Between Thanksgiving and New Year's, a home can host dinner, overnight guests and a party. Here is the split between what to do yourself and what to book in Philadelphia, with prices from our catalog.
Prices below are before sales tax and tips. Checkout charges to the cent; whole-dollar figures are budget estimates, not checkout rounding. The booking form checks your ZIP and shows the current total and calendar.
What to clean before guests arrive, and what to clean first
Start with the entry and the bathroom guests will use, then the kitchen, guest room and living room. These are the places visitors walk through, eat in or sleep in. Closets and spare drawers can wait. Our Standard checklist covers the following tasks:
| Room, in order | Why it comes first | What our Standard checklist covers there (verbatim) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entry, hall and stairs | Every guest walks it, and coats and bags land here | "Hallway & Staircases Vacuumed And/or Mopped", "Wipe Down Door Handles and Light Switches", "Floors Swept / Mopped / Vacuumed" |
| 2. Guest bathroom | Every guest uses it, usually more than once | "Clean Entire Toilet / Behind Toilet / Toilet Handle", "Clean Showerhead, Faucets, and Handles", "Neatly Fold & Hang Towels" |
| 3. Kitchen | Where everyone ends up during a holiday meal | "Countertop Disinfected And Wiped Down", "Wipe Down Refrigerator Front", "Clean and Empty Trash Cans" |
| 4. Guest room | Where an overnight guest spends time alone and notices details | "Vacuum Under Bedroom Frames", "Dust & Clean Countertop / Bedside Table", "Clean Bedroom Blinds / Mirrors" |
| 5. Living room | Where everyone sits after dinner | "Vacuum Upholstered Furniture", "Dust Room Decorations & Picture Frames (up to 9ft)" |
These are selected lines from our cleaning checklist. Standard has 40 items; Deep adds ten for 50. Pick rooms guests will use before spending effort on hidden storage.
What to do yourself: the host's short list
- Clear counters and the entry. Our checklist includes straightening and decluttering walking areas. Deciding where mail, shoes and belongings live is yours.
- Empty the fridge and dishwasher. Make room for food and dishes. Inside-fridge cleaning is an add-on; clearing old leftovers is preparation.
- Make up the guest bed. Changing bedsheets is not on Standard or Deep; it first appears in Dream Home.
- Stock the bathroom. Set out towels and spare toilet paper. Cleaners fold and hang the towels already there.
- Check radiator tops and the banister. Neither is a named checklist line. Vent covers are, up to 9ft. Ask about any extra request rather than assuming it is included.
What to book: the add-ons hosting actually calls for
Ovens, fridge interiors and window glass are separate from Standard and Deep. Add only the work your menu and guest rooms need. These published add-on prices include their supplies; minutes describe the added task, not a promised total visit length.
| Add-on, as listed at booking | Price | Adds about | Described as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean Inside Oven | $35 | 30 minutes | Racks, glass, the works |
| Clean Inside Fridge | $35 | 25 minutes | Top to bottom · shelves + drawers |
| Clean Interior Windows (6 Max) | $60 | 35 minutes | Streak-free · sills + glass |
| Wash Dishes | $25 | 15 minutes | One sink full |
| Laundry Wash & Dry (Per Load) | $20 | 60 minutes | We sort + fold |
| Pet Shed Removal | $25 | 20 minutes | Vacuum + lint roll · pet-safe |
| Sweep Finished Basement | $35 | 20 minutes | Steps + floors |
| Clean Finished Basement (30-mins) | $55 | 30 minutes | Sweep + vac + dust + mop |
Pricing a hosting clean for a Philadelphia rowhome
For a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath rowhome in the Spacious band, Standard is $170 + $45 + $30 + $30 = $275. Deep uses the $255 tier base instead: $255 + $45 + $30 + $30 = $360. Add the hosting tasks below:
| What you book | Arithmetic | Total, before tax |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 170 + 45 + 30 + 30 | $275 |
| Standard + inside oven + inside fridge | 275 + 35 + 35 | $345 |
| Standard + oven + fridge + interior windows | 345 + 60 | $405 |
| Deep | 255 + 45 + 30 + 30 | $360 |
| Deep + inside oven + inside fridge | 360 + 35 + 35 | $430 |
| Deep + oven + fridge + interior windows | 430 + 60 | $490 |
Move-in/out is $290 + $45 + $30 + $30 = $395 for this home and includes oven, fridge and six interior windows. Dream Home is $330 + $45 + $30 + $30 = $435 and adds bedsheets for two bedrooms and two laundry loads. Move's fridge and cabinet lines say "must be clear". A holiday-stocked fridge is not clear; Standard or Deep with selected add-ons is the simpler choice for a lived-in home.
