Cleaning Services

Finding a Reliable Cleaning Service

We all want a clean, tidy home. The problem is we don’t all have the time and energy to invest in the undertaking. The solution: a cleaning service. A reliable, quality cleaning service can take off pressure, give you a break, and leave you valuable free time to do other things.

Who to Choose?

By employing a maid or cleaning service, you’re entrusting your home and possessions with a stranger. Aside from theft and intentional damage, a maid can also break things by mistake. Therefore, it’s important to not only research a cleaning service before hiring, but also to feel comfortable with the person to whom you’re handing over your home.

Interview

Before hiring any cleaning service, it’s important to interview the person or people who you will be employing. You should interview several companies or individuals. Even if you are satisfied with the first person you meet, it’s valuable to be able to compare them and see their positive and negative attributes. Find out how long they have been in business or have been cleaning for. Additionally, ask for references, and check them – one short phone call can save you lots of time and money.

Research the Company

Make sure the company you hire is licensed and has employees who are bonded and insured. Bonded means there is money set aside, either from the company or from the employee, and should any damage or theft occur, the money is available for compensation. Insured means the company has insurance to pay for any injuries the employee might suffer while working on your premises, so you don’t have to be responsible.

Discuss Expectations

It’s very important that things be clear; after all, you are entrusting someone with your home and paying them, so you should get your money’s worth. Determine who will supply the cleaning equipment. Many cleaning services come equipped with their own supplies, though in some cased they rely on you to supply the necessary items. Supplies such as chemicals and paper towels can be costly to provide, so make sure you take this into consideration when setting a price.

Additionally, make clear what areas are to be cleaned and how thoroughly. Should the steps be washed or just swept? Will the toilets be cleaned only if necessary or will they be disinfected regardless of what state they’re in? Perhaps you had a drainage problem and a plumber is still working on one of the sinks. If you think you weren’t properly understood, find a different cleaning service.

Clarify Payment Issues

There are a few ways to pay a cleaning service. Some companies prefer to be paid by the hour while others charge by the job. In areas like Miami, where condominiums are common, there may be per-room rates. If you pay for the job and not per hour, discuss how many hours they will spend and what happens if they finish early – are they free to go or should they continue cleaning for the remaining time?

A cleaning service can be a life-saver, as long as the workers are professional and dependable. Otherwise, you might suffer more than an unclean home. Be sure to hire only quality professionals, and look into a few different options before deciding. Visit Networx’s cleaning services for a list of pre-approved companies and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Mark Stevens is a writer from New Jersey who has written over 100 home improvement articles. Want to ask Mark something? Send him a message.