Thank you for scheduling a call-back with our cleaning experts!
We understand the importance of choosing the right house-cleaning help for your needs. To assist you in making an informed decision, we have provided vital information to help you select the perfect cleaning service. Please explore our website and discover why we are the best choice for achieving a clean and pristine home.
9 Essential Questions
To Ask Before Hiring a Cleaning Service
Don't hire a cleaning service before asking these 9 essential questions! You can find Happy Maids' answers to these questions and more on our FAQ and Help & Policies pages.
0
How long have you been in business?
It takes little more than good intentions and a mop and bucket to start a cleaning business, but running a professional, sustainable company takes far more. As a result, the failure rates for the industry are staggering. 50% will go out of business within the first year. By the end of the fifth year, nearly 90% will have closed their doors for good. This is not to say you should not consider hiring a cleaning service that is newly formed(we all start somewhere), but generally, the longer a company has been in business, the more likely they are to be around in the future.
0
Are you insured? What happens if something in my home is broken or damaged?
Proper insurance (at least one million dollars in coverage - two million is better) is vital. An uninsured company will absolutely be cheaper, but when the finish is eaten off your wood floors, your stainless-steel appliances are scratched, or your grandmother’s vase is broken, they are also the ones who will not be able to afford to compensate you for it, leaving you to foot the bill. Always verify insurance coverage with the company’s insurance provider when hiring a cleaning service. Ideally, there should be a written policy in place regarding procedures for dealing with breakage/damage. Ask to see it.
0
Do you carry workman’s compensation insurance on all of your employees?
Workman’s comp is required for all employees under Illinois law, yet very few cleaning companies comply because it is so expensive. This opens you up to the significant risk of a lawsuit if a cleaner is injured in your home. The trouble is even greater with an independent maid since technically, YOU are their employer.
0
How do you prescreen your employees?
Does the company check references? Perform criminal background checks? Are they willing to provide proof? If they are an independent cleaning person, are they ready to provide you with a copy of their background check at their expense?
0
What does your training program consist of?
The turnover in the industry is high, and many services are just desperate for “warm bodies” to throw out there and get the work done. It is not uncommon for new hires to get very little training or no training at all. The best companies will have formal, documented, ongoing training programs. This helps ensure consistency in quality and reduce the turnover of the staff who clean your home.
0
Can you provide me with a written checklist of tasks to be performed?
This is extremely important to know before hiring a cleaning service. Different companies have different ideas of what a basic service consists of. It is important to know precisely what you are paying for and know you are truly comparing apples to apples when making a final decision. Some of the more common areas of potential confusion are dishes, stripping and making beds, laundry, a high dusting of ceiling fan blades, high-reach window sills, handling of children’s toys, and the handling of trash throughout the home. You can save yourself a lot of potential grief by getting written specifications upfront.
0
Do you have a formal quality assurance program in place?
What methods does the company use to measure quality on an ongoing basis? Do they perform regular quality checks, mail surveys, leave behind comment cards, or do follow-up phone calls? If so, how frequently? Do they have a specific person in charge of quality assurance?
0
What happens if I am unhappy with my cleaning?
Some cleaning services only offer a specified percentage off your next service if you are displeased. Why would you even want to use them again if you are dissatisfied and they won’t fix it? A reputable service should come back immediately and do whatever is necessary to resolve the problem or be willing to offer you your money back.
0
Who provides the equipment and supplies?
Look for a company that provides all of their supplies and equipment. Employees are less likely to misuse (Windex on granite countertops, green scrub pads on the stainless-steel stove, etc.) products they are familiar with and trained to use. Additionally, providing supplies for your cleaner can easily add hundreds of dollars a year to your total cleaning bill due to the high volume of products used in a thorough cleaning.