Many services will not clean windows, as they don’t want to create streaks or damage. You may need to turn to a professional for this. You may be able to choose different packages depending on the cleaning you need. If you get a standard cleaning, you can expect them to dust, wipe everything down, vacuum, and arrange your home. However, you wouldn’t expect the person to clean the inside of the appliances or the nooks and crannies unless you requested a deep cleaning. You can also hire a cleaner for a move-in or move-out, which is similar to a deep cleaning, but it’s tailored to someone who’s preparing a property to move into or for a landlord review.
You may be able to negotiate a lower fee with the service if you provide your own cleaners. Ask potential services if they’d be willing to have this conversation with you.
It’s a good idea to ask potential cleaning services whether they’ve performed background checks on their employees. Reputable companies will certainly have performed these checks on any new hires. Cleaning companies may charge more than individuals, but the legal peace of mind they provide will likely be worth the extra cost.
If the cleaner is insured and they accidentally break something in your home, the insurance will cover the cost.
If your company charges an hourly fee, you can put a cap on the amount of hours the service is allowed to clean to ensure that your cost doesn’t get out of control. Note that this may prevent your house from receiving a complete cleaning, especially on the first visit.
Asking for a detailed checklist of what the cleaning will include ensures there won’t be any surprises when the cleaner arrives.
If you’re home during the cleaning, stay out of the way. Cleaners can get anxious or frustrated when a client is following their every footstep. Just remember that they’re experts and professionals, and they’re doing what you hired them to do.
You can show them children’s rooms that get especially untidy. Or if, for example, you have a china cabinet filled with breakable items that you’d like to dust on your own, be sure the cleaner is aware of this.
Establish arrival times with your cleaner, such as whether they’ll arrive at a specific time or within a certain window. "
If you’re paying an hourly fee, it’s especially important that you pick up your own clutter.
If you’re unsatisfied with the service, call the company directly. You can explain in detail exactly why you feel something isn’t meeting your expectations. You’ll likely be able to work out a more clear agreement with the company, which will be easier than starting over the process of finding a new service.
While there’s no requirement or expectation for tipping, it’s a nice way to let the cleaner know they did a good job.
