Hiring a House Cleaning Service: Ways to Find the Right One for Your Home

There is nothing quite like coming home to a clean and tidy house, especially when someone else has done all the hard work getting it to look as good as new again.

Hiring a part time maid from DomesticOne could be the answer. Whichever house cleaning service you choose, the important thing you should do before hiring them, is to run through a series of questions, so that you can be sure that you have found the right one for your home.

Deciding what you want

Trying to find a cleaning service for your home can be a bit of a daunting prospect when you don’t know where to start, which is why you should start by deciding exactly what you want from your basic cleaning service.

One of the biggest concerns for many people is the fact that they are inviting someone they don’t know into their home.

You can help to negate these concerns by either finding a cleaning service who comes recommended by someone you know. If you can’t find anyone who can give you a referral and an introduction to someone who you know is reliable from the feedback, you should ask for and follow up references from existing customers.

Once you have a shortlist of potential candidates, either through a referral or from a list of cleaning services you like the look of, it is time to decide what you want and invite them to an interview at your home.

Background checks

It often works well to use a cleaning service who will provide a member of staff, as there is a someone you can go back to if you have any concerns with the maid you have hired.

Most reputable agencies will conduct background checks on their employees and if you decide to appoint someone directly, you should definitely carry out these checks yourself.

A background check is essential because it helps to ensure the safety of you and your home by knowing personal verified details about the person who you have invited into your property.

Full insurance cover

Accidents can and do happen in the home and whether they are minor breakages or a spillage, or something more serious, you will want to know that the professional cleaning company you are using has the right level of cover.

Ask the company what level of liability insurance cover they have and whether they have a bond that covers you for any loss as a result of any loss through damage or theft.

Cleaning equipment checklist

Check with the cleaning service what the arrangements are with regard to providing all the appropriate cleaning equipment and supplies.

Some companies will bring all of their own equipment and supplies that they need to do the job, while others will supply the staff and expect you to give them the tools and cleaning supplies that they need.

Clarify the position, so that you can gauge the cost accurately, between the two options and what you are being quoted for the work.

Pricing

When you are trying to compare costs between the different quotes you have received and trying to work out what works for you, you need to clarify exactly what you are being charged, including any additional fees or surcharges.

One of the first questions to ask is how they set their rates.

It is important to know whether you are being asked to pay an hourly rate or a flat rate for each visit. The cleaning company might also want to charge you by the project and quote a fee that covers the total cost of a job.

Ask for an estimate on how long they think the job will take each week and ask whether there are any pricing options, as you might be able to choose to pay a set rate or agree to an hourly rate, depending on which option you are more comfortable with, if you are given a choice.

Gaining access to your home

Another important point that needs clarifying is how the cleaning company will gain access to your home to do the job.

Whether you decide to provide a key or offer access to a keypad code so that they can come in while you are away, you will want to agree a solution that both parties are entirely comfortable with.

If you do provide a key, ask about security and get a receipt as proof that you have provided access to your property, as this would normally be a requirement for insurance purposes.

Hiring a house cleaning service can be very rewarding and a great solution when you are short of time in your busy schedule, so just make sure you ask the right questions so that you can find the right one.

Mr Keith Yew kickstarted his entrepreneurial journey after he realized that finding a helper proved troublesome and taxing instead of being an easy, pleasant experience. He founded DomesticONE in 2006, with the aim of improving the process of hiring domestic help. Keith’s efforts were rewarded when he won the title of Young Entrepreneur in 2010. Today, DomesticONE is a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) licensed agency that offers cleaning, babysitting, and confinement services. The team takes pride in having two physical offices, and continues to live up to its service policy of Your Satisfaction Is the Measure of Our Success.