What You Should Know About Hiring A Cleaner
You may not be able to buy happiness, but you can buy time when you pay others to do tasks for you. That is the idea behind hiring household help, it gives you more time for work, hobbies, family, and more. To do a good job and hire the right cleaner, read below for what you need to find out before you say goodbye to your vacuum cleaner for a while.
What Needs to Be Done?
You may have a choice of cleaning services that do both regular cleanings and deep cleanings. Many times, a deep cleaning is suggested first followed up by regular cleanings every week or every two weeks. Other firms only do one or the other. Deep cleanings may involve things that regular cleaning won't like windows and carpet shampooing. Know upfront what you want to be done and how often before you phone an agency or cleaner for an interview.
Getting an Estimate
House size and scope vary too much for an accurate estimate on house cleaning services so a visit from the cleaner is in order. It's better if you can let them see your home the way it will often be rather than cleaning before the meeting but it's only natural to feel as if you must. Be sure you make some notes to help you remember what to ask about at the interview.
What to Ask About
You are probably not going to be home for every cleaning and many cleaners prefer it that way. However, some people work from home and don't have a choice. It's important, though to find out what the agency does to screen its employees. Background checks are usually mandatory, and those checks should include both criminal and credit checks. Along with background checks, ask about bonding. Bonding is a type of insurance paid for by the agency or the individual that pays you back if something gets broken or goes missing. As for insurance for the cleaner, your homeowners' policy may or may not, call your insurer to verify whether they will pay when a cleaner is hurt. Most agencies cover their employees by offering them workers' compensation if they are hurt.
Supplies can be expensive, and this varies with cleaners. If you must supply your own tools and cleaning products, the fee should reflect that. Many homeowners have preferences when it comes to cleaning products so be sure to discuss that during the interview. For example, if you only use environmentally healthy cleaning supplies, those may have to be supplied by you.
Speak to a local house cleaning company or cleaner to find out more.