Single woman relocating to Oregon from NorthWest Arkansas (Portland, Eugene: rentals, insurance)

[44Amie44]

Hey y’all!
I’m originally from Northern California but that was 35 years ago. I’d like to relocate to Oregon but I’m unsure of where to start. I have a residential cleaning business and would like to know how well that might support me and what the going rate for house cleaning is in Oregon?
I would like to live near the coast as this is what I miss the most. I don’t want to live in a highly populated or touristy area. Something small with a delightful country charm. Lots of walking/hiking areas would be nice. A quiet and virtually crime free area.
Is this to much to ask for? Do places like this even exist? Lol
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated😊

[Thom52]

Per your stated preferences, I think you posted in the wrong Oregon subgroup....

[44Amie44]

I’m totally not up to par on this site or where to post. Help!

[Coniferian]

I can't help with many of your questions, for instance not knowing what house cleaning rates are. I wouldn't call this a highly populated area, but it is growing and it is definitely touristy. Lots of outdoor sports and plenty of trails to hike. The growth has kicked the housing prices up quite a bit in the last 10 years and locals complain about the traffic. All relative to what you have experienced before however. The coast is about a 3 -4 hour drive from central Oregon, so you probably want to look at the small towns there, not here in the high desert.

[texasdiver]

You should be posting on the general Oregon forum, not the Bend subforum.

As for a cleaning business, in the Bend area there are a LOT of AirB&B type rentals, especially in Sunriver. Also along the coast. That would be one option. They are always looking for house cleaners. I don't know about the rates though.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Bend is a long commute to the coast. Plan on about 6 hours driving, which will allow for some traffic blockage and not stress you over time schedules. You can do it faster if there are no wrecks, rock slides, road construction, or heavy snow and ice, but usually there is something that slows traffic.


In Bend, house cleaners get $35 an hour or $25 per room, depending upon their own way of figuring pay. I don't know what you would get on the coast. I would guess it would be less.

[PNW-type-gal]

thread moved to Oregon forum

[StealthRabbit]

For your tastes / desires, and if you don't need a nearby airport.... Consider southern OR coast (much better weather, less traffic / visitors).

Plenty of retirees / Air B&B / prop management companies needing cleaning help.

I recommend focusing on a few wealthy clients, and referrals will come. (These people do not advertise on CL for help wanted...). a SIL in Hawaii has been able to get cleaning / house sitting gigs from wealthy clients for last 40 yrs (no housing required on her part).

SIL just moved to Yachats (central coast). It is nice / and sleepy. But much more of a wet climate than southern coast. (And far more crowded with tourists, as it is accessible from Portland and Eugene for a quick trip.)

[Silverfall]

Well if you move to Oceanside (population 361) or Netarts (pop 744), you could clean houses in Tillamook or drive up to Manzanita to clean homes? I mean you need people around in order to be able to clean their homes. What size town are you wanting? Oregon coastal cities are all small.

I'm not sure what country charm on the coast means. They all have some sort of tourist industry with vacation rentals and such.

[Larry Caldwell]

House cleaning pays what the traffic will bear. It's hard to find someone. Individuals running their own business will advertise for 2 or 3 months until their client list fills up, then are word of mouth only. They can do it as long as their health doesn't fail or the IRS puts them out of business for not paying taxes, whichever comes first.

You can also work for a janitorial service, which pays less. In return you get bookkeeping and billing, comp insurance, liability insurance, and a bond that lets you do commercial accounts.