The most common maintenance to a property is cleaning maintenance. It helps a building keep its good working condition and a house cleaning service provider constantly checks on any possible issues the building may develop in its long use. A good service provider can be tricky. There are things that has to be considered to get the right company or service provider.
Set Boundaries
Getting people to clean for you would be opening up your building to total strangers. So before looking for a service, get to decide on what areas of the building are off limits, which rooms they would only be allowed to access on specific times of the day (or night). It would also be wise if you can point out areas that they should prioritize, or places that would require extra effort to clean.
Word of mouth
The cheapest form of advertising can actually be the most reliable. Ask friends or anyone you know of for a cleaning service that they would (or would not) recommend. Any personal experience they might have had with a housecleaning service can give you clues on which company to go to. If ever you are already considering one, ask them for references. Speak to clients that they are already providing services to. By asking their current clients you can ascertain the standing of that company. Failure to provide a reference can be a bad sign.
Insurance
Housekeeping service have what is called a “liability insurance” to protect you and their employees. It covers injuries sustained on the job as well as other types of compensations. Ask for their insurance information to be sent to you via fax or mail. It should be an official certificate, not a photocopy to be sure that the insurance hasn’t been cancelled.
Supplies
A company who uses nature-friendly supplies would be a big plus. A bigger concern, however is to be aware if any of the things that they will use would cause allergic reaction to anybody else in the building.
Employee handling
Ask them on how they screen or do background checks on their employees. Do they keep people with previous records? What is their policy if their employee does something bad against the client?
Pricing
A company sends a representative to inspect the building and provides an assessment that will be later on used for establishing the first quotation. This will also describe the different cleaning needs the infrastructure will need. Be wary of house cleaning companies who fails (or avoids) to do an inspection. Also be aware of whether they charge a flat-fee or charge on an hourly basis, and decide on which would work better for you. Keep in mind the adage, though: “You get what you pay for”.
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As with any kind of deal, always read the contract carefully. Check if there is anything regarding early termination, guarantees or refunds. It’s not easy finding the best of the things we are looking for but by using the right standards and asking the right questions, we get to weed out the best options we have and make a sound decision to hire the company that best fits your building maintenance needs.
