more than the label.
Create the final brief
Include location, home size, frequency, priority rooms, exact tasks, exclusions, supplies, pets, access, proposed schedule, start date, and compensation range. Use this same brief when contacting candidates, conducting the walkthrough, and writing the agreement.
Once the scope is realistic, browse housekeeper and cleaner profiles and compare people against the same requirements.