What should you look for in a housecleaning service?
With the advent of spring, it’s time to think about a deep housecleaning. You can handle it yourself, but by hiring a professional cleaner, you’re giving yourself the gift of time to spend on family, friends, hobbies — anything other than scrubbing every inch of your home.
Cleaning companies tend to charge more, but they also may provide more thorough customer support if something isn’t done to your satisfaction. Solo cleaners often cost less and can be just as good — if not better — than large companies. However, unless they’re part of a network, there’s little recourse if you’re not happy with their work, they have to reschedule or cancel a session, or they shut down their operation.
What work should I expect to be done?
Regular cleaning doesn’t cover everything, so it’s important to know what’s generally considered routine:
Thorough cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms
Vacuuming throughout the house Mopping Cleaning and dusting all surfaces, including baseboards and light fixtures
More detailed cleaning, often referred to as “deep cleaning,” is an additional service because it often requires additional supplies and can take up to twice as long. Many cleaning companies require new clients to commit to an initial deep cleaning with “maintenance” cleanings after.
Depending on your needs and budget, you can arrange for a one-time clean or for cleaners to come weekly, biweekly, monthly or some other variation.
If you’re not sure about a long-term commitment, consider a trial run of two to four cleanings.
Before estimating a price, some cleaners will do a home visit to determine your needs. The average cost for a deep cleaning is between $200 to $400 and can take between four to 12 hours depending on the size and state of your home. Simpler maintenance cleanings cost an average of $100-$250.
Prices will vary, depending on where you live, the size of your home, the scope of work and how often you schedule cleanings.
Important questions to ask cleaning services:
Will the same person or team be sent each time?
How will you get into the home?
What’s your policy if something is broken?
Do you conduct background checks on employees?
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
What kind of contract do you require?
What are your policies if I have to cancel or move a scheduled cleaning?
Will you bring your own supplies and equipment? If not, what do you need me to provide?
How do you want me to prepare my home for your work?