So you’ve decided that you are ready to get a housekeeper to help you stay on top of those cleaning chores that you don’t want to do, or maybe the chores you can’t do. You’ve noticed that your neighbor has house cleaners coming to their house every other Tuesday, so you decide to start your search by asking your neighbor if “their housekeeper does good work”… Here is some important advice to consider when you start your search for the right housekeeper.
Asking for a personal referral is a great place to start, but you may have asked the wrong questions.
Cleaning a home is not rocket science. There are many housekeepers out there that “do good work”. Of course some a little better than others, but a better question to ask when searching for a quality worker would be “do they do good work for the price you pay?” Some people may be willing to pay a higher price for more thorough cleaning service. Some people are simply looking for the cheapest price. Most of the time you get what you pay for.
Then the question becomes, “what are you paying for”? Start your search by asking yourself these important questions first.
- Do I care if I pay by the hour or a flat rate bid price? If you plan to pay your housekeeper an hourly rate, you may want to be home while they are working to know if they are being productive with their time. This type of arrangement requires a little bit of micromanagement by you, the home owner. You will want to keep and eye on your staff so that they aren’t “milking the clock”. If you plan to pay a flat-rate (bid price), make sure that you get an in-person bid first. A company that quotes you over the phone will often rush through the service in order to finish on time. An in person quote allows the cleaning professional to assess the home in advance to set the price right to ensure quality work, and you don’t have to micro manage the cleaners productivity.
- Do I care if they have a Customer Service Manager? If you need to reschedule, cancel, or change instructions about your cleaning service, do you want to be able to call or text someone that is responsive to those requests? If so, make sure they have customer service people. If you have to contact your house cleaner directly to reschedule etc., keep in mind that she/they will be busy cleaning houses throughout the day.
- Do I care if they have Worker’s comp insurance coverage? What happens if my housekeeper rolls an ankle while cleaning my house? Home owners insurance will cover that injury right? Wrong! Home owners insurance typically will cover injuries of guests in your home but if they are working, home owners insurance will usually deny those injury claims. Broken bones are more common than you think while cleaning. Slips, falls, and strains are very common injuries for housekeepers. Worker’s comp insurance protects employers and home owners from law suits which can become very expensive. It also protects workers in case of injury that they are not left with medical bills and the inability to earn money.
- After I find a housekeeper, what do I do if the quit or I don’t like them? If you decide to hire an independent cleaner, be prepared to re-hire again eventually, which means re-search, re-interview, re-walk through, and/or re-train! Life circumstances often change for housekeepers so turnover is inevitable. If you don’t want to worry about what to do if your housekeeper decides to move-on, hire a firm that is always recruiting, training, and setting schedules so you don’t have to worry.
- Do I care if my service date changes often? If you want consistent service, hire a firm that typically has back-up man-power. Larger housekeeping services staff accordingly to account for vacation and sick leave for your housekeeper.
- Do I care if my housekeeper shows up on the day they said they would? Car troubles and other excuses are common when you hire an independent cleaner. Consider a larger housekeeping service which will usually provide a working company vehicle and back-up man power to avoid you having to miss your cleaning day.
- If my housekeeper breaks something in my house am I “ok” to pay for it myself? It may not bother you to cover smaller value broken items, but how about large value items, such as flooring, appliances etc. If you want protection for damaged items, make sure your housekeeper has liability insurance.
- Do I care if my housekeeper has a drug problem or criminal background? Not only are these things a security risk for you, your family, and your belongings, but these problems will also be an indicator for the level of service you will receive. If these things are important to you, make sure your housekeeper is screened and tested for criminal record and drug use.
- Do I care if their work is guaranteed? Nobody is perfect and no matter who you hire to clean your home, there will be times that something is missed. Make sure your housekeeper has a guarantee and maybe more important, a brand and reputation.
- Do I want to be a “Manager” to my housekeeper? If your housekeeper is frequently missing areas or is obviously rushing through the service, do you mind giving them corrective feedback directly. What about if you need to terminate them. Do you mind dealing with that person directly or do you prefer contacting a housekeeping Manager to let them correct the issue? If you don’t want to directly manage your housekeeper, see that they have a supervisor or that their is a formal way of providing feedback about the quality of their work.
In summary, they may be costs associated with these things. Make sure you are getting what you pay for and pay for what is important to you. Having a cleaning professional is a great way to improve the quality of your life. Once you try it you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them. Consider these things when searching for the right option for you and your experience is more likely to meet your expectations.