If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t have enough time in the day to do everything you need to do. So, when it comes time to hire a house cleaner, it’s essential to ask the right questions so you can find the best fit for your home and your schedule. Here are six questions worth asking before making your final decision.
1. How long have you been cleaning houses?
I can speak from personal experience that cleaning houses is not a skill one is born with. I have accompanied teams on hundreds of appointments, and I can tell you that I do not know nearly as much about house cleaning as I thought I did. Like any profession, experience matters; the more, the better. Look for a company with at least 10 years’ experience (we’ve been in business for 12 years!)
2. What type of cleaning products (eco-friendly, non-toxic, etc.) do you use?
If you don’t ask this question, I hope your potential cleaner will ask you! Several of our clients suffer from allergies and cannot tolerate specific products. If this is the case in your home, please do not forget this essential detail! Perhaps there are surfaces in your home that require special products. If you do not provide these products, be sure that the house cleaner obtains them specifically for your home.
3. What is your hourly rate or fee schedule?
This question is essential. There are two ways that housecleaners charge: by the hour or by the size of your property. Hourly fees are standard, although, in my experience, they complicate the relationship with my clients. It is far easier for both parties to settle on a fixed price based on the amount of work (i.e., hours) required to do the job.
For deep cleans, companies like mine charge by the hour. A deep clean is designed for a space that has not been lived in for several months, has just been renovated, or is being bought or sold. Because these jobs are more labor-intensive and time-consuming, an hourly rate is most common.
4. Are you insured and bonded?
At the most basic level, possession of insurance and surety is a marker of a legitimate business, instead of an individual with whom you agree to pay to clean your home. For a home cleaning company, insurance and surety bonds protect both parties. Insurance for homeowners is a hedge against loss. Insurance protects the very business from financial ruin for the cleaning company. This question is essential, so if the company tells you they have insurance and bonds, please ask to see copies of the cover sheets. Several of my clients have asked me for proof of coverage, and I have enthusiastically provided it.
5. Can you provide references from past clients?
References online can be faked. If you genuinely want honest representations of the quality of your work, provide a reference list for your prospective clients. Of course, you must obtain permission ahead of time from your clients; never place a client on the list who is not already prepared to support you. The ideal referral comes from a client who independently refers your company without asking.
6. What will you do if I am not happy with the results of my cleaning (will you refund my money, come back to fix the issue, etc.)?
Virtually none of my potential clients ask this question, so I ask it for them. Honesty is always the best policy, so if a client is not happy with your service, they must be made whole, even if the company must sacrifice the cost of cleaning. For example, if sheets are ruined, it is simple enough for the company to pay for a replacement.
A company must be willing to commit resources to return home to correct any error or omission that the cleaning crew commits. For this reason, it is worth asking your potential company if they carry errors and omissions insurance. You hope that they will never have to use it and instead will return to your home to finish the job correctly.
Most people want a clean house, but they don’t know where to start. Let us help you get started with our team of experienced and insured cleaners who will make your home sparkle while respecting the environment! Liberty Siqueira provides top-tier service, and our rates reflect that quality. You can customize any service we provide by telling us what’s most important to you—whether eco-friendly products or just something quick and easy. For more information about hiring us, call Rob at 339-221-4702, or email him at rob@libertysiqueira.com.