Contracting a cleaning company that you can trust can at times be a mind-boggling experience. With such a large number of accessible choices, from franchises to mom-and-pop shops to solo-preneurs, and costs ranging from $10 an hour to $45+ an hour, it is easy to get frustrated and sometimes feel lost in this process. I’ve laid out a few questions to ask to ensure, and guarantee the person(s) you hire are legitimately prepared to nurture your biggest resource – your home.
How long have you been in business?
It takes a little more than good intentions, and a mop and pail to begin a cleaning business, yet it takes much more to run a professional sustainable company. Thus the failure rates for the cleaning industry are astonishing. Half will go out of business inside of the first year. Before the end of the fifth year, about 90% will have shut their doors for good. This is not to say you ought not think about contracting with a recently formed business (we all needed to begin some place,) yet by and large the longer a company has been in business the more probable they are to be around later on.
Are you insured? What happens if something in my house is broken or damaged?
Proper Insurance (no less than one million dollars in coverage – two million is better) is imperative. An uninsured company/individual will most likely be less expensive, however, when the finish is eaten off of your hardwood floors, your stainless steel appliances are scratched, or your grandma’s vase is broken, they are also the ones who won’t have the ability to repay you for it, abandoning you to pay. You should always verify insurance coverage through the company’s insurance provider. Ideally there should be a written policy in place regarding procedures for dealing with breakage/damage. Request to see it.
Do you carry workman’s compensation insurance on all of your employees?
Workman’s comp is required for all workers under New Jersey law, yet not very many cleaning companies comply because it is so costly. This opens you up to significant risk of lawsuit if a cleaner is injured in your home. The risk is even greater with an independent maid, since technically YOU are their employer!
How would you prescreen your employees?
Does the company check references, perform criminal background checks? Are they willing to provide proof? If they are an independent cleaning person are they willing to provide you with a copy of their own background check at their expense? Unfortunately it is not uncommon for independent housecleaners to begin cleaning because they cannot find another job due to a past criminal conviction.
Can you provide me with a written checklist of tasks to be performed?
This is critical. Different companies have different ideas of what a basic service consists of. It is important to know exactly what you are paying for, and know you are truly comparing apples to apple when making a final decision. Some of the more common areas of potential confusion are dishes, stripping and making of beds, laundry, high dusting of ceiling fan blades, high reach window sills, handling of children’s toys, and the handling of the trash throughout the home. You can save yourself a lot of potential grief by getting written specifications upfront.
What happens if I am unhappy with my cleaning?
Some cleaning services only offer a specified percent off your next service if you are displeased. If you are dissatisfied and they won’t fix it, why would you even want to use them again? A reputable service should come back immediately and do whatever necessary to fix the problem, or be willing to offer you your money back!
Who provides the equipment and supplies?
Search for a company who provides all of their own supplies and equipment. Employees are less inclined to abuse (Windex on granite countertops, green scour pads on the stainless steel stove, and so on.) items they are familiar with and trained to use. Furthermore, providing supplies for your cleaner can easily add hundreds of dollars a year to your total cleaning bill due to the high volume of product used in a thorough cleaning.
Now that you’ve added a little more knowledge to your arsenal, you’re in the drivers seat when it comes to hiring maid service.
So order your service today!