Questions to Ask a House Cleaner in Chicago

September 20th, 2013
By Brandon Boyewsky

If you’re looking for an outstanding, trustworthy house cleaning company in Chicago, the best way to gauge the professionalism and skill level of prospective businesses is to perform an interview. Not only will you be able to get the information you need directly from their answers, but you can also learn a lot about them if you pay close attention to how they answer your questions. This gives you the ability to search for identify red flags, indicating that they might be worth avoiding.

Here are some questions that you should ask any local cleaning business before you consider hiring them:

A. How long have you been in business? How long has your business operated in Chicago?

While the amount of time that a business has been operating is not necessarily a clear indicator of its quality, you can still learn a lot by asking. In general, cleaning companies with poor service records and low customer satisfaction rates don’t stay in business for a long time or in the same location for a long period of time.

Conversely, you can reasonably assume that a business which has been operating in the same location for a long time is doing a good enough job to develop a happy customer base.  This doesn’t mean that you should totally shy away from hiring a newer business if you do some research and like what you see.

B. Can you provide references?

Unless they are brand new, a reputable residential house cleaning company should be able to provide you with at least a few references from satisfied customers. This is absolutely key. You’ll have already looked at their customer reviews and testimonials from places like Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List. However, for a more in-depth look at how local customers view them, speaking with someone is a must.

C. Does your company require that its employees and managers receive any form of formal training? Do you perform background checks?

This will show you how dedicated and possibly how qualified a cleaning business is. Reputable companies make an effort to continuously educate their employees through recognized national cleaning standards or other industry specific organizations. Having formal training also means that the employees will better understand how to operate the equipment and do the best possible job. Making sure that the company performs employee background checks is another best practice, as it is good to know who will be coming into your home.

D. What types of cleaning methods and equipment will you be using?

Cleaning methods for residential house cleaning can differ greatly by company. For instance, some furniture in your home will have certain restrictions placed on the machines that can be used to clean them in order to avoid warranty issues. A good cleaning business should be able to outline the best methods and equipment types for your specific situation.

E. How much does your company charge per square foot? What are the different service types and their respective costs? Do you provide a written estimate?

A cleaning company should charge you by the square foot. You ought to be very wary of a company that offers a set price for a room or rooms, because all rooms are different. The company’s square foot price list should be presented in an easy to understand way, and you should know exactly what you will be paying for what type of service. This will allow you to compare the prices per square foot of several different Chicago area companies to find the best price.

F. Is your company insured for loss and damage to my home? How much coverage do you have? Are you licensed and bonded?

Always ask to see proof of insurance before you allow a company to begin working on your home! Because of the nature of residential house cleaning, the risk of damage is higher than you may think. If the company doesn’t have enough insurance to cover any damage that may occur, you could be left to pay for the damages yourself. You should always look for fully insured green cleaning companies. Furthermore, most states also require that businesses be licensed and bonded.

G. Do you offer any form of satisfaction guarantee? What happens if I am not completely satisfied with the work?

A decent company will offer you some sort of satisfaction guarantee. Be wary of companies in Chicago that do not, because you could get taken for a ride!. Make sure that you are aware of what the conditions are for the guarantee and that you understand ahead of time what the company will do if you are not fully satisfied. A money-back guarantee is always a good bet.

H. How many crew members will be coming to my home? Will there be a manager or supervisor with them?

This is a safety question. Residential house cleaning requires that strangers enter your home, so you want to know exactly who will be present. You also want to know if there will be a supervisor with them so that you will have someone to speak with directly if there is an issue.

Get a Free Residential House Cleaning Estimate in Chicago Today!

At Sweep Home Chicago, we are fully committed to providing all of our customers with the quality house cleaning services they desire and deserve. If you would like a hand with your cleaning tasks, give us a shot today!

Contact us today and receive 10% off your first cleaning, a Free Green Cleaning Guide, and a Free No Obligation Cleaning Estimate!

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