Yesterday we covered some Frequently Asked Questions regarding cleaning services and how they work. Today we'll go over some key questions to ask when screening a service to ensure you find a good fit.
- How much do you charge?
- What is your fee structure?
Do they charge by the square foot, by the room, or by the hour? - Do you have any other policies that impact how much you charge?
Examples include taking into account the number of occupants, the number or types of pets, how cluttered or dirty a place is perceived to be, how often the service will be used, and your geographical location/proximity to the service. - What can I expect from your service? Do you have a chore list?
Many companies and/or individuals standardize their service and will provide a detailed, room-by-room list of the chores they do. - Can I make special requestsnot on your list? If so, how much do you charge and how do you determine the fee?
Examples include windows, the inside of refrigerators, and laundry. - Do you allot a certain amount of time to clean?
You'll want to know how long to expect the service will take. - How much notice do you need in the event I need more service or special service at a particular time, and what is the charge for such service?
This is related to the preceding question; if you need extra cleanup after a big party or want an intensive cleaning job done in preparation for guests, you'll want to let the service know. Accordingly you should expect both an up-charge and for the service to spend more time in your place. When you're paying for special cleaning, it's important to be clear that the duties are in addition to--not in place of--the regular ones. - Who will be doing the cleaning?
Don't assume that the person you contacted is the person who will actually be doing the work. - If someone else will be doing the cleaning, will I be assigned a regular person or team, or will it rotate according to who is available?
One of the greatest frustrations of those who use a large service is that the cleaning person or team can change without notice; although the quality of a single service should, in theory, be standardized, the truth is you will probably notice a difference, for good or for bad, when different individuals do the job. This brings us to: - Can I request a specific individual or team? and
- Will I be informed if there is a personnel turnover? and
- What is your turn-over rate?
The better the service, the less turn-over it's likely to have. - How much experience do you/does the person doing the cleaning have?
House-cleaning may not be brain surgery, but neither is it unskilled labor. You'd be amazed at the difference in quality and efficiency between a veteran and a novice. Look for individuals with at least six months experience. - Are you bonded/insured?
"Bond" is a kind of insurance that protects and compensates consumers in the event of theft. You'll also want to confirm that your service has business insurance to cover any damage it may cause. - How do you ensure customer satisfaction?
This is key; you need to know who to call and what to do in the event you aren't happy. - Will you provide a receipt?
This is especially crucial if you work at home and submit a Schedule C to the IRS.
