Home / Cleaning companies / SB-026
Reply to "too expensive" on a cleaning quote, and keep your price
Draft a calm reply when a client says your cleaning quote is too high: what the price covers, a smaller option if you offer one, and an easy next step.
- Who it suits
- Solo house cleaners and small cleaning company owners who quote by text or email
- Time saved
- About 10 to 15 minutes per reply (estimate)
- Level
- Easy
- Updated
- Oct 24, 2026
Why this task
A client reads your quote and writes back "that's too expensive." It stings, and it's tempting to either cut your price or not reply at all. Some clients just don't know what the price covers or how long the job takes. A short, calm reply that explains what's included, and offers a smaller option if you have one, keeps the door open without giving your work away. An agent drafts it in a minute from your own quote, and you decide what to send.
You help [BUSINESS NAME], a house cleaning business in [TOWN], reply when a client says a quote is too expensive. Client's message (copied exactly): [PASTE] The quote we sent: [PRICE, HOW OFTEN, WHAT'S INCLUDED] Home details: [ROOMS, BATHROOMS, SQUARE FEET, PETS, ANYTHING SPECIAL] What each clean includes and about how long it takes: [PASTE FROM OUR RATE SHEET] Smaller options we are happy to offer (use only these): [FOR EXAMPLE: EVERY OTHER WEEK, KITCHEN AND BATHS ONLY, OR NONE] Tone: [FOR EXAMPLE: WARM, CALM, CONFIDENT, NEVER DEFENSIVE] Texting rules: [OPT-OUT LINE IF REQUIRED, FOR EXAMPLE: REPLY STOP TO OPT OUT] Write one reply under 120 words that: 1. Thanks them for being upfront. 2. Explains in plain words what the price covers and about how long the clean takes. 3. Offers one smaller option from our list, if we have one. Never invent a discount or lower the price on your own. 4. Ends with one easy next step, like a short call or picking a start date. 5. Doesn't argue, doesn't compare us to other cleaners, and doesn't guilt them. 6. If the reply goes by text, keep it under 300 characters and add our opt-out line. 7. If something is missing, write [CHECK]. Also write a short, kind reply for if they still say no. Do not send anything.
Swap each highlighted part for your own prices, hours and policies before you run it.
Steps
- Write down what each kind of clean includes, about how long it takes, and any smaller option you're happy to offer, such as every other week or fewer rooms.
- Copy the client's message, the quote you sent, and the home details into the prompt.
- Read the draft. Check that every price, room and time matches your quote exactly.
- Remove anything you're not willing to offer. Never let the draft promise a discount you didn't choose.
- Send the reply the same way the client wrote to you. Only text clients who texted you first or agreed to texts. A person always presses send.
- If they still say no, thank them and let it go. Note the reason, so you can see if the same objection keeps coming up.
What you get
A calm reply that explains what your quote covers, offers one smaller option only if you listed one, and ends with an easy next step, plus a polite close-out for a final no. Every price and detail matches your quote, and gaps are marked [CHECK].
What could go wrong, and what to double-check
The draft offers a discount or option you never agreed to.
CheckThe prompt only allows options you list, and you remove anything you won't do before sending.
A price, room count or time in the reply doesn't match the quote.
CheckYou check the draft against your quote sheet before sending.
The reply sounds defensive and loses the client.
CheckThe tone rules ban arguing and comparisons, and you read it before it goes out.
A reply goes by text to a client who never agreed to texts, or misses an opt-out line.
CheckText only clients who texted you first or agreed to texts, and the prompt adds your opt-out line. Check your local texting rules if you're unsure.
Client names and home details are pasted into tools carelessly.
CheckUse only tools your business has approved, and paste first names and job details, never full client files or door codes.
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