Hiring someone to clean your home

By mudlark • November 15th, 2007

There are 2 ways to go about it. You can hire an established company or an independent cleaner. An independent cleaner is usually a fair amount less expensive than a company, purely because they don’t have the overhead and extra expenses that a company does. They also don’t usually carry insurance or bonding, and have little to no satisfaction guarantees. So you have to weigh the options. If insurance and guarantees are important to you, than you’ll be better off interviewing a few companies. If not, then save your moola and ask around for recommendations for an independent cleaner. If you get the word out to your friends that you’re in the market, you’re sure to get at least a few recommendations.

Now, questions to ask. How to interview. First – I highly suggest that you interview or get estimates from at least 3 companies or individuals, just like you would if you were hiring a home improvement contractor. When you speak with them, you’ll want to know the following:

What exactly is included? Compare the list between companies, and not just on a ‘numbered’ basis. Some will boast of their “50+ cleaning list” but their list may be redundant (bathroom sinks cleaned, bathroom sinks disinfected, kitchen sinks cleaned, etc.) while others will make their list more succinct, but perhaps also more thorough.
What products do they use? Will they use yours if requested? And if so, will they prorate their charge to account for their savings when using products you supply? We think knowing about what products they use is pretty important, and they’re not products you’re familiar with, you can ask to see the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) – this will tell you the hazards inherent in their products.
Are they licensed, bonded, and insured? A yes answer isn’t enough. Ask for verification. Any company who is legit will be able to prove it to you.
Who will be doing the cleaning? And will it be the same person(s) every time?
How do they handle pets?
What are their cancellation policies?
If you’ll be leaving a key with them, what are their safety procedures to keep your key and information safe? Your key should never be identified with your name, address, or phone number.
How will they clean specific parts of your home? (Hardwoods, granite or marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, artwork, etc.) You want to make sure they won’t use a harmful vacuum on your hardwoods, that they won’t be spraying down your oil on canvas with an all-purpose cleaner, etc.
What type of vacuum do they use? This is important. A lot of ‘commercial’ grade vacuums have weak filtration systems, and often send dust particles back into your air – creating poor air quality as they clean your home. Ensuring that they use a HEPA filter is important, but there are plenty of HEPA-filtered vacs that still kick particles up into the air. It’s also wise to ask how often their vacuum is tuned up and how frequently they change the vacuum bags.
Ensure that they have a confidentiality policy. While cleaning your home, they may stumble across things – be it bills or sensitive information, or just a general sense of how you keep your home – that you don’t want gossiped about to your friends and neighbors.
How do they handle special requests? Sure, their cleaning checklist may cover all your typical needs, but what about when your apple pie spills over in your oven? Or your popcorn explodes in the microwave? Or you’re rushing to get the guest room ready and you need help washing the linens?
What happens if something gets broken? If they’re insured it shouldn’t be a problem, but better to be safe than sorry.

Oh, and by the way… if you need someone in North east Altanta, Broom Huggers is the best green, healthy housekeeping service in town! (yet another shameless plug)
Have any questions you think should be added to our list?