Home cleaning doesn’t have to be time-consuming and expensive! Whether you want to keep your home in pristine condition or are looking to get rid of cleaning altogether, you can find professional home cleaning services that can make all your wishes come true. These 7 Secrets will help you find the best professional home cleaning service in no time at all!
1) Use your network
Get recommendations from friends, family and neighbors. When searching for professional home cleaning services, use your network of trusted relationships to find someone you can trust with your home and belongings. Talk with friends, relatives and neighbors who have hired a cleaning service before; they’ll be able to give you an honest opinion about their experiences, including which companies are good (and bad) at follow-up service calls.
Plus, it’s always helpful when you’ve got someone else on your side willing to help you find a company that meets your needs. If all else fails or if there are no real connections available in your neighborhood, try looking online—search Google Maps or other social media sites like Yelp—to see if anyone in your local area has already suggested a business or posted positive reviews online.
2) Know exactly what you want in a cleaner
One of the main reasons why people have trouble finding home cleaning services is because they don’t know what they want. It’s hard to find a maid service if you’re not sure whether you want someone with experience or without, what hourly rate is fair, and more. So, before you start your search for a cleaner, it’s important to know exactly what you want in terms of experience level and price point. Once you do that, it will be much easier for you to avoid potential headaches like she didn’t clean as well as I’d like or he was late every day. Those aren’t surprises—they’re details that are known upfront.
3) Set the appointment when you are in
Once you have finished writing a business plan and done your research, it’s time to sit down with your accountant or other trusted advisor. Not only will they help you select a business entity that fits your goals and tax situation, but they’ll also be able to help you understand how different professionals work. When shopping for office cleaning services,
for example, I always ask about: insurance liability bonds; experience working with commercial spaces; certification (i.e., are their technicians certified in allergen abatement); specialized training on keeping up with OSHA or EPA standards (i.e., can their cleaners effectively clean up hazardous materials in my space). Knowing who you’re hiring for professional home cleaning gives you confidence that things will go well and keep your business safe as you get started.
4) Get at least 3 quotes
Get at least three quotes, because no two cleaning services are going to charge exactly the same price. Start by asking family and friends for recommendations. You might be surprised by which of your acquaintances already use a cleaning service in addition to doing their own home cleaning tasks, since it’s an oft-overlooked career option. If you don’t have anyone local in your social circle who can refer you, you can always look into other professional home cleaning services near you using sites like Yelp or Angie’s List. But once that first is dust, it doesn’t hurt to start comparing prices before making any commitments.
5) Check references
It’s easy to get lure into a service by a great deal. If you aren’t careful, however, you could end up paying for services that aren’t include in your initial quote, or be surprise by hidden fees and surcharges after you sign on. Some services will charge for travel time between stops or for including flights of stairs in their estimate—which can make all of your savings from being offer free estimates evaporate. In addition to ensuring that no additional fees or charges are tack on down the line, ask about how much and what types of chemicals will be use. If a company uses only water-base products it makes a big difference both in terms of safety (no bleach fumes!) and long-term effectiveness.
6) Do an inspection before signing on
It’s common for there to be a delay between signing on with a home cleaning service and receiving their services. That delay is time you can use effectively! Before you sign on, do an inspection of your house or apartment and make notes of anything that could become a problem or is just generally dirty. When your service arrives, make sure they take note of these items, so they can give them special attention. You may end up paying more per visit if you do it like that, but if it means that things get right—and in less time—it will be worth it.
7) Beware of free offers
Most services that are free offer less than stellar quality. To ensure that you’re receiving a high-quality service, look for professional home cleaning services that have a low base rate with add-ons based on extras such as additional bathrooms or bedding changes. This ensures that there are no hidden costs or additional fees and charges tacked on later. Professional home cleaning companies will also provide reference checks, proof of insurance and give you references from clients they’ve cleaned in your area before. If you’re not comfortable asking for these things or calling prospective cleaners yourself, look for professionals who can arrange all of those details for you.