The real cost of keeping a large home looked after
A large home rarely has one maintenance bill. It has dozens: gutters, windows, grounds, heating, cleaning, vehicles and the time spent arranging all of them. Here is a transparent way to compare those costs with a coordinated Hey Castor plan.
A representative annual service stack
The ranges below use public Vancouver-area prices checked in September 2026. They illustrate a substantial home with one heating system, a larger yard and two vehicles. They are reference points rather than quotes. Lot size, window count, access, frequency, vehicle size and property condition can change every number.
| Service | Illustrative annual retail cost |
|---|---|
| Gutters · two visits | $540–$760+ |
| Exterior windows · two visits | $320–$600+ |
| Growing-season lawn service | $1,400–$2,380+ |
| One furnace or heat-pump service | $198–$275 |
| Exterior care for two vehicles · monthly | $1,680–$3,600 |
| Spring and fall cleaning · 16 labour-hours | $640–$1,120 |
| Annual carpet cleaning | $149–$269+ |
| Illustrative service subtotal | $4,927–$9,004+ |
The management layer changes the comparison
The service subtotal excludes handyman projects, pressure washing, pool care, materials, emergency work and the owner’s time. A separate home-concierge service can add another management bill, while booking everything yourself still carries a coordination cost in time.
Hey Castor does not publish one universal plan price because the service scope changes by property. Your quote should be compared against the same selected services, visit counts and property assumptions. A savings percentage is only meaningful when both sides include the same work.
When booking separately can still cost less
If you need only a few low-frequency services and are comfortable finding, scheduling and following up with every provider, booking separately may be less expensive. Hey Castor becomes more compelling as the service list, property complexity and value of your time increase.
The useful comparison is not a cheap gutter visit against an annual membership. It is the complete annual scope, service frequency, management time and follow-through required to keep the whole property in order.
How to compare proposals properly
Ask every provider or membership company to define the same property and service scope. Without that, a lower number may simply include less work.
- Number of visits and seasonal service windows
- Home size, lot size, window count and access assumptions
- Number and size of vehicles
- Labour-hours included for cleaning and handyman work
- Whether materials, chemicals, repairs and specialist work are included
- Who follows up when a visit is delayed or incomplete
The Castor approach
We begin with the property, confirm what should recur and quote the complete plan before activation. There is no payment for requesting a plan. Larger homes, extensive grounds, multiple systems and pools receive a tailored scope.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Hey Castor membership always cheaper than booking services separately?
No. Booking separately can cost less when a home needs only a few occasional services and the owner is comfortable coordinating them. The comparison changes as the service list, visit frequency, property complexity and value of coordination increase.
Why is the annual home-service cost range so broad?
Property size, access, service frequency, vehicle count, grounds, equipment and condition all affect the total. A useful comparison gives every provider the same property details and includes both recurring work and any separate management cost.
Does it cost anything to request a Hey Castor plan?
No. Sending a request is free and does not start a membership. Hey Castor confirms the proposed scope, visit schedule, property assumptions and price before activation.
Sources and methodology
Public prices and third-party descriptions can change. They were checked when this guide was published and are used as reference points, not endorsements or quotes for your property.