The Importance of Verifying Square Footage: A Real Lesson from This Week

​This past week, I ran into a situation that reminded me just how important it is to double-check the details—especially when it comes to giving cleaning estimates.

​We received a quote request from a potential customer who stated that her home was 1,500 square feet. Based on that information, I provided her with a quote for a routine cleaning every other week. She accepted, and I scheduled the cleaning with one of our subcontractors.

Everything seemed fine—until after the cleaning was completed.

When I followed up, I discovered the home was actually 2,700 square feet. That’s nearly double the size originally stated. Neither I nor my subcontractors had verified the square footage before the job, and we moved forward based on the initial estimate.

This mistake now puts me in the position of having to clear things up with the customer. And while I take full responsibility for the oversight, it serves as an important reminder for all of us in the cleaning industry:

✅ Always verify the square footage—especially for initial quotes.
✅ Trust, but confirm. Even if a customer provides details, it’s worth a quick online search, a county records check, or a verification during a walkthrough.
✅ Train your team to speak up if something doesn’t seem right on-site. Subcontractors are often the eyes and ears in the field, and their input is crucial.

As business owners, we aim to deliver great service—but also to operate sustainably.

Underquoting based on inaccurate information can cost us time, money, and trust if it’s not handled properly.

Now, I’m working on communicating with the customer transparently and professionally to find a fair solution moving forward.
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If you're a fellow cleaning business owner, let this be a gentle nudge to tighten up your quoting process. It might save you from a similar headache.

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​Have you ever had a similar experience? How did you handle it? Share your thoughts below!