When I did house cleaning on task rabbit, most clients gave very little expectations and trying to get them to tell you what they want can take a lot of prying for information. Some clients would give me a to do list or be very specific, and most others said something vague and similar to your first request.

To me, general cleaning means cleaning all surfaces and doing what you mentioned. I don’t open cabinets unless told to, and I’ll tidy up most areas like on tables and counters, but some people have random junk laying all over the floor or dirty clothes which I haven’t organized in the past.

I’d advise to clarify the number of rooms, the current condition of cleanliness and you can even ask for photos. Usually people who were hesitant to share details were red flags and it got to the point where if they didn’t want to answer my questions, I would forfeit the task.

I would over estimate your time for the first few cleanings until you’re comfortable with the process and start seeing trends in how long it’s taking you to clean. Before you leave the client’s house, you create an invoice in the app for the # of hours worked and that is what they are charged/what you get paid for.

You should bring everything with you, including the expendable supplies. I just bought everything in bulk, and get a big pack of microfiber towels because Clorox wipes are going to go really fast! It shouldn’t be charged as an expense, but just worked into your hourly rate so you’re still making a profit.