7 Red Flags to Look Out for When Choosing a Cleaning Company
Choosing someone to clean your home or business involves a considerable amount of trust.
You may be giving someone access to your home, workplace, keys, alarm codes or areas containing personal or commercially sensitive information. In many cases, cleaning will also take place when you're not there.
Price and availability are naturally important, but they shouldn't be the only things you consider.
Whether you're looking for a domestic cleaner for your home or appointing a commercial cleaning contractor for your business, here are seven things worth checking before making your decision.
1. They Can't Provide Evidence of Appropriate Insurance
You'll often see cleaning businesses describe themselves as "fully insured", but it's reasonable to ask what that actually means.
A professional cleaning business should understand the insurance it requires for the work it undertakes and should be prepared to provide evidence of its cover when requested.
This is particularly important because cleaners are working inside other people's properties, often around valuable equipment, furniture and belongings.
For commercial customers, your own organisation may also require evidence of a contractor's insurance before they're permitted to work on site.
Simply seeing the words "fully insured" shouldn't prevent you from asking for further information.
2. They Say "DBS Checked" – But What Does That Actually Mean?
"DBS checked" is increasingly used by cleaning businesses as a sign of trustworthiness.
But it's important to understand what a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check actually does.
A DBS check can provide information about an individual's criminal record, with the information disclosed depending on the type and level of check. It does not, by itself, declare somebody suitable to enter your home or workplace.
The suitability decision is separate.
If a cleaning company employs staff and tells you that its cleaners are DBS checked, you may therefore want to ask about the vetting process behind that statement.
For example:
What checks are carried out?
What level of DBS check is applicable to the role?
Who reviews the information?
How does the business determine whether someone is suitable for the work they'll be undertaking?
For householders in particular, this is worth thinking about when you're potentially giving someone regular access to your home.
"DBS checked" can be useful information, but it shouldn't be treated as a substitute for a proper recruitment and vetting process.
3. There Are No Clear Terms & Conditions
Before a cleaning service starts, you should know what you're agreeing to.
Clear Terms & Conditions protect both the customer and the cleaning business by establishing how the service will operate.
Depending on the type of cleaning service, they might cover matters such as:
Payment terms
Cancellations
Access arrangements
Keys
Notice periods
Damage or breakages
Changes to the service
Responsibilities of both parties
For a commercial cleaning contract, the contractual arrangements will usually be more detailed because of the nature and value of the service.
For regular domestic cleaning, the arrangements may be simpler, but customers should still understand the terms under which the service is being provided.
Don't be afraid to ask for the Terms & Conditions before agreeing to anything.
More importantly, read them.
4. It's Not Clear What Will Actually Be Cleaned
One person's idea of a "standard clean" can be very different from somebody else's.
That's why expectations should be established before the service begins.
For domestic cleaning, this might involve discussing which rooms are included, priorities within the available cleaning time and any tasks that aren't included.
For commercial cleaning, we'd expect this to be considerably more structured.
A detailed cleaning specification can set out:
Areas to be cleaned
Tasks to be completed
Cleaning frequencies
Particular hygiene requirements
Other agreed responsibilities
Without a clear understanding of what's included, disagreements about cleaning standards can easily arise later.
The customer thinks something was included.
The cleaner thinks it wasn't.
Establishing expectations at the beginning helps prevent that problem.
5. The Pricing Isn't Clear
The cheapest quotation isn't necessarily the best value, but neither should pricing be unnecessarily difficult to understand.
Before appointing a cleaner or cleaning contractor, make sure you understand:
What you're paying
What the price includes
How frequently you'll be charged
Whether there are additional charges you need to know about
Commercial cleaning quotations can be particularly difficult to compare if different contractors have based their prices on different cleaning specifications.
That's another reason why clearly defining your requirements before comparing quotations is so important.
You need to know that you're comparing like with like.
6. Communication Is Difficult Before the Cleaning Has Even Started
Good communication matters.
If you're struggling to get straightforward answers to reasonable questions before becoming a customer, it's worth considering what communication might be like once the service has started.
You should know who to contact if:
A clean is missed
You're unhappy with something
Your requirements change
There's been an accident or breakage
You need to change an appointment
You simply have a question
No cleaning company will get everything right 100% of the time.
What matters is having a clear process for communicating and putting things right when a problem occurs.
7. Claims Can't Be Explained or Backed Up
Advertising naturally involves businesses telling prospective customers why they should choose them.
There's nothing wrong with that.
But if a particular claim is important to your decision, you should feel comfortable asking for more information.
That might include claims relating to:
Insurance
DBS checks
Training
Qualifications
Accreditations
Memberships
Awards
Experience
A reputable cleaning company shouldn't object to reasonable questions about claims that are being used to promote its services.
The principle is simple:
Don't just look at what a cleaning company says. Look at the processes behind the promises.
Choosing a Cleaning Company Is About More Than Price
There's nothing inherently wrong with a new cleaning business, a sole trader or a larger established cleaning company.
The age or size of the business doesn't determine whether it will provide a good service.
What matters is whether the person or company you're considering can demonstrate that it has appropriate processes in place and can provide the standard of service you require.
Ask questions.
Understand what you're buying.
Check the things that matter to you.
And make sure you're comfortable before allowing someone access to your home or business.
How Jmr Cleaning Ltd Can Help
Jmr Cleaning Ltd provides professional commercial and domestic cleaning services across North Wales, including Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Abergele, St Asaph and Bodelwyddan.
For commercial clients, we take the time to understand the premises and cleaning requirements before preparing a quotation and agreed cleaning specification.
For domestic customers, we discuss your requirements before the service begins so that both you and our team understand what's expected.
Whichever type of cleaning service you're considering, we believe expectations should be clear from the outset and customers should feel comfortable asking questions about the company they're trusting with their property.
Stay Connected
We regularly share practical cleaning advice and guidance for homeowners and businesses.
For more information about commercial cleaning and running a professional cleaning service, follow Jmr Cleaning Ltd on LinkedIn for our weekly updates.
You can also follow Jmr Cleaning Ltd on Facebook for domestic cleaning advice and updates.
Looking for a Cleaning Company?
If you're considering changing your current cleaning arrangements or looking for a professional cleaning service, we'd be happy to discuss your requirements.
For businesses:
For homeowners:
Comments