Standard or Deep before the holidays?
Deep adds ten tasks: appliance exteriors, cabinet tops and deeper scrubbing of toilets, tubs, sinks, stovetops and counters. Our checklist describes it as right for first-time clients or quarterly resets. Choose it for visible buildup; if regular visits already maintain the home, Standard plus selected add-ons may be enough.
Philadelphia stairs, basements and access
Hallways and staircases are part of every tier. A finished basement is separate on Standard and Deep: sweeping adds $35 and about 20 minutes; the $55 clean adds about 30 minutes for sweeping, vacuuming, dusting and mopping. If guests will sleep there, make that choice explicitly.
Arrival notes record requests such as "Heads-up before knocking", "No shoes inside" or "Stairs to apt", with a note up to 500 characters. If you will be collecting guests, arrange entry beforehand. Our Philadelphia access guide covers keys, lockboxes and parking.
Hosting in a Philadelphia apartment
The same order works in an apartment. A 1 bedroom, 1 bath Cozy home is $170 + $25 + $25 + $0 = $220 Standard; oven and fridge bring it to $220 + $35 + $35 = $290. A studio with one bath is $170 + $20 + $25 + $0 = $215. Your rooms and size band, rather than the number of floors, set the home lines.
When to book, and what changing plans costs
Use the live calendar for dates and windows open for your ZIP. Booking once guest dates are firm gives you time to arrange entry. A day or two before arrival leaves space for plans to shift, if the calendar has a suitable slot. The cancellation terms are:
- Reschedule: free.
- More than 48 hours ahead: no cancellation fee; the card hold is released.
- 24 to 48 hours ahead: $75 fee.
- Less than 24 hours ahead: 50% of the original booking value.
- Lockout: if the cleaner arrives and cannot get in, 100% of the booking.
- Same-day: the full price is held at booking and charged when cleaning is complete. Once a cleaner is assigned, cancellation costs 100%. If we cannot provide the service, the hold is released.
Percentage fees use the original booking total, including tax, rather than the pre-tax service price. For an illustrative $405 original booking total, 50% is $405 × 0.50 = $202.50 and 100% is $405. Your actual original total determines the fee.
After they leave: the reset
Dishes are $25 for one sink full and add about 15 minutes. Laundry is $20 per load and adds about 60 minutes; two loads cost 2 × $20 = $40. Our after-party cleaning guide covers the next reset.
If you keep regular help, weekly visits take 15% off, every 2 weeks 10%, and every 4 weeks 5%, starting with the first plan visit. The rowhome Standard every 2 weeks is $275 × 0.90 = $247.50 before tax, with coupons, any first-clean offer and arrival-window adjustments excluded.
Questions hosts ask
Do I need to clean before the cleaner comes?
No. Clear surfaces so they can be reached. If a guest room needs clothes sorted, Organize Clothes Clutter is $30 and adds about 30 minutes.
Do I need to buy supplies?
No. Products and equipment come standard. Note sensitivities or a preferred product at booking.
Will the cleaner make up the guest bed?
Standard and Deep do not change bedsheets. Dream Home includes two bedrooms and two laundry loads; laundry is also a $20-per-load add-on.
What if guests change dates?
Reschedule free. If you cancel instead, use the notice ladder above; same-day assignments and lockouts have separate terms.
Do I need to be home?
No. Leave entry instructions or a lockbox or smart-lock code at booking, or stay home if you prefer.
Ready to price your home? Start a booking, select the tasks your hosting needs and check the calendar before confirming.