Five Tips for Choosing a Home Cleaning Company

There are many home cleaning companies to select from and you want to make sure you are getting the most for your cleaning dollar. Here are five tips for choosing a professional cleaning service for your home.

Tip 1 - Interview the Company

Don't make the mistake of hiring a company straight from the phone book or from a business card. Take the time to interview not only the company's representative, but also the person or persons who will be cleaning your home. This way, you can assess their communication skills and whether or not you are comfortable with their demeanour.

Tip 2 - Make it Clear

Don't balk at giving instructions. You have hired this company to do a job for you and it should be clear what you consider "clean". If you have particular jobs that must be done at each visit, such as having beds made or a load of laundry run you must delineate this in writing in the very beginning. Most cleaning companies will have a list of standard tasks they perform at each visit, so check through this and make sure this meets your expectations.

Tip 3 - Check for Insurance

It is important to work only with companies whose employees are bonded and insured. Background checks should be standard company policy as well, as these employees will have access to your home. At times, you may not even be at home when they come to clean, so it is important that employees are trustworthy and reliable.

Tip 4 - Providing Supplies

It is critical to determine up front who will be supplying the cleaning materials (buckets, rags, cleaning solutions, vacuums, etc.). Some companies offer a discount if they can use the client's supplies; others insist on bringing their own. If you are interested in green cleaning solutions find a company that advertises safe, organic or natural cleaning. If you find a company that you love that doesn't use natural cleaning solutions, you may be able to provide them yourself.

Tip 5 - Determine the Rate

Some cleaning services charge by the hour; others by the job. Make sure you do a walk-through of your home with the company representative and the home cleaner to make sure you all agree on the way the project will be charged. Also, determine how often the company will visit your home for cleaning. The most popular is once every two weeks, but many companies will come weekly or monthly as well. Some companies also offer spring or fall cleaning specials for those who only want to use the service once or twice a year.