Selecting a Home Cleaning Company
Defining the Best Home Cleaners
Here are some guidelines you may want to consider when you research a cleaning company to clean your home. To allow someone into your home and, in particular, to clean it, is an important consideration. You not only want your home to be cleaned properly, but you want the entire process to be smooth and hassle-free.
1. Know (exactly) What Will Be Cleaned
You need to have a good idea on what you want to have cleaned by the cleaning company. Are some areas of your home off limits? Do you want the cleaning company to do your laundry or just dust and mop? Do you want the windows to be cleaned? It will make the selection process much more straight-forward if you have a list of what you want to have cleaned before you start the process of selecting a home cleaning company.
2. Get Referrals
Once you know what you want the cleaning service company to clean, you can start to use your referral network to get a list of potential cleaning companies. From step number one, you now know what you are looking for. Ask friends and neighbors if they know a cleaning company that can do what you want.
Once you have a list, it may also be a good idea to research potential companies online. Look at their website, research them using a search engines, and see what comes up. When it comes to a company to clean your home, you don’t want any unpleasant surprises.
3. Protect Yourself
A reputable cleaning company will be insured. An insured cleaning company will take responsibility if an accident occurs. If you use a cleaning company that is not insured, then the responsibility may be yours if something happens. Protect yourself by asking to see a copy of their insurance certificate. Check the policy date on the insurance certificate to ensure that it is up to date.
A home cleaning company should have general liability insurance to ensure that their business is prepared for whatever twists and turns may come along. Accidents do happen. Make sure that they have insurance resources in place to cover the unexpected.
4. Ask About Their Hiring Policy
A trustworthy cleaning company will also hire well. Ask about their hiring objectives and qualification requirements. Ask whether they do background checks. You will be able to get insights into their hiring approach by their response to questions such as these.
Another point may be to select a company that is family owned and managed. These companies may be smaller, but they often have a significant commitment to the community in which they work. They will also have considerable pride in their company and reputation.
5. Request a Free Walk-Through
You will be able to learn important details about the approach of a cleaning company by performing a walk through. Moreover, if a company is not willing to do this, then you may want to cross them off the list. A reputable cleaning company will want to learn as much about the cleaning requirements as your want to learn about them. If the cleaning company wants to meet (or exceed) your expectations, then a walk through will be vital to them.
During the walk-through you will also be able to learn more about their approach and attitude, making this is an essential part of the process.
6. Set the Price
Some cleaning companies want to charge an hourly rate. It is better for you, as the home owner, to have the price defined for the cleaning work to protect yourself against a company that works slowly to push up the total price.
If a cleaning company knows what they are doing, then they will be able to estimate the proper number of hours. Afterwards, they will work efficiently and effectively to clean what you want cleaned by providing you a flat-rate fee based on their hourly charge.
7. Be Careful with the Lowest Price
One cleaning service provider may be lower than the others. Be cautious. There may be a reason why and you will need to understand this. If the lower cost is due to some shortcuts in their approach that are not to your liking, then you will want to learn this in advance and not be unpleasantly surprised later.
The lowest price may not translate into the best service for you, and you will want the best cleaning service for your situation.
8. Review Their Cleaning Products
If you have pets or small children or a special condition (allergies for example), then a review of the cleaning products that will be used in your home is important. Select a cleaning company that is open and willing to review this with you.
9. Understand Special Services
It is worthwhile to understand if a cleaning company offers any special services. Will they stock your refrigerator? Do they clean carpets, tile and grout? If you need a special service, have this on your list of items to review with any cleaning company that you are considering.
10. Request a Guarantee
Any top level cleaning company wants to ensure that you are satisfied. You want to select a cleaning company that is proud of what they do. Determine how they will handle a situation where you are not totally satisfied with the cleaning they have performed. Some form of a guarantee is warranted.
