Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
IICRC Articles
Features
For many people, house cleaning is a way to work off the day’s stress and enjoy the house they have made into a loving home. But let’s face it – sometimes cleaning can get overwhelming. When life gets too busy, many families look to professional cleaning services for relief. The benefits of a professional cleaning service are many: more time with the kids, more time to concentrate on work, or just more time to enjoy life. Unfortunately, some cleaning services are less than professional, and it can be difficult to separate the good from the bad at first glance. Follow the tips below and you will be better prepared to select an honest, reliable cleaning service – and enjoy the benefits.
The decision to hire a cleaning service is unique in that you will be paying someone to enter your home and physically touch many of your cherished possessions. You and your family may have questions such as: What should we look for in a cleaning service? What questions should we ask of the person we speak with? Who will actually be cleaning our home? Will we be liable if someone sustains an injury while cleaning? If we’re not happy with the cleaning, is there a way for us to address our concerns?
The Interview
Most reputable cleaning companies require an in-home consultation. The company uses the in-home consultation to estimate their price based on the size and condition of your home. You can use the in-home consultation to address any questions or concerns you have about the company.
It is a good idea to request that the person who will actually be cleaning your home attend, so you may meet them. You will almost certainly have questions about scheduling and costs, but this is also a great chance to ask questions that will tell you about the integrity of the company and the person.
During the in-home consultation, the person sitting before you is applying for a job cleaning your home, therefore they are an applicant. Like any other job interview, ask to see a form of identification, such as a driver’s license. Also ask them to tell you a little bit about themselves. This gives you an opportunity to evaluate whether or not the applicant has strong ties to the community. An applicant with strong ties to the community is much less likely to provide a poor service than someone who is more or less “passing through.” This question is a great lead-in for you to ask for references. Other questions you may consider could be: “Does your company do any charity work?” or “Do you make any donations to the community?”
Don’t hesitate to ask (informally) about the applicant’s family. For most cleaning professionals, this is a great opportunity to brag about their children or complain about the poor decision their teenager recently made. After all, the applicant may become well known around your home if you are satisfied with their services and you likely want to know if the applicant will interact well with children if you have any.
It is also a good idea to ask the applicant if they have worked in any other states. Most states offer free public access to court information though state government offices. A few moments spent looking through court records on the Internet may save you headaches down the road.
Ask the applicant a few hypothetical questions that are centered on their personal integrity, or how they apply their morals to real life. Questions that force a person to apply their ethics to a hypothetical situation can be very illuminating. For example, you may consider asking what the applicant thinks should happen to a person who is caught stealing. Think twice about an applicant who believes the hypothetical criminal should be given a second chance!
Last but not least, ask if they are insured, ask who is liable for accidents that occur on your premises, and ask for references from past customers. A company that provides a good service and maintains strong ties to the community should have no problem providing you with the names of a few of their customers. Follow up on these references to find out specifics about the service that was provided by the company and if they would use them again. People may be naturally hesitant to venture negative information, so less direct questions like “Would you recommend this company to your friends?” and “How long do you think you’ll use their service in the future” can be very informative.
Online Research and References
The Internet is an amazing tool, when you know what to look for. In today’s digital age, complaints or recommendations about companies or people are often made online before anywhere else. Several Web sites can be of assistance when researching a company or an employee. Sites like Google are helpful when looking for online complaints on a company. Other sites, such as Citysearch.com and Yelp.com offer consumer reviews of companies and services. Don’t forget to search just the business owner’s name; you may discover that they have made large donations to charity or, less likely, that they have had a questionable past.Listen to Yourself
In addition to the suggestions above, it’s always a good idea to listen to yourself, and be honest about your feelings about a person or company. If you get a bad feeling, there is a good chance your body has picked up on a subtle hint about a person or company, and you should take that very seriously.
Go for it!
Hopefully now you are well on your way to choosing a trustworthy cleaning company, and enjoying the benefits of a good decision. With a little research and preparation, you are very likely to have a great experience.
