Top 10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Professional House Cleaning

Unlike a few years ago, homeowners’ are now spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a house cleaning service.

Unlike a few years ago, homeowners’ are now spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a house cleaning service. A simple search online and on the ground for professional house cleaning services reveals numerous companies each claiming to be «the top» or «best in the industry».

This can be rather confusing.

While variety is good, too many options can make it an uphill task to identify a suitable company. Having clarity of what one is looking for in regards to the key factors for consideration will help you find the perfect match.

Below are 10 factors to consider when choosing a professional house cleaning service.

• Reputation
  A company’s suitability can be judged by its reputation. A good place to look to determine if a company is reputable is looking at its customer reviews. A lot of negative reviews can be an indication that a company is unreliable. Ask the company for some referees who can vouch for them. Preferably, the referees should be existing or past clients.
  Some cleaning companies keep written clients’ recommendations that a prospecting client can review. A company that has been in the industry for longer has catered to more clients and therefore has vast experience.
• Cost
  When it comes to cost, it is not about getting the lowest prices; it is about getting value. While the price may give an idea of the quality of work, it is not an absolute indicator. Higher prices do not necessarily indicate high-quality services, neither do lower prices symbolize low quality.
  Ideally, one should find a balance between staying within their budget and quality of services delivered.
  After doing market research, a prospective client should identify top prospects for the job and request them to raise a quotation for their services. A key consideration in terms of costs is how frequently payments will be made. Should they be daily, hourly or monthly? Do they offer a breakdown of the costs?
• Customer service
  In most cases, a cleaning company appoints an account manager for each client. The account manager oversees that cleaning services in the client’s facility are rendered to the client’s satisfaction. In case of concerns and issues, this is the person you will laisse with.
  At the onset of the working relationship, it is important to determine who the account manager is, terms of engagement such as how often they will be meeting with the client and channels of communication. Consider reviews given by the company’s previous clients concerning customer service.

• Licensing and certification
  During the recruitment process, the customer should confirm that the company is registered and certified by the relevant authorities. Request a prospective company to provide proof of certification and licensing. These are an indicator that the company adheres to set regulations for running a commercial cleaning company. The license will also indicate the types of cleaning services for which the company is approved to offer.
• Range of services
  Cleaning services fall into various categories including graffiti removal, daily cleaning, monthly cleans, carpet and upholstery cleaning, stone cleaning, window cleaning, sanitary waste management, and waste management among others. When choosing a cleaning service, you should have clarity of the specific type of cleaning services they require in their premises.
• Staff qualifications and training
  Some of the considerations to make in include: are the cleaners professional? Do they know how to present themselves on the premises they will be working on? Can they be relied on to get the work done well? Do the staff understand the various cleaning equipment and detergents?
  A potential client can acquire such kind of information by enquiring about staff qualifications and training that the company offers its staff. The cleaning company should train its staff on the latest cleaning techniques, safety protocols, cleaning equipment, and materials.
• Tailor-made services
  Cleaning services needs differ from one client to the client. Most house cleaning services understand this. Therefore, when one is looking for a suitable company to do a house deep cleaning, it is always great to inquire with the prospecting companies whether they offer tailor-made services.
  Preferably, settle on those that do; even if at the beginning the one-size-fits-all package may seem suitable. That way, when a need arises for the company to cater to special needs not provided on the one size fits all package, a client is assured to have those unique needs met.

• Company insurance
  Situations may arise where a cleaner damages a client’s property or cleaning related accident occurs. Choosing a professional house cleaning service that is insured against such incidences takes the liability away from the hiring company. Ask for proof insurance during the recruitment process.
• Safety measures
  Cleaning can cause injuries to both your loved ones and cleaning staff. The staff should be well trained on ensuring their own safety as well as that of the employees and clients at the premises they will be working at. They should also have done first aid training for the various possible kind of accidents. Staff should be equipped with the appropriate protective gear.
• Tools and equipment
  Certain kind of cleaning services requires special equipment. Check with the cleaning service providers to ensure that they have the right equipment and they know how to use it appropriately. Also, determine who will be in charge of buying equipment and cleaning supplies and how that will affect the cost of service delivery.
  Some homeowners are keen about going green and would like to incorporate cleaning techniques and practices that are human and environment-friendly. Enquire with the company about their cleaning practices, the kind of products they use and whether there are possible adverse effects to human beings and the environment.

Our Final Word

Hiring a professional to do the legwork for you is the best solution to keeping your home nice and neat. When choosing a professional house cleaning service, be sure to do your due diligence to find the best and most suitable company for the job. Use the pointers above to identify any red flags and also as a guide to getting the best cleaners near you.