Choosing the Right Cleaning Company

ing your own house cleaner or maid service might bethey’re to do the work while
either necessary or a luxury you’re able toyou’re away.
afford for yourself. You might have a very involvedKnow that even choosing the type of service has its
job that consumes your days, or you have a familyown rules. If you hire a housekeeper directly,
that keeps you so busy you can’t get to allyou’ll become their employer and you need
the household tasks yourself. Maybe you can simplyto know what that entails. If you hire a company
afford it, and not that many people actuallythat employs subcontractors, you need to know
**want** to do housework.what if any liability passes to you as the customer.
Whatever the case may be, you’ll need toThose first two options are fraught with some
take care of basic common sense stuff before youbenefits, but mostly bigger headaches. If you hire a
allow a stranger or group of strangers into yourprofessional firm with their own employees, this is an
home, not just for security’s sake, butoption that will provide you with the most hands-on
because you want to know what to expect forprofessionalism with very little worry for you.
what you’re paying. Be safe, get yourSince we’re advising you hire professionals
money’s-worth and enjoy the benefits ofwith a trained team of employees, here are some
not having to clean yourself.things you should know, and some questions to ask.
A housekeeping service will want to know often toDoes the company have trained, insured employees?
come and how big your home/the job is. IfHave they been background checked and drug
it’s a 12-room house with eight people livingtested? Are the employees provided with a detailed
in it, obviously the cleaning needs will be vastlylist of what cleaning requirements you have, so that
different than that of a one-person, one-bedroomyou get a consistent job every time they come in?
apartment. The answer will affect not only theWill it be the same group of people every time, or
number of people needed to do the job, but howwill the staff change (and will they all know what you
long it will take them. They’ll need to knowwant)? Will they supply all cleaning equipment and
if you or anyone in the house has allergies orsupplies, or will you be expected to keep your
chemical sensitivity, which days are most convenientcleaning stock ready? What happens if something is
for you and do you only need a portion of the homebroken, damaged or missing in your home? Will the
cleaned? They’ll give you an estimate basedcompany provide you with a certificate of adequate
upon the requirements, and be sure to let theminsurance coverage? What happens if
know if you have any special days they’reyou’re not happy with the job done?
not to come, and how to get into the house if