How to Find a Reputable Cleaning Company

Whether it’s to clean up your home or vamp up your storefront, hiring a cleaning company can be the solution you need to check off the tedious tasks from your to-do list. Investing in cleaning services comes with numerous benefits. It provides you with an opportunity to relax, while also knowing your home and/or business is still being taken care of. 

As a cleaning company, it is crucial that you are organized and capable of doing a thorough job. If not, it can damage your reputation as a trustworthy company. Being viewed as a reputable company is a must and can ultimately affect whether or not customers actively seek your services, or turn elsewhere.

Because those employed by these services have access to sensitive areas of a business/person’s home, it is essential to be seen as an honest company that values its customers and their belongings. This is essential for cleaning companies who wish to attract new clients and retain old ones. 

Throughout the rest of this article, you will find a list of tips to consider that will aid you in finding a reputable cleaning company, worthy of taking care of your home and/or business. 

1. Do Your Research

One surefire way to know the company you hired is trustworthy is by conducting research. As a customer, it is up to you to read reviews, look at ratings, and dive deep into the company’s history. Pay attention to the level of transparency the company offers. Are they clear about the services they offer? Do they hide the price of their services? Even having a list of products and brands they use can be a selling point. 

Avoid companies that have continually received poor reviews or that fail to answer your questions. If possible, get recommendations from friends and family to see what companies they recommend. Knowing someone else who has used the same company can help ease your mind. 

2. Interview Your Choices

Because you are allowing someone else into your home, you have every right to know as much as you can about that individual — or in this case the company. Interviewing with the company’s supervisor is a great way to determine whether or not that particular company offers the services you’re looking for.

3. Screen Your Cleaning Service Provider

Similar to conducting an interview, you can screen potential cleaning service providers to gain a better understanding of who they are and why you should hire them. Here is a list of questions to ask before settling on a cleaning company:

• How long have you been in the business?
• Is your business insured?
• Do you pre-screen your employees before hiring them? If so, how extensively do you screen them? Do you perform background checks?
• What type of training do you put your employees through?
• What products do you clean with?
• What type of quality assurance method do you have in place?
• What happens if I am not satisfied after you’re done?
• What materials do you provide? What materials do you expect me to provide?

As the representative of a cleaning company, it is up to you to be prepared to answer any of the above questions. Doing so can help determine whether or not the customer chooses your services. 

4. Ask for a List of References

Politely asking for a list of references from the cleaning company isn’t necessary, but can help ensure they are capable of providing reputable services. If this is something you choose to do, it’s important to give them an adequate amount of time to compile this list. Failure to do so may result in them being unable to gather responses from people they know were satisfied with their services. 

Not everyone asks companies for references, and some may not feel comfortable doing so. However, it’s a simple task that can save you time and money in the long run. If the company you’re researching isn’t able to provide you with reliable references, then it may be a sign that they aren’t as trustworthy as you were hoping. 

Cleaning companies can prepare for this by having a list of references already curated and ready to go. That way they don’t have to prolong the booking process by waiting for replies from their references. 

5. Discuss the Costs of Various Services

Cleaning companies will need to provide reasonable prices as well as convenient billing options. You will want to review their prices to see if the services you’re being offered are actually worth what you’d be paying for. Cleaning companies are encouraged to review the services they’re offering to determine whether or not they’re priced at a reasonable point. 

If you have a cleaning company, you should research industry trends and the cleaning market in general, prior to raising prices for your services. That way you are reassured that you aren’t over- or under-charging your customers. It’s also important to have an easy-to-read invoice that you’re sending out. Include an itemized list of the services you performed and how much they cost. Make sure to present them ahead of time with any other additional costs and fees, that way they aren’t blindsided upon billing.

6. Get Written Agreements

As previously mentioned, cleaning companies need to be as transparent as possible in their processes. To help increase their reputability, cleaning service providers will need to make every detail of their services accessible to customers. Using field service software is just one way to achieve this. 

Obtaining a written agreement is beneficial for both the company and the customer. They’re used to help ensure that all of the terms of the agreement are documented and followed through with. If there are any disputes on either end, both parties can refer back to the written agreement to see what went wrong. 

To make a written agreement legally binding, you will need to consider the following elements:

• All parties must agree on an offer made by one party and accepted by the other.
• Something of value must be exchanged for something else of value i.e. goods, cash, services, or a pledge to exchange any of the above.

Some states may require any agreement made to be put in writing. Check with your local laws before writing the agreement to see what steps you need to make to ensure it is legally binding.

7. Get Ready for the Cleaners

While it is the cleaner’s responsibility to care for your home, you can help them by preparing your home and/or business for their arrival. Ask them what they require of you to be done ahead of time — move furniture, lock up valuable personal belongings, and make sure they have access to the areas that need to be cleaned. 
You should also notify them of any changes that need to be made, like rescheduling your appointment, as soon as you find out. After all, you’re not their only client. They need to be able to schedule and reschedule to accommodate you and other customers. Luckily, scheduling software can help make this process easier, but they could still use your help by giving them notice in advance.