This article can be found in HWS Magazine, Niagara’s Health, Wellness and Safety Magazine.
Thinking about hiring a cleaning service? It is so much more than a business relationship.
Hiring a cleaning company can be one of the best things you can do if you want to free up your time. It allows you to relax, take on a hobby or spend more time with your family and friends. But before you commit to a cleaning company, I cannot stress enough how important it is to do your research. The other day, I called my competitors and what I discovered was astonishing. It made me question if people were asking the right questions. Hiring a cleaning service is so much more than a business relationship and I’ll explain further why. My advice to anyone looking to hire a cleaning company is to keep in mind the following:
Ask how you will be charged.
While Miss’es Clean charges an hourly rate, other cleaning companies may charge a flat rate. When you are charged an hourly rate (per cleaner) you can ensure you are getting exactly what you are paying for. If a company charges a flat rate, be sure to ask how many cleaners you will have coming to clean your home and how many hours they will be there for. It is also very important to ask if you will be receiving the same number of cleaners and the same amount of cleaning time each visit. Many times, this guarantee is very inconsistent and you will still be paying the same flat rate.
Ask who will be cleaning your home.
Your home is your private place and you are welcoming someone into it. You are also paying someone to clean your home so you should be satisfied with your service. Miss’es Clean requires our cleaners to have a minimum of one year cleaning experience and they must go through our cleaning process (regardless of their cleaning experience) before they are sent to a job site. What I found most interesting when I called other cleaning companies is that they will pair up with one experienced cleaning and one cleaner who is in training. Your rate will still be the same, even if you are sent a cleaner in training.
Ask about insurance and their screening process.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a cleaning company that is bonded and insured. Although you may be paying a little more for your services with a company that is bonded and insured, you are protecting yourself and your home. Miss’es Clean is 100% bonded and insured and we require police background checks for all our cleaners. Your security and protection is very important to us.
Ask about equipment and supplies.
Miss’es Clean brings all of the supplies needed to clean your home or business. As a green company, we only use organic or chemical-free cleaning products to clean your home and we always come prepared. Some cleaning companies ask that you provide the cleaning supplies and equipment, on top of their rate. When comparing cleaning services, it is important to take this into account as an additional cost to your service.
Rate the full customer experience.
My last piece of advice is to rate the customer service experience you received while asking these questions. Were they reachable? How friendly were they? How long did it take to get a call back after leaving a message? Were they able to answer all of your questions? How knowledgeable were they? Although you are likely to rate your experience with the cleaning, it is equally important that there is a positive experience with the administrative team. If there are any issues that come up regarding your cleaning, scheduling or billing, you want to receive the full customer service experience. Miss’es Clean knows this is important so we have a full-time office personnel who is there to provide excellent customer service to our clients.
Now it’s time to make a decision. Ask yourself how the cleaning company can help make your life easier. The biggest mistake I have seen over the years is when clients enter into a bad relationship with a cleaning company that does not support their goals. What I mean by this is that they need to understand that you would rather spend your time doing the things that you love. Whether your goals are personal or professional, when you hire the right cleaning company you become one step closer to reaching your goal.
