Hiring a house cleaning service is more than just a luxury - it’s an overall smart choice. Did you know that the average household dedicates about 6 hours per week to cleaning? Think about what you could do with that much time on your hands.
Balancing a family, full-time job, and an endless list of tasks makes it nearly impossible to keep a clean house 24/7. A cleaning service saves you time and effort, and boosts your home's value with regular maintenance.
Hiring a cleaning service for your home seems like a no-brainer. Finding one that you can trust and fits your specific needs may take some time and research.
To help, here’s a list of things you should be looking for in a house cleaning service.
1. Quality Reviews & Referrals
First, the cleaning company you choose should be reputable, trustworthy, and licensed to operate in your state. Giving a random person access to your home and personal belongings always feels risky. A reputable house cleaner can provide a sense of security and comfort in your home.
It’s always best to start your search by asking a neighbor, friend, or someone in your community. Personal recommendations are the most effective way of vetting out potential cleaners before speaking to them on the phone. You can learn in more detail about their employees work-ethic, communication, professionalism, and trustworthiness. Joining a Facebook Group community page is another great way to get advice and suggestions from other members of the community.
The next best option is searching online for reviews and testimonials. The first cleaner that pops up on your Google search shouldn’t be your determining factor. This also doesn’t mean making your decision based on one positive review on the cleaner’s website. Use Google or your preferred search engine, and look at the cleaning companies in your area. To find a list of the most popular or “best” cleaners based on where you live, look at Yelp or local review websites.
As you begin calling potential cleaning services, also ask for references. Any reputable company will be happy to provide you with referrals from previous clients.
2. Friendly & Good Communication Skills
Reviews and referrals are important, but it's also crucial to talk or meet the cleaner before booking their service. While you can find information on their company website, talking to someone in person or on the phone can reveal their friendliness and communication skills better. This is a time where you can ask specific questions about the service and be clear about your specific needs. The house cleaning service should be extremely professional, friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you may have.
Here are specific questions you should be asking your potential house cleaning service are:
How long have you been cleaning houses?
What specific cleaning services do you offer? Are there any you do not offer?
Do you provide a variety of cleaning services (deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning)?
What are your available days and hours for cleaning?
Do you offer regular cleaning services like weekly or monthly?
Do you bring your own cleaning supplies and equipment?
Are your cleaning products safe for the environment, children, and pets?
How do you charge your services (hourly rate or flat fee)? Are there any additional fees for specific services or supplies?
Are you insured, bonded, and licensed in the state? Can you share proof?
What happens if I find something damaged, broken, or missing during my cleaning?
Do you conduct background checks on your employees?
How do you ensure the security of my property and belongings?
How do you prefer to communicate with clients (phone, email, text)?
Can I customize the cleaning checklist based on my preferences?
Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee? If so, what does it entail?
Can you provide references from previous clients?
By asking these questions you can have a better sense of who they are and if their cleaning services match your needs. Most importantly, you can get a sense of their customer service skills.
3. Proof of Insurance, Bonding, and Licensing
Anyone working on your property should have insurance, bonding, and a license in your area. On the off chance you find something broken or missing, you’ll want the house cleaner to cover costs or damages. Before making any decisions, ask if they have insured and bonded and also licensed in the state. A professional cleaning service will provide you with a copy of certificates and proof.
Is the House Cleaner Insured?
Cleaning companies should have insurance coverage to protect themselves, their employees, and their clients. Despite a house cleaner's best efforts, accidents still happen. Insurance covers accidents like slips, falls, and damage to clients' property during cleaning.
Without proper insurance, you may be financially responsible for any costs related to damages or injuries. A cleaning company should have general liability and Worker's Compensation insurance. These coverages protect the company in case of accidents.
Is the House Cleaner Bonded?
A common concern when hiring at-home services is the risk of personal belongings being damaged, broken, or stolen. So it is extremely important to choose a house cleaning company with bonding.
When a housekeeper is bonded, they are covered by a type of insurance called a surety bond. A surety bond is there to protect you in case you find something damaged, broken, or missing after your house cleaning. The bonding company is there to look into the case and ensure clients are compensated for verified losses.
Overall, a bonded house cleaning service is professional and trustworthy, ensuring you're protected from potential losses.
Is the House Cleaner Licensed?
A reputable house cleaning company will be licensed in the state(s) they operate in. This means that the cleaning company meets all legal requirements to do business in their specified area. Just like insurance and bonding, licensing shows that the company is credible and has taken preventative steps so that all parties are safe in the event of accidents.
