1. Does the company only
employ licensed, bonded and insured
cleaners? Depending on where you
live, they may or may not need to be
licensed. The term “bonded” refers
to insurance; it means that you will
receive reimbursement if something
is broken or ruined through the
actions of the staff. Ask to see
their Certificate of Liability
Insurance to prove that you and
their employees will be covered in
case of any mishap.
2. Can
the company provide referrals to
satisfied customers to support their
service claims? A company that has
nothing to hide can provide you with
a list of their clients that are
willing to vouch for them. Keep in
mind that they are unlikely to steer
you towards any negative reviews, so
call the local
Better Business Bureau and see
if there are any complaints on file
against the company.
3. Does
the company have a cleaning contract
that you can have your lawyer or
legal savvy friends look over? When
you have someone entering your home,
in your employ, you won’t want to
leave anything to chance. Make sure
that the h">
cleaning
services you are asking for are
clearly detailed and that the prices
are included. Above all, do not sign
anything without having a third
party read it over for red flags and
concerning policies.
4. Do
their personnel arrive in clearly
marked vehicles with identifiable
logos on their clothing? If you will
be home or have relatives that will
be in the home during a scheduled
cleaning, you will want to ensure
their safety. Having a recognizable
uniform or vehicle lets you know
that these are the people you have
hired and that the job hasn’t been
sub-contracted out to another
company. Likewise, your neighbors
won’t be calling the police weekly
out of concern for your valuables.
5. Will it always be the same
personnel or will the supervisor be
present to ensure that the contract
is fulfilled? Having the same person
cleaning your home each week will
ensure that the job is being done
appropriately and that there will be
less chance of a miscommunication of
the duties as well as a better
continuum of services.
6.
Insist on a set fee table so that
there are no surprises when the bill
comes. Inquire as to whether they
are expecting to increase their fees
in the next year or if they charge
extra for seasonal services, such as
exterior windows and doors in the
spring? Knowing what to expect for
the near future will allow you to
plan and budget for extra seasonal
services. The company should be able
to estimate the price of the job for
you based on square footage or the
quantity of services you require and
itemize the list of duties that are
covered for the price you are
quoted. Feel free to haggle and
barter to get the things that you
need and pass on the others that you
don’t feel are necessary.
7.
Will they provide their own
equipment and supplies and/or are
they willing to use your preferred
cleaning products? If they will be
using your equipment, you will want
to know what will happen if they
break it. Will they replace the
equipment, have it repaired or
require you to replace it? If you
prefer that the cleaning supplies be
all eco-friendly or unscented then
you may be expected to provide the
necessary products, and even pay a
little more for the extra effort
that some
green cleaners require.
8. Do they have a satisfaction
guarantee? Will they provide a
cleaning checklist for you at each
visit? It is difficult to know if a
job has been performed when you
don’t know what they were doing. By
having a checklist, you can inspect
the quality of the work done and
assess if it is what you were
expecting. Remember, you are paying
for a service and deserve to get the
best possible outcome for your
money, therefore insist on a
guarantee of satisfaction or some
policy that will ensure a good
working relationship.
9. How will
they handle any complaints or
changes to the cleaning
instructions? So what happens, if
you come home and find that jobs
haven’t been done or done to your
specifications? How will they handle
it? Do they have protocols or
policies in place to address the
problem? Who do you speak to? The
employees? The management? These are
all questions you will want answered
long before there could be a problem
to discuss.
10. Are their
employees trained in how to identify
different surfaces that require
special attention and how to deal
with the cleaning requirements of
newer technologies? Surfaces such as
granite countertops and enameled
tubs require very particular types
of cleaners to be used on them. When
faced with an appliance that they
have never encountered before, how
will the cleaners proceed? Will the
management be on site for the first
clean to ensure that the cleaners
are properly trained to use the
equipment and products? Can they
provide any certifications or
company policies to prove their
training of all employees?
This list is meant to be more of a
set of guidelines that will get you
thinking about the potential issues
and problems that could arise when
you employ a home cleaning service.
Above all, remember that a reputable
company will operate as openly and
honestly as possible. They will
welcome your questions and work with
you to ensure a long and rewarding
relationship. It is in their best
interests.
Devon Delaney is
the kind of guy who can wax
nostalgic about
furniture cleaning escapades
while simultaneously enjoying the
services of an incredibly efficient
and diligent
maid service.
