Hiring a cleaner for your home can be a tricky process. Adhering to a few essential tips and guidelines can help make the process as smooth as possible. A bit of footwork can help you find the right person (or people) for the job, and save you time in the long run.
Selected House Cleaning Services For You
Estimates in minutes
9.8
Join for Free
9.7
next day availability
9.6
trusted caregivers
9.5
same day availability
9.3
Do you dread the thought of having to clean your house? Do you find yourself always saying, “I’ll do it later?” You might need a maid service. But how do you find and hire one? This article is full of tips for hiring a maid service.
Hiring a house cleaning service can be difficult because there are so many companies out there and so many different prices for their services. If this is something that’s been on your mind, here are some things to consider.
It’s always a good idea to get referrals from friends and family members before hiring anyone to work in your home. This is an excellent call if you know people who regularly have their houses cleaned. Friends and family will be able to give you useful, specific pointers, that will enable you to make an educated decision about who you should hire.
Ensure that you figure out your questions in advance and don’t be afraid to voice any concerns you have. You can also read reviews about good house cleaning services, but make sure you still do your research before hiring them.
When people are satisfied with their service, they are less likely to leave a review. That could mean more negative reviews by default. Plus, what you’re reading is purely subjective and could be motivated by any number of different factors. A bit of critical thinking is a must, but starting out with a company your contacts trust is a helpful move.
Hiring a cleaning service or maid can be tricky. People who work in this industry may not have a specific license that classifies them as a good cleaning crew. Still, there are a few credentials that you can check.
Always look at the local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce. Often, you can find information there that could be helpful, like when the company formed and how many people they’ve served. Verifying a company’s business license is also a simple yet effective measure for avoiding potential scams.
It’s also helpful to understand the difference between bonding, insurance, and workers comp. A bond protects you and your home from criminal activity or any bad behavior, like stealing. Insurance helps you defend against accidents that are generally non-malicious but still happen from time to time. Examples of this would be if the worker accidentally broke a piece of furniture or misplaced a key.
Verify that the company that you’re working with covers both bonding and insurance. Also, look into what their policies are if someone sustains an injury on your property. Failing to do this might put you at risk for lawsuits.
Experience matters, and most people want to work with companies with at least a few years under their belts. You should also ask for, and check, references. Although the company that you’re hiring will be highly unlikely to give you bad references, it’s still an excellent practice to adhere to.
Depending on where you’re located, the company of your choice could have won professional awards or be part of a reputable organization. The more information that they have regarding their accreditations, affiliations, and awards, the better. One word of caution; stay away from any company that doesn’t exhibit full transparency. If you request some information and they balk at giving it to you, that’s a big red flag.
Simply put, can the company do what you need them to do? Some cleaning agencies or individuals only work on specific parts of the house. In your initial interview with your house cleaning agency, make sure you let them know exactly what you expect and get total clarity on whether or not they will be able to meet your needs.
Some companies offer fixed services rather than custom cleans. If this is the case, review what kind of services they offer before hiring them. You can also ask if they would be flexible to accommodate you on smaller tasks if need be.
What happens if you’re not satisfied with the service? Although it’s unpleasant to think about, there is a chance that you might not be happy with the job. Talk to prospective companies about a full satisfaction guarantee. Do they offer it? How will they handle the situation if you’re dissatisfied? Some companies offer a complete guarantee of satisfaction, and others will refund you or have a different employee come out to finish the work. You should be crystal clear on this before moving forward.
Understand whether you’re working with employees or contract workers. Many housekeepers own their own business, considering themselves to be sole proprietors. Since they’re their own bosses, you may have more flexibility with them in regards to the type of work done or things like payment schedules and extra fees.
Other workers are employees and represent their companies. If you hire someone from an agency, this is generally what you can expect to get. One key benefit to hiring an employee is that they’re generally pre-screened, and you have a company that you can complain to if need be.
Regardless of the direction that you choose to go, take your time making a decision. Thoroughly vet the person or people that you have come out to clean your home.
It’s a good idea to interview multiple services. You can get a better ballpark of pricing, find the most compatible agency, and feel like you’ve fully vetted all of your options when you make the final decision. Even if you get a recommendation from a friend or family member, it’s still wise to ensure that you’re covering all of your bases.
Have an exact list of questions that you use across the board. This will help you look at all of the candidates objectively and make a better decision in the long run.
Many times, people make a lot of assumptions when it comes to cleaning supplies, and it does not always work out in their favor. Every agency is different, so it’s a good idea to talk about who will be providing the cleaning supplies and what cleaning supplies they’re using. If you care about using only eco-friendly cleaning supplies, make sure that you make your wishes known right away.
Sometimes agencies will provide their own cleaning supplies but expect you to supply the tools, and sometimes it’s vice versa. Make sure that you let the agency know about any products that you or your family members are allergic to. Let them know what products that they can’t use around any other inhabitants of your home, like pets.
In your negotiations with prospective housekeepers or agencies, it’s crucial to nail down whether you will be working with a flat fee or an hourly rate. A flat fee is a single price related to a job done, whereas an hourly rate refers to the amount of money you will need to pay your housekeeper or agency to complete a job.
One of the risks of setting up hourly rates is having the housekeeper or employee dawdle doing tasks to make more money for less work. Most people prefer to set up a flat rate schedule.
There’s no reason to set up a multi-month contract right off the bat. You need to feel out the housekeeper, and they need to feel you out as well, so it’s a good idea to set up a trial period of a few weeks to make sure that you’re compatible. Most agencies will agree to this, and those that don’t may have some other type of problem that you’re not aware of.
Ultimately, trial periods protect everyone and allow the two of you to break up on good terms if it is not going to work out.
It’s absolutely vital to set clear expectations right off the bat. Talk about the scope of the work that you want to be done and the ideal cleaning schedule. Talk about specifics, for example, if you need a deep-clean once a month or if you need the team to do additional tasks, like polishing baseboards.
Talk about money honestly and openly. Explain what you’re willing to pay and what you expect to happen. Although sometimes conversations about money can be uncomfortable, you must have them upfront.
Most companies and housekeepers prefer to work uninterrupted. Still, until you understand their process and are comfortable with them in your home, it’s perfectly acceptable to stay close for the first couple of cleanings. Most housekeepers and agencies fully expect this treatment, and those that don’t are exhibiting behavior that could be problematic.
By following these simple and practical tips, you will be far more likely to form a good, mutually beneficial relationship with your housekeeper or house cleaning service for months or years to come.
Subscribe for Updates
Subscribe today for early access to new product and service reviews.