Whether you want to hire a cleaning service to help you with a one-off task, an annual spring clean, or something on a more regular basis, there are a few things you need to inquire about before you make a decision.
Bringing someone in who isn’t part of a formal cleaning service company carries with it a host of risks. “But, it’s cheaper to hire an under-the-table cleaning lady for cash!” is something I often hear. Funny enough, I always advise people to hire that cleaning lady if price is their main concern, and if things go well, keep her close. But, when things don’t go well, that’s when you bring in a trusted , reputable professional. Sure, it’s more expensive, but there are many, many benefits, you get from bringing in a professional company. So, here are ten things you should consider when you’re looking to hire a cleaning service.
1. Get Referrals
Anyone can make themselves sound amazing, credible and experienced, but a verification, membership and reviews from yourtrusted.co.za can paint a different picture and carries more weight.
2. Experience, Affiliations & Accreditations
How long have they been in business for? Do they have any affiliations with professional organizations like yourtrusted.co.za? I like to look out for this because it makes me feel reassured that a service provider is trustworthy and concerned with their reputation. The membership is strictly by vetting and verification, with reviews after every booking, checking in to these affiliations lends credibility to a service provider’s desire to remain in good standing with their customers.
3. Service Offerings
Does the service provider take requests or offer a fixed service? How detailed will they get? Depending on what you want to be done, inquire as to what level of service is offered. If you can customize it and hire someone to come and tick a bunch of things off your to-do list, or if you just get the same service each visit irrespective of what you want to be done, or, if you can do a combination. Service providers offer a variety of options; none are right or wrong, you just need to find what suits your needs and your lifestyle.
4. Satisfaction Guaranteed!
Be sure to ask about breakage, damage, and satisfaction guarantees – a service provider should stand behind its work and its workers. If you’re not happy as a client, what are they prepared to do for you, how will they make it right?
It’s just a fact of life – things will break. The way we’ve always handled it is to be highly responsive, sincerely apologetic, and fix anything, at any cost. This sounds crazy, and I know many companies don’t do this. They tell the client to claim it under their own homeowner’s insurance policy, or chalk it up to an unavoidable mistake.
If you’re not happy with the cleaning, what will the company offer you? A touch-up? A free cleaning? Nothing? Companies have different policies about this so find out what recourse you have if you’re not happy with the level of service you’ve received.
5. Understand Who You’re Hiring
Who is actually coming into your home and how are they references checked? Is it a bona-fide service company with a consistent roster of employees, or is it a sharing-economy company with random people popping up? Remember, when you hire a cleaner, you’re letting someone into your most sacred space which houses your most valuable things; potentially when you’re not home! Who can you really trust? Ask the service provider how, and if, they interview and background check their staff, do they do background or criminal checks on their staff, and how they plan to schedule you in with the same cleaner as often as possible.
6. Cleaning Supplies
Do they use their own cleaning supplies and tools, or do you have to supply your own? We require our clients to supply their own and, of course, help them determine exactly what they need. We sell kits or provide them with a shopping list based on their specific requirements. I believe that a mop should be used in one house, or else the crud from house A will make its way over to house B.
Further, each house has different needs; pets, people, finishes, and whatnot. I’m a big proponent of using the right products and tools on each surface, and I believe it is better to provide your own to reduce and minimize cross-contamination and potential harm to surfaces.
7. Terms of Service
Find out what the policy for cancelling or changing your service is. This policy should be in place so that you don’t get slapped with any surprise fees. Many companies charge a cancellation fee because it can be hard to reschedule cleaners at the last minute, and the company has to cover off their lost wages. So, if you know this information, you can better plan and prepare for any scheduling issues.