4. Variety of Cleaning Services Offered
Find a house cleaning service that can meet your specified cleaning needs. You should know what kind of cleaning services you want for your home. People have certain needs for a cleaned home that not all companies are able to do. Knowing exactly what you want will help speed up the search tremendously.
Before you think about calling a potential cleaner, you should assess your specific cleaning needs like:
Do you want a one time, monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly cleaning?
Do you want a standard cleaning service, deep cleaning service, or want additional cleaning services?
Are you moving in or moving out of a home and want it cleaned?
Do you want extra rooms you want cleaned?
Most house cleaning companies will have a website, sharing information about the services they provide. Be sure to check this out before making a call and see if they have the services you are looking for. They also may have a FAQs page where they have answers to frequently asked questions they get from customers. A good house cleaning service will offer a variety of flexible options tailored to your specific needs.
The cleaning supplies a house cleaner uses can also indicate their quality of their work.
Professional Cleaning Products
A house cleaning service is only as good as the products and equipment they use. Look for a service that brings their own high quality cleaning products.
To guarantee you’re getting the best and safest house cleaning, you can ask what cleaning products the company uses. If a company calls themselves a ‘professional house cleaning service’, they should be using professional grade products and equipment. These aren’t your everyday, multi-purpose sprays. Professional cleaning supplies are designed to perform the deepest, most thorough cleaning.
If you have children, pets, or allergies, you’ll want to be positive they have non-toxic and eco-friendly cleaning products. Regardless, house cleaners should use quality products and modern equipment for effective cleaning without harming your home or the environment.
5. Cost Aligns with the Cleaning Service
A house cleaning service is a great investment, but how much are you willing to spend? You’ll be met with a range of price points so it’s important to find a house cleaner that is transparent and is in your budget.
After deciding what cleaning services you want for your home, understand how much that’s going to cost. Compare pricing from multiple cleaning services to ensure you’re getting a fair price for the services provided.
The cost of your house cleaning service depends on different factors such as:
Type of Cleaning Service. From the last section, we looked at the different types of services cleaning companies offer. Depending on whether you want a standard, deep, or move-in / move-out cleaning service, the costs will be different. Some house cleaners may not supply their own cleaning products, which may make them a cheaper option.
Frequency of Cleaning Service. Are you looking for a weekly or monthly cleaning? Usually, a house cleaner’s service will cost less if they come more frequently.
House Size. A house cleaner usually bases their cleaning rate on the size of your home, number of bedrooms, and bathrooms. The more square footage a house has, the more time and energy is needed to clean the home. The same goes for the number of bedrooms and the number of bathrooms. When searching for a house cleaning service, consider your home's size and find a company that has reasonable pricing.
Additional Services. Some companies may offer additional services that will add on to the initial cost to your cleaning service. This may include: cleaning the garage, window cleaning, carpet cleaning, laundry, and others.
Considering these factors when choosing a house cleaner is important to understand what you should expect to pay. Cost is always important to assess, but you shouldn’t be deciding on a house cleaning company on price alone. Just because a cleaner might be more pricey, it doesn’t always mean they are going to be the best, and vice versa.
Fair & Upfront Pricing
No matter what price you are willing to pay for your cleaning service, make sure they offer flat rates and upfront pricing. Some house cleaners charge hourly rates that can be unpredictable and end up costing you more than what you expected.
Before a cleaner steps in the front door you should already have an agreed upon price that doesn’t change after the service. Some house cleaners can surprise you with hidden fees or adding on extra services that you didn’t ask for. When you book a service, talk to your cleaner about what you're paying for and the quality of the cleaning. Knowing that the house cleaning prices are fair and upfront ensures full transparency for you and them.
Looking for a House Cleaning Service?
If you’re investing in a house cleaning service, make sure you dedicate time into finding one that is right for you.
Understand what your specific needs are when deciding on the type of cleaning service and what you are willing to pay. Make sure you are communicating these needs to your house cleaner and that they can accommodate you. Reviews and reputation are incredibly important. They should also be insured and bonded to protect you and their business.
If you need your home cleaned in Birmingham AL or nearby, choose Assure Cleaning Services as your trusted house cleaning company. Assure provides a dependable service for a hassle-free experience.
We tailor our services to meet your specific needs as much as possible. We provide various cleaning services like standard, deep, and move-in/move-out cleaning. We also use eco-friendly products and methods. This means you can enjoy a clean and healthy home without worrying about harmful chemicals.
Learn more about Assure Cleaning Services, and Book Your House Cleaning Service Today!
We understand that transparency and trust is key. To speak to someone at Assure Cleaning, email us at info@assurecleaningbham.com or give us a call at (205) 860-9383
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