If you’ve decided that you don’t want to do your own cleaning and that you are going to hire a cleaning service – good for you. There are plenty of other and more fun thing you can do with your time.
However, that’s where you come to a bit of a problem. With the proliferation of cleaning services across the country, chances are that some of them will be less than ideal. So, how do you find a suitable cleaner near you?
We reached out to Eco Mama, a cleaning service with plenty of experience, who graciously shared some of the most important traits of a quality cleaning service you should be on a lookout for.
See If They Specialize in a Type of Cleaning
There are two broad categories of cleaning services – the generalists and specialists. If you’re looking for someone to clean your home regularly, let’s say once a week, or once a month – you’re probably looking for a generalist cleaning company. They will have a wider selection of services, as well as a detailed list of what services are included in each kind of cleaning. With such transparency, you should be able to find the cleaning you’re looking for.
On the other hand, if you require a move out cleaning, or a deep cleaning, chances are that you want to pick a company that specializes in that kind of service. These kinds of cleaning require either specialized equipment or special knowledge, or both.
Are the Cleaners Bonded and Insured
Depending on where in the US you are, cleaning services need to follow different guidelines when it comes to their employees. And this openness to interpretation can be problematic. For instance, if the company is not required by law to bond and insure their cleaners – they might see it as a cost-cutting measure and simply skip that step.
What that means for you is that any injury that occurs to the cleaning professional on your property is your responsibility – and you may get sued. Naturally, any company that bonds and insures their workers will have it displayed on their website. If you don’t see this notice, be cautious.
Check Their Online Reviews
In today’s world of online presence, most companies will have a website or at least some kind of online presentation. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and to display the services they offer in a much more visceral way than a flyer or a magazine ad.
However, the internet is an amazingly democratic place – as much as it is useful to the businesses, it’s helpful to potential customers, too. There are services online that hold companies accountable through online reviews. Services such as Yelp, BBB, or Google Reviews enable people who had experiences with the company to leave a review of their impressions.
These can be incredibly helpful – just make sure to read a few good reviews as well as a few bad ones. This way, you can get a clearer picture of how the company works and if that’s compatible with your expectations.
Don’t Judge the Company on the Cost Alone
Just like with any other business, there are tiers of service and tiers of cost. But the cost shouldn’t be the only indicator you look at when picking a cleaner to clean your home.
Instead, use a multi-faceted approach – does the cost reflect the service the company offers, and does that seem compatible with the reviews you found online. Only then can you get a clearer picture of the company and conclude if they are a company for you and if you can work with them.
