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Tips for Hiring a Maid or Cleaning Service

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Are you thinking of hiring a maid or cleaning service to help keep things tidy around the house? Don't just hire the first company or person you find, do your research and make finding a cleaning service simple. Read on for more information and tips on how to hire a maid or cleaning service for your new or current home.

Do some research

Just as you would before hiring a moving company, do some research on any maid service or cleaning service that you come across on your search.

Research can come in the form of referrals from friends and family, or you can do your own digging and look online at service review websites like Angie's List or even take a peek at the Better Business Bureau's website to see if there are any complaints against that company.

Interview multiple companies

In the same way that Movers.com recommends you obtain estimates from more than one moving company, you should interview more than one maid or cleaning service to find one that truly meets your needs.

Be sure to ask as many questions as you need during your interview with them -- remember, they're going to be in your home on a regular basis, so you should feel comfortable with them.

Make sure they are insured

Make sure the company or person you hire is insured and licensed. If they break or damage something you should find out ahead of time if it will be repaired or replaced. You'll also want to make sure that you're aware of their insurance in case the individual is hurt inside your home -- who will pay for any medical treatment?

Know their pricing

If you decide on hiring an agency make sure there are no hidden fees. When hiring an individual make sure they aren't taking payments under the table. You should also visit with an accountant to ensure that you are hiring that person as an independent contractor and not an employee. Make sure your accountant informs you of the different tax implications between the two options.

How often do you want them to clean?

When figuring out the pricing, how often you want that person or service to visit your home may be a big factor in the price. So you'll need to establish how many times a week or month they'll come to clean your home.

While you're figuring out how often you want them to come, you'll also need to decide what time of day you want them to come. Would you prefer they clean while you're at work or while you're home? If you're comfortable giving a service a key to your home or codes to your security system then you won't have to block off time in your schedule to be home while they clean.

Decide what areas of the home need cleaning

Before settling on a service, decide what areas of the home need to be cleaned. Some services may only clean certain areas of a home or provide certain services like mopping and dusting. Narrowing down what you expect from a service will help you decide on candidates.

Find out what products they use

If you are particular about the types of chemicals used in your home then find out what brands each company or service uses. Some may utilize all-natural products while others may use industrial cleansers. If you know what kinds of cleaning products you prefer, try to find a service that uses those same products.

Set clear expectations

Don't be shy about making your expectations clear. If you want your bed linens washed whenever they come or all your lamps dusted, be sure to make that clear. The cleaning service you hire may have certain instructions for you when the personnel comes, such as stripping the beds or about loose paperwork on a desk or table. It's important that each party is clear on what is expected of them for cleaning services.

With some explicit guidelines, you should be able to hire a maid or cleaning service in a snap. Just be sure to take all necessary precautions and go with your gut, if something feels odd or strange with that company, don't use them.

Ana M. Ferrer  Posted by Ana M. Ferrer on August 15, 2014

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