When it comes to hiring a maid service, you would want to choose an agency that will clean the way you would if you had time. In addition, you want them to be professional, courteous and trustworthy. You want to be able to trust the people you hire to clean and to do what is needed in a timely manner.
A maid agency that provides professional, courteous and trustworthy cleaners is not hard to find. Here are 7 things to look for when choosing the right maid service to help you out at home.
1. Get References
When you call an agency for maid services, ask for references. Then, be sure to call the people on the list to make sure they are happy with the services they are receiving.
Ask the residents’ questions about how well the maids clean, if they are on time and if there has ever been any accidents. These are things another homeowner will tell you, but a cleaning agency might not divulge.
Ask your coworkers, neighbors and friends for recommendations when it comes to trustworthy cleaning companies. You may get a longer list of places to investigate, but it is worth it when it comes to finding the right cleaning services for your home.
2. Get a Free Estimate
A reputable company, no matter what services they offer, should give you a free estimate. Sometimes the estimate is over the phone, and they rely on what you tell them about what needs to be done within the house.
Some companies cannot offer an estimate unless they see exactly what your house looks like. They may also have a list of services they perform and need to compare that with what you want them to do.
Some companies will charge a nominal fee for an estimate, but will apply the amount to your first appointment. This would only be a loss if you do not go with that particular company.
3. Ask Questions
Besides the price, which is often dependent on what needs to be done in the house, there are other questions you should be asking. They include:
- How many people will come to the house?
- Will the same people come each time, or will it be a new crew each time?
- What type of products does your company use?
- Are the products used safe for children and/or pets
- What if I don’t like the smell of something or someone in my family is allergic to a certain cleaning product?
- Do I have to commit to a certain number of hours per week or month?
- What type of insurance do you carry on the business? What about insurance on the employees?
You will also need to ask the company if they are okay with pets if you have them. Most likely, they will ask that you kennel them or take them somewhere outside of the home when the cleaning crew visits.
4. Be Honest
If you haven’t cleaned in a while, be honest with the agency. They have seen it all before. If you have a room that you don’t want them to clean, tell them. You don’t have to justify or give reasons for any of your mess; it is your house and they are not there to judge you, just help you.
The first cleaning may take longer and cost more, but after that, the regular cleaning should be quicker and be a little less expensive. However, this is dependent on what is needed in the beginning and each time the cleaners visit.
Whatever you do, don’t clean your house before the cleaning crew comes out. This may sound like a no-brainer, but there are people who don’t want a cleaning crew to see how cluttered and messy they really are.
5. What About Yearly Extras?
Ask if the cleaning services include yearly extras. Sometimes there are things that need to be done only once or twice a year, like a “spring cleaning” in different rooms. This will cost extra, but often worth the money to have something done that you keep putting off.
Sometimes it might be a twice a year window cleaning or taking down the light fixtures for a good scrubbing. These may already be scheduled into a monthly or every few month cleaning, but you won’t know unless you ask.
6. Special Occasion Cleaning
Ask if the cleaning agency does special occasion cleaning. This could include a deep cleaning before the winter holidays, before an important family event like a graduation party or other type of gathering.
This type of cleaning may include helping to move furniture or set up tables and decorations. The cleaners may also be asked to wash flatware, dishes and other types of food service items.
This may include bringing tables, chairs, dishes and such from another area of the house or property. Due to insurance reasons, you may have to ask the office if it is okay for the regular cleaners to go in the attic, the basement or a garage to bring items to the main area of the house.
Always tell the main office if you have extra work for the regular cleaning crew. This will allow the office to figure out if the is an extra fee and where the time has been spent at your home. The office keeps a record of the time the cleaners are at each house and what they do in each space.
7. Emergency Cleaning
You may never need emergency cleanings such as that needed after a flood or fire, but it is nice to know if your regular cleaning company can provide this type of service. After something so horrible, you won’t want strangers in your home; you would want your regular cleaning crew that you already know and trust to help you clean up after a devastating event.
When searching for a cleaning company, be sure to ask questions so you get what you want. You also need to go with your gut, if the crew, they send makes you uncomfortable in any way, tell the person in charge.
