Simple Tips on How to Choose the Best House Cleaning Service
Lessen the Scope
First of all, it’s important to take stock of the things you really want cleaned because not all cleaning services perform the same services. For example, some do your laundry, make the beds, wash the dishes, etc. – so it’s important to know what you need before you book and make sure that the company you hire does those tasks. Don’t assume anything. There’s nothing worse than coming home and expecting the laundry to be folded and realize it’s not done because it’s not part of their service contract with you.
The More Frequent the Appointments, the Better
Need a monthly cleaning, bi-weekly, or weekly cleaning? Or maybe just a one time clean for moving out? Take a really close look at how often you need house cleaning appointments. Maybe you can get away with bi-weekly cleanings instead of weekly? Just keep in mind that generally, the more frequent your appointments are, the cheaper it will be in terms of cost per visit.
Look Up Reviews Or Ask Friends For Recommendations
Asking friends, family and coworkers who have had hired a house cleaning service before for their recommendation can save you a lot of headaches because you can be relatively sure that if they had a good experience, you will too. That’s one of the main ways Scrubbi grew the way we did. A side benefit of going through a cleaning service that was recommended you is that in some cases, they’ll give a referral credit to you AND a credit to the person recommending you. It’s a win-win for both of you.
Flat Rates and Walk-throughs
You know that jaw-dropping cleaning quote that’s $100 less than the others? Yes it sounds great and all but you’ll definitely want to double check to see if it’s a flat rate. Chances are that it’s not and that they’ve grossly under estimated the job. Which is how you could end up with a surprise $350 bill at the end when you thought you were getting it for about $170.
Look For A Better Cleaning Experience
There are advantages and disadvantages to each and those differences lead to huge differences in terms of your experience. Everything from online customer support chat to scheduling, appointment reminders, and more, we use technology to create a better customer experience for you.
Tips to Find the Right House Cleaning Service to Fit your Needs
Know What You Need in a Maid Service
Before you start calling up maid service companies in Chicago, make sure you know your cleaning needs. Identify what rooms, in particular, you’d like cleaned on a regular basis. Of these rooms, decide what type of cleaning you’ll need.
Choose the Right Type of House Cleaning Service
There isn’t just one catch-all type of house cleaning. It’s possible to hire someone from a larger cleaning service, for example. You can also hire a private house cleaner who operates independently and charges by the hour or month.
Research the House Cleaning Service Company
Take your time to research the type of cleaning services you need. Browse for house cleaning service companies in Chicago online, for example. If possible, obtain recommendations or reviews for whatever service you’re seeking. Talk to friends and family members for referrals.
Secrets to Hiring a House Cleaning Service!
Get Referrals From Family & Friends
Start by asking friends and family who they use – referrals give you an inside look at what a company is all about – not just what they say on their website (let’s be honest, a company can write anything). Companies can make themselves sound amazing, credible and experienced, but a referral from a friend or family can paint a different picture and carries more weight.
Take Online Reviews With a Grain of Salt
Happy people don’t tend to write as many reviews as unhappy people who feel compelled to shower the world with their terrible experiences. Remember, oftentimes, those reviews are people using it as an opportunity to vent, blow a story out of proportion, or try to damage the reputation of the company. If a company has ALL terrible reviews, that’s definitely a red flag, but if they have mostly good reviews and a few bad ones, that’s pretty average. No one is perfect.
Bonding, Insurance & Worker’s Compensation
Does the company have the ability to cover the costs of any damage done to your home, any theft, or if an injury occurs on your property? If they don’t have this coverage, you could be on the hook for money, items stolen, property damaged, or an injured worker. A company should be willing to tell you if they have this coverage and provide copies of their policies at your request.
Experience, Affiliations & Accreditations
How long have they been in business for? Does the company have any awards, accreditations, or affiliations with professional organizations? I like to look out for this because it makes me feel reassured that a company is trustworthy and concerned with their reputation.
