We all know professional cleaners can be a godsend when it comes to keeping our homes spick and span, but how do you actually go about finding one?
There are many things that can go wrong when finding a cleaner. You may find the perfect one, but they might be too expensive for your budget. Or if you do hire one, you may be dissatisfied and quickly move onto the next service.
To get a qualified cleaning service right for the long haul, it’s important to keep some things in mind when looking for a cleaner:
Ask Friends, Family Members or Your Neighbours
Ideally you want to find a cleaner that has been recommended by someone else. This is because they have nothing to benefit from recommending their cleaners and typically only recommend people based on real life experience.
Asking a friend or neighbour can also give you more insight into their preferred cleaning service. This could include things like how often they come, what specific tasks they perform and whether or not the cleaner is licensed and insured. If communication and interpersonal skills are important to you, ask your friend if their cleaner was personable.
In addition to finding out exactly what you need to know, you may be eligible for a discount. Many cleaners in Perth, for example, have referral programs in place where new customers are given a discount for the first visit.
Check Reviews Online
If you’re not comfortable asking your friends and family, or if they don’t live close by, the next best thing to do is check online reviews. This can be done on Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook and other social media platforms.
There are many review sites available online that allow customers to post their experiences with various services. Oftentimes these reviews can be helpful in deciding whether or not to go with a particular cleaner.
It’s important to take note of how recent the reviews are as well as what specifically people are saying about the cleaner. Did they do a good job? Was it expensive? Were they easy to get in contact with?
If there are negative reviews, be sure to check if they have been responded to by the cleaner. If not, it could be a sign that they’re not taking their customer service seriously.
Try to Avoid Hourly Fees for Complex and Laborious Jobs
Many home cleaners charge by the hour which is fine if the job is relatively quick to do, i.e. dusting or vacuuming. However, if your home requires a lot of detailed work, then you may be better off finding a cleaner that charges a flat fee instead. Harder jobs tend to require more time and effort which means you will end up paying the cleaner for longer.
Another thing to consider with hourly fees is that sometimes cleaners can take their sweet old time when it comes to cleaning your home, especially if they’re charging by the hour. It’s best to go off what other customers say about how quickly or slowly a service does their job.
Found a Cheap Service that’s Too Affordable? Dig Deeper
When you’re on a limited budget, it’s tempting to go for the cheapest service possible. But sometimes this can be a mistake.
Cheap services typically offer low-quality work and may not be licensed or insured. This could lead to more expensive problems down the road if something goes wrong.
If an extremely cheap service does have many favourable reviews, it never hurts to ask them why their rates are so low. There could be a reasonable explanation, such as a new business just starting out or they have minimum overheads. But if the rates seem too good to be true, it’s likely because they are.
Determine What You Need in a Cleaning Service
When looking at the state of your home, it’s best to be as realistic as possible about what you can actually get done. Make a list of everything that needs doing and then prioritize the items based on how important they are to you, ie . dusting off shelves or cleaning your oven.
This will help take some of the guesswork out for the cleaner when they come to visit. It will also help you to better understand what services they offer and whether or not they’re a good fit for your needs.
If you have any specific requirements, be sure to let the cleaner know in advance. This could include things like wanting them to refrain from using strong-smelling chemicals or needing them to come on a certain day of the week.
Once you’ve found a service that meets your requirements and is within your price range, it’s time to get in contact with them!
