I want to hire a professional cleaner, and I have some questions for those who’ve tried it.?
Question:I am considering hiring a professional cleaner to my apartment. It is a relatively small, 2 bedroom unit, but there is quite a bit of work that needs to be done. Before I figure out if this is really what I want, I just need a couple of questions answered.
How much do they charge on average?
Will I be expected to leave my apartment while they are cleaning? Do I just stay there and watch?
If someone could help me out, I would be more than grateful.
Thanks in advance.
Answers:
They charge based on how big your place is, and will likely charge more for anything extra you want beyond their basic cleaning job. Depends on where you live also. I live in a 3 bed 2 bath townhome in a small town and pay $89 a cleaning - they come every two weeks. No, you don't have to leave. In fact you may want to hang around at least the first couple of times so you can at least see them and have a comfort level. But many people just leave the key and let them clean while the client's at work. Be careful though - there's a lot of people in the cleaning business (it aint exactly tough to acquire the needed skills) and they're not all honest and reliable. Make sure they're bonded and insured. I used a local cleaning team I found on service magic and they were fine until one day they didn't show up anymore and their phone was disconnected. I'm still nervous they may have made off with something, like a checkbook. But just do your research, be smart about it and you should be fine.
I have used both services like Merry Maids and individuals to clean my house. I would recommend hiring a service to do your first cleaning since it usually is a big job. Most services use a team of people and can get through pretty quick.
Some tips:
1. Clean up and put away as much of the clutter as possible. They will be more efficient if they don't have to hassle with working around piles of stuff. Most services won't even pick up a stack of mail to dust under.
2. Get an estimate. Depending on where you live, it might cost around $100 for your first cleaning, but is much cheaper to maintain on a weekly or every two week basis.
3. Ask for references., then call them. Most services and individuals will have a list of references you can call.
4. Don't leave while they are there. I usually wander from room to room checking their progress. If you find something done unsatisfactorily, make them re-do it right away.
5. After they have left, do another check of your apartment. Most services have a 24hr guarantee.
If they quote you a price over the phone RUN ...you will more than likely get a quick once over. Be specific about what you want done like if you want baseboards cleaned, under or behind furniture, laundry, windows, etc. Keep in mind some charge a flat rate ( they usually will not do windows, laundry or clean ovens) and some by the hour.
Even when the hourly rate ( expect $25-40 per hour per person) seems high I find that these are the ones that perform the best. In other words you get what you pay for. Try to keep in mind you are hiring someone to do a job either you do not want to do, or are unable to do.
If you check references you should be able to let them work on there own, but, only do what you are comfortable with.
An individual might charge $20/hr.
A service may charge even more.
About trust: One thing I found out is that my gold bracelet and my grandmother's wedding ring disappeared from my closet and I thought I had the stuff well-hidden. They are very industrious. I always tipped well and was nice and normally left the house so they could work in peace.
Also, password lock your computer. Lock your personal files with identity info. Don't leave checks or mail laying around. Basically lock up anything you value - sorry but that's life today. I thought I could trust people too, but it's not always true.
If you have the time to stick around while they clean, it's best to do so. You can busy yourself with something and still not get in the way.
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