Service Offerings
Does the company take requests or offer a fixed service? How detailed will they get? Depending on what you want to be done, inquire as to what level of service is offered. If you can customize it and hire someone to come and tick a bunch of things off your to-do list, or if you just get the same service each visit irrespective of what you want to be done, or, if you can do a combination. Companies offer a variety of options; none are right or wrong, you just need to find what suits your needs and your lifestyle.
Tips for Hiring a House Cleaner
Plan Ahead
When you are considering hiring someone to help clean your home, it’s important to think ahead. Most cleaners have regular clients that fill most of their schedule, so getting your first appointment may take a few days. This is even more true around the holidays. Everyone wants their home to be in tip-top shape for the holidays, so cleaners often book out weeks in advance. I always feel horrible when my house cleaning company gets phone calls from people the week before Thanksgiving or Christmas, and they need help before hosting the big events. Those spots fill up first, so if you know you’re going to need help, start calling around to book your appointment early!
Get Recommendations
Once you’ve decided what type of cleaner you want to hire, it’s time to get some recommendations. Try asking people you know if they have a person or company they would recommend. Ideally someone in your circle either is either currently using a cleaner, or they have used one in the recent past that they would highly recommend.
Search Online Sources
If you aren’t able to get a good referral from people you know, it’s time to hop online. A quick Google search of “house cleaning (your city name)” will provide you a long list of websites that are targeting your city with their marketing. You also might find a few more possibilities by searching on Craigslist or looking through classified ads. Once you find a few that you like, make sure to check out their Yelp and Google reviews to see what others in your area are saying about the companies. I’d recommend doing this before you even check out their websites or call them. You might only find a couple reviews, but they could help you eliminate ones that consistently let their clients down.
Ask for References
If the person or company you are looking at hiring doesn’t have any online reviews, ask them if you can speak with a few of their current clients. Smaller companies and independent contractors may not have taken the time to set up their online marketing, but they should have at least a couple people who can tell you about their quality of service. If they aren’t willing to connect you with any of their clients for any reason, steer clear. If they have a good working relationship with their clients, at least a couple people should be willing to vouch for them.
Be Clear in Your Communications
This tip can be a really tough one for some people. As I mentioned before, there are many different ways to clean a house, and each client thinks their way is the right way. Some people think floors should be vacuumed before dusting because vacuuming can stir up dust from the floors that then settles on the furniture. Other people think that floors should be cleaned last because everything can get knocked down on them. Some people think bleach is needed to disinfect toilets, others don’t want bleach in their homes at all. Some people want their dishes washed and put away, others can’t stand the thought of having a cleaner touch the dishes and want the dirty dishes to be piled into a clean sink. You name it, we’ve heard a complaint about it.
How to choose the right cleaning service this spring
Do Your Research.
Ask friends, family members, and neighbors to recommend a reputable cleaning business or individual. Check out the businesses through bbb.org to read reviews or complaints on them. Beware of businesses with poor reviews and multiple complaints, more importantly see how they address them. Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal.
Interview Candidates.
Interview multiple candidates to determine if you would rather hire a large cleaning business or an individual cleaning person. During the interview you should be able to meet with someone from the cleaning business, as well as, with the person who will actually be cleaning your home. During the interview process find someone you feel comfortable with since they will be working in your home.
Check Credentials.
Any individual or business you hire should be registered*, bonded and insured to work in your home. This will protect you in the event something is broken, stolen, or if someone gets injured on the job. Whether you hire an individual or a business, be sure to request that the employees working in your home have a background check done, or you may want to complete one on them yourself for peace of mind.
Request References.
Ask that the business or individual you hire provide you with a list of references you may contact. When speaking with the references, look for a business or individual that has repeat satisfied customers. Ask the references about the services they use and if the business lives up to their expectations.
Discuss Cost.
Determine whether you will need to hire the cleaning service for a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly visit and ask about their pricing. Find out exactly what is included in their services and make sure it encompasses everything you wish to have cleaned. The business should walk through your home before giving you an estimate. Be sure to find out if the cleaning business provides their own cleaning supplies, if not the cost of the services should be less expensive. Keep in mind the least expensive cleaning services may not be giving you the best deal for your money.