86% of Americans feel more relaxed when their home is clean. But the problem is, with how busy we are nowadays, it’s tough to find time to give your house a scrub down. It can be stressful and uncomfortable to live in a home that could be cleaner and tidier. So a great way to make it that way is to hire house cleaners to do the job. But not all maid services are created equally. And you don’t want to waste your time and money on hiring a house cleaner that won’t do an excellent job.
So how can you vet house cleaning companies better?
In this article, we’ll show you 7 questions you should ask before hiring a maid.
1. How Much Experience Do You Have?
You might think cleaning a house is something you don’t need much experience to do, but think again. It takes years of hands-on experience to figure out the most effective way to clean certain items and the right order to handle things to make the most of your time.
If you’ve got treasured items that are irreplaceable, you don’t want any random person to do your cleaning. Otherwise, you risk them damaging them in the process or even worse, breaking them completely.
2. Are You Insured?
Even the most experienced cleaner will make mistakes every once in a while. And when that happens, you want them to be insured. That way, you won’t have to be liable and pay out of pocket to rectify the situation.
For instance, maybe a cleaner slips on the floor or falls off the ladder while performing housekeeping services in your home. A reputable company will have a good insurance policy with workers’ compensation to ensure their employees get proper medical care and compensation if they have to take time off.
Or maybe a cleaner knocks a valuable vase off of your mantle while dusting. The company they work for should be able to reimburse you for the loss.
3. Do You Background Check Your Employees?
Your home is a safe space and it can be daunting to let someone in. Not only will they know where you live, but they’ll also figure out where all your valuables are.
It’s vital that a house cleaning company vet and background check their employees. While it’s not a foolproof process, at least this eliminates the possibility of registered offenders being in your personal space.
4. Do You Use Eco-Friendly Products?
Whether it’s because you don’t want harsh chemicals to affect your household’s health or you actually care about using eco-friendly products, you should check and see what cleaning products the company uses. If you’re not ok with them, see if they’re able to swap them out for gentler, more natural options for your home.
If not, most companies will allow you to supply your own cleaning products for the maids. Just make sure you explain where you want each product used when they arrive.
On that note, you’ll want to double-check whether the cleaners will bring their own cleaning products and equipment or if you need to provide them. This can help you avoid a surprise and setbacks when they come.
5. Can You Customize Cleaning Schedules?
Not everybody needs their house cleaned on a weekly schedule. Some prefer every other week, just once a month, or some random cleanings here and there. So it’s important that you ask the cleaning company about customized cleaning schedules to determine whether or not they can accommodate your needs.
Here, you should also check what their cancellation policy is. Things happen, so if you need to cancel a scheduled cleaning, you need to know if there are fees you need to pay.
6. What Does the Cleaning Entail?
You might think that every nook and cranny will be cleaned when the maids come. But you’d be surprised to find out what areas they don’t normally clean. For example, not every cleaner will handle changing bedsheets, cleaning ceiling fans, doing the laundry, cleaning the garage, etc.
If you need extra services on top of the basic ones, ask if they are able to (for an extra fee, of course). This can help you figure out if a certain company’s housekeeping services are right for you.
7. How Much Do You Charge?
And of course, the most important question is how much they charge. If the price is too high for your budget, it won’t be feasible to hire a company, even if it seems like they’re perfect for you.
Keep in mind that you can ask the cleaners not to clean certain areas if you prefer to do it yourself. This can also lower the price a little.
Another way to get a lower price is to schedule regular cleanings. For instance, if you book them to do weekly or biweekly cleanings, most cleaners will give you a discount since your house will be better maintained and therefore, easier to clean each time they visit.
Make Hiring a House Cleaner Easier by Asking Questions
When hiring a house cleaner, you’re letting people into your home, which requires a lot of trust. So don’t be afraid to ask questions, as they’ll help you determine who has the best maid service and can reliably keep your house clean and have it look pristine.
Now that you have a list of great questions to ask, you should be able to confidently choose the housekeeping services that are right for you. You’re well on your way to a cleaner house!
If you’re ready to get quality house cleaning services, then request a quote from us now. We were voted Best of Fort Myers 3 years in a row!
