A home cleaner can be the answer to all those times when you needed help cleaning the house or don’t have time for a deep cleaning. (And that’s not even counting all those times when you need to get ready for party guests or the in-laws visit.) Knowing when you need a home cleaner is easy. Finding and hiring a home cleaner can be more difficult.
The path to a good home cleaner is actually a series of steps that can take a family from in serious need of a cleaning to “oh, I’m so glad we have a home cleaner.”
Decide between a service or individual
There are two main kinds of home cleaners: cleaning services and individuals. Both home cleaning options come with pros and cons.
Cleaning services are available to clean as often and when is needed, whereas individual cleaners can usually come on a schedule that works for them. Both options should come with insurance (be very careful about hiring cleaners that don’t) in case of damage to items or property. Another advantage of a cleaning service is that they usually employ many cleaners, meaning that a cleaner is available in case another cannot make it.
The difference in price between the two depends on the individual or the cleaning service. Before contacting a home cleaner, make a list of cleaning tasks that need to be done and decide on how often the tasks need to be done (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) Once the list is finalized, contact the cleaner for a free quote.
Ask for recommendations
One of the best and easiest ways to find a home cleaner is to ask friends and family for recommendations. Be leery of recommendations that aren’t based on personal experience. Often, people recommend their friend, family member, or a friend of a friend without knowing if they do a good job.
Research your options
Don’t be afraid to do as much research as possible about your potential home cleaners. Ask cleaning services and individuals for references. Check social media and review sites for positive and negative feedback.
Conduct a thorough interview
Before hiring a cleaner or scheduling a cleaning, always interview prospective cleaners. Ask these questions over the phone or in-person:
- “How long have you been in business? Can you provide references from past clients?”
- “Can you provide proof of insurance? What is the process for reporting if anything is damaged?”
- “Do you do background checks on your cleaners?”
- “Do I need to provide any cleaning supplies?”
- “How do I contact you to schedule a home cleaning?”
- “Do I need to be home? Is there a process for giving you access if I am not home?”
- “Do I need to secure my pet while the home cleaner is here?”
- “What is the cost of your cleaning services? Is it an hourly or set amount? Are there any additional fees?”
- “Are there any cleaning services you cannot perform?”
- “Who should I contact if there are any issues? How should I contact them?”
- “Do you provide a contract with all the terms and conditions on paper?”
