Hiring Residential Cleaning Services
So you’ve made the decision to hire a housekeeper. But where do you find a quality company? With so many cleaning services available, it can be hard to weed through it all! In this article, we will outline a few steps to help make the decision process fly by.
Facing the fact that you need help is the first step. Since you’re here, you’re already golden. Hiring a housekeeper does not make you an elitist or snobby, it simply means you need a little help.
Decide whether you would like to hire a local business or a franchise. Where as a large company may try and lock you into a contract, a smaller, local business will be more likely to negotiate. Choose the solution and budget that best fits your needs.
Ask around to friends and neighbors to see who they recommend. This is a wonderful way to find honest, hard working people who get the job done right.
Once you’ve acquired a list of candidates, start calling. Phone interviews are an important aspect of the decision-making process, so be ready with a list of questions. Do they supply their own equipment? Are they licensed and insured? Is there any project they don’t do? If you find that there is a list of tasks they don’t do, then politely thank them and call the next candidate.
Remember who the boss is. If you only need a small amount of work done, don’t let yourself be talked into a more extensive package. Be firm and assertive.
Ask for a list of references and clients and follow up. This is a great way to ensure that you’re not hiring a lazy or inefficient company. Remember, that they will be working in your home. As most references tend to give glowing reviews, be sure to have a separate list of questions for them as well.
Work your price. Negotiate your terms and conditions and make your finial decision. Resist the urge to stay up the night before they arrive, cleaning the house…. they’ve probably seen worse, and you’re not paying them for touch-ups. When they arrive, make an effort to get to know them. After all, you will be seeing them on a fairly regular basis, and you just might make a friend.
Once they’ve left, evaluate how the job was done. Were they thorough? Are you happy with the results? If you see room for improvement, don’t be afraid to point it out. Chances are they won’t know exactly what you like the first time around.