There are countless ways in which homeowners can benefit from hiring house cleaners. Whether you have a hard time keeping up with chores or are looking to boost your home’s appeal to potential buyers, house cleaning services can help.
However, most communities have a wide array of options for cleaners and maid services. The question is, how do you find the best one for your needs (and your budget)?
We think it comes down to asking the right questions. Keep reading for the most important questions to ask cleaners before hiring them to tidy up your home.
1. Are You Licensed and Insured?
First and foremost, you need to make sure you hire a legitimate company. They need to have a professional business license through the state that allows them to legally operate and offer residential cleaning services. In most cases, house cleaning services aren’t required to have additional licenses or credentials.
However, you should ensure the company you hire to clean your home is adequately covered by insurance. At the very least, they should carry professional liability insurance. This policy will cover the costs to repair or replace anything that is accidentally damaged in your home during the course of their services.
2. How Much Cleaning Experience Do You Have?
Next, you might feel inclined to ask the house cleaners what experience they have in the industry. How long has the company been in business? What background in cleaning do the owners and employees have?
While it doesn’t hurt to hire new businesses, you might feel more comfortable working with cleaners that have several years of house cleaning experience. This is especially important if you have rare, unique, or expensive possessions you don’t want to be damaged. It might also behoove you to hire experienced cleaners if you’re trying to get a deposit back while moving out of a rental unit.
3. Do You Have a List of Referrals?
To find the best maid services, ask to see a list of referrals before hiring cleaners. You should also be able to find online customer reviews via their website and social media pages.
Regardless, you need to find out what other homeowners have to say about their house cleaning services. Do they recommend the house cleaners to other homeowners? We’re they satisfied with the company’s performance, rates, and professionalism?
Try to find a company with an overwhelming trend of positive customer reviews.
4. Do You Offer Any Additional Services?
Depending on your house cleaning needs, it might be a good idea to ask about additional services. For example, some house cleaners also offer organizing services.
This can be incredibly beneficial if your home has become cluttered and/or disorganized. A simple cleaning might not be enough to whip your house back into shape.
And what if you have some minor damages around the house that you don’t have the time, tools, or expertise to repair? Do the house cleaners offer handyman services? How nice would it be if you could find an all-in-one service provider?
5. What is Your Availability?
One of the most important questions to ask cleaners is how often they can clean your house and when they can do it. If you’re hiring a maid for recurring house cleaning services, how many times a month/week can they come by to tidy things up?
Just as importantly, when will the house cleaners be coming to your house? Will they come in the middle of the day while you’re at work?
What if you prefer to be home while the cleaners are in your house? Can they come by in the evening after you return home?
6. Do You Conduct Thorough Background Checks for Employees?
House cleaning and maid services are somewhat intimate. Essentially, you’re inviting people you don’t know to come to your house (most likely while you’re away) and clean your personal possessions. They’ll be in your house, around your pets, and possibly around your children.
Therefore, it’s absolutely vital to know you can trust the house cleaners you hire. Ask the company what types of background checks they complete before hiring employees. After all, you probably don’t want a convicted burglar in your house while no one’s home.
7. What About Logistics?
Next, ask the company about the logistics of hiring their house cleaning services. As noted earlier, find out when they will be at your house.
If they come to your home while you’re at work, how will they get in? Will they need a key to your home?
Additionally, do you need to do anything with any pets? For example, if you have a dog that stays inside while you’re at work, will he/she need to be secured in a different room or put outside on cleaning days?
8. What Are Your Rates?
One of the most important questions to ask cleaners is how much their services cost. House cleaning services can charge a wide variety of fees, based on what you need.
A one-time deep cleaning versus recurring cleaning services will carry different fees. Determine what you need and contact the local house cleaners to get their rates.
However, make sure you understand what those costs cover. For example, a less expensive cleaner might do a cursory cleanup of your home once a week that’s only skin deep. A more expensive cleaner might do a far better job.
Don’t resign to hiring cleaners just because they’re cheap. In most instances, you get what you pay for.
9. Do You Offer Customer Satisfaction Guarantees?
Finally, before hiring house cleaners, find out if their contract includes a customer satisfaction guarantee. Do they stand behind their services? What happens if you find a discrepancy?
Find out how they handle customer complaints. If a job wasn’t completed to your satisfaction, will they come back and make sure it’s done right?
Looking for Reliable, Trustworthy House Cleaners?
If you know you need help keeping your house clean or want to make the best possible impression on potential buyers, you need to hire professional house cleaning services. Just make sure you find the most qualified house cleaners by asking the questions listed above.
And if you’re ready to start getting proactive, contact us today to get a free estimate for our services. We would love to throw our hat in the ring and show you what we’re capable of. We can’t wait to work with you!
