House Cleaners›How to price
Post-construction is the highest-rate-per-hour product in residential cleaning. It is also where unprepared cleaners destroy their gear in one job.
Post-construction cleans are 3-stage jobs that follow renovation, remodel, or new-build completion. They pay 2-3x the per-sqft rate of standard cleans because the work is technically demanding: drywall dust embeds in every surface, paint splatter requires solvent-specific removal, and HVAC systems need a vent-by-vent pass. This 2026 guide breaks down the three-stage pricing, the gear realities, and the contractor-relationship channel that makes this the recurring B2B product in your business.
Rough clean (during construction)
$0.35–$0.55/sqft
Final clean (post-paint, pre-handover)
$0.55–$0.85/sqft
White-glove (premium handover)
$0.85–$1.20/sqft
Drywall dust kills vacuum motors in 2-3 jobs if you use a residential machine. You need a HEPA-filter commercial shop vac ($300-$600), specific solvent kits for paint residue ($80-$150), and microfibers that you throw away after each job (do not try to launder construction-contaminated cloths into your residential rotation — you will transfer dust to clean clients).
One general contractor turns over 8-15 properties a year. Get on their preferred-vendor list and you have locked B2B recurring revenue. The win condition: predictable scheduling, no-callback quality, and a clean invoice with net-15 terms. Most contractors will pay 10-20% below max market rate in exchange for recurring volume and zero managerial overhead.
Many contractors only ask for the final clean. Offer the three-stage package (rough + final + white-glove) at a bundled discount (15-25% off vs. discrete) and you book the same property three times. The rough clean takes half the time of a final but pays 60-70% of the rate — best margin in the sequence.
US 2026 market: $0.35-$1.20 per sqft depending on stage and condition. Final clean of a 2000 sqft remodel: $1100-$1700.
Rough = debris and initial dust during construction. Final = post-paint, pre-handover full clean. White-glove = HVAC + paint touch-up + photo-ready.
Yes — HEPA-filter commercial shop vac, solvent kits, single-use microfibers. Do not use residential gear; drywall dust kills motors fast.
Contractors give recurring B2B revenue and predictable scheduling. Slight per-job discount in exchange for volume. Homeowners are one-off premium.
$20-$40 per vent. Most 2000 sqft homes have 10-15 vents. Itemize, do not bundle.
Negotiate net-15 if you can. Contractors are notoriously slow payers; shorter terms protect cash flow. Worst case: 50% retainer at job start, balance net-15.
5 free quotes per month. Auto-applies travel, setup, rush, and tax — every time.
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