Maid services are not for everybody but in a house where all members are working people or a house that's too large to clean oneself, hiring a maid service becomes necessary. Not only are the maids good at what they do but they carry a professional attitude not always found in independent maids.
An adherence to good work ethics is required by services that run a tight ship. This isn't always the case with all services so clients need to look for one with glowing recommendations and one that has been in operation for several years. A good source is through word of mouth and even internet forums which provide real client testimonies on existing services.
What about background checks? Only a few cleaning services actually run background checks on their employees. These are the ones worth checking out because they value client safety and by doing so, reduce the risk posed to them if something goes wrong. The best way to find out which service does run a check is by asking outright. Those that do will be more than willing to advertise the fact and will be happy to provide proof.
How competent are professional maids? This depends on how much training has been imparted and the work culture of the service. Good cleaners are those that make sure employees work fast and efficiently and the only way to do this is either by hiring people with experience or giving them training. As for clients, inform them about what areas need cleaning, problems spots, if any, and other little details that need special attention.
What happens if something gets damaged? A well-run maid service will make sure employees are bonded and insured so if an accident occurs and something suffers damage, it will try to repair or replace it if a claim is made. Most services insist that clients keep floors, chairs and beds free of clothes, toys and other 'foreign' items to make work easier and reduce the risk of damaging objects.
How about discounts? Discounts may or may not be offered but one way to search is to ask services if your house can be used as a training ground for new maids. More times than most, new trainees do a very good job because they're eager to impress their bosses.
Another way to cut cost is to ask services to send maids for only an hour or two. They won't be able to clean the entire house but at least you'll get a clean bathroom, kitchen or living room, useful when you have guests coming over.
What about green house cleaning? As a client, you can enquire about the use of green cleaning products if desired. This point is important if there are family members with allergies, children or pets in the house. Of course, unscrupulous services may claim to use environmentally friendly products but don't. The only way to know for sure is by choosing one that's trusted.
What if the work is unsatisfactory? Good maid services will be happy to send a replacement to do a better job. There are instances where clients fail to specify what needs cleaning. In this case, the fault doesn't lie with the service so if you've had an unsatisfactory experience in the past, make sure you specify details so you aren't held accountable.
