I totally understand your feelings about that. But, as someone who cleans other people's houses.... I see where they "pick up " before I come. One of the people I clean for is my sister, and I tell her all the time, "stop trying to clean before I get there, that is what you are paying me for."
Here is the thing. When hiring someone to come in and clean for you. The most important thing that helps us is to have things picked up. What I mean by that, is by picking up the toys and putting them where they go, picking up clothes off the floor, etc.. will save you money as the house cleaner is then not having to spend her time doing all that picking up, they can spend their time, vacuuming, dusting, etc... which is what you probably really want to pay for. I have been in homes where there is a ton of clutter all over the kitchen counter. Well, I am afraid to move anything in fear that the people will not find it. I want to organize all that clutter for them, but they may not want that. But, it is difficult to 409 the counter tops when all that is there. And, when I do clean around all that clutter, I feel like it is still messy when I leave.
One lady I clean for, I will surprise her by bringing in little inexpensive baskets from the dollar store and rearranging a kitchen drawer that is full of pens, ketchup packets, twisty ties, keys, coins, etc..... I don't say anything to her, but she will text me later and thank me for doing that. Or, I have taken some boxes and containers and opened up all the kids fruit snacks, etc, and put in the bins so it is easier for the kids to get to, easier for Mom to see that she is running out of snacky stuff, and keeps the kitchen pantry more organized with less boxes, etc.
Most of that stuff, "cleaning people" don't do...but, as a busy Mom myself, I know that those "little" things help.. and sometimes, it is harder for us to do them ourselves.
The main thing you probably want someone to focus on is, bathrooms, kitchen, dusting, vacuuming and mopping... So with all this said, just pick up those areas so that who ever you hire, can get in there, do their job so you are paying them for what you really need... cleaning.. not picking up.
C.