Hiring a House Cleaning Service

When a couple lives together and both work full time in order to earn paychecks, their house cleaning duties may cause stress. Either the chores fall by the wayside or cause arguments over the appropriate division. With precious little free time on the weekends and in honor of the relationship, isn’t it worth it to hire a maid service in order to free up a bit more quality couple time? Save your relationship and your sanity with a bit of home-keeping help. Here’s what to look for in a house cleaning service:

- Word-of-mouth referrals: Nothing beats a word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend, family member or neighbor. Ask around to find out who is highly recommended in the field of housework. It’s helpful to ask questions about how long this cleaner has been providing service for your friend or family member. Inquire about the strengths and weaknesses of this individual or company, then interview the cleaner yourself to see if they appear to have the makings of a potentially satisfactory business relationship. Before hiring them for a long term gig, arrange for one cleaning service visit in order to assess their skills.
- Cleansers and supplies: Would you rather supply the products or have them bring their own? There are pros and cons to each alternative. Some people prefer to have certain products used in their dwelling, such as those that are green and environmentally friendly. Others would rather not worry about keeping supplies stocked. This detail will also affect the price, so compare prices before making a decisioin.
- Fees: Some individuals or services charge by the visit while others charge by the hour. This is a question to ask your potential maid team. The more often the housekeeping services are performed at your abode, the less expensive it usually is per visit. This is because the home is easier to maintain since it’s kept up on a regular basis.
- Services performed: What services are priorities for your home? Some home dwellers just want a simple tidying up while others prefer a deep cleaning to be done. Some want all of their linens changed, their windows washed and their floors stripped and waxed on a regular basis. Others are happy with a wipe down and a feather dusting. Which do you prefer or would you like visits to alternate between heavy and light cleaning? Think it through before you interview the potential cleaning team.
- Bonded and insured: Make certain that you are protected should belongings be damaged or stolen. When a worker is bonded, this protects both the employee and the homeowner. Does your home insurance cover liability if a maid is injured on your property? These are all questions to ask before hiring anyone.
- Taxes and worker’s compensation: If the individual works for a business, their payroll taxes and worker’s comp should be taken care of by their employer -- the cleaning service. If this is an individual who is only working for you and a few other clients, you may be liable for paying taxes. Check with your accountant to be sure.

Simplify your daily life and enhance your relationship by delegating your weekend chores to a house cleaning service.