So, your office cleaner has called in sick and will need at least a week to recover. When not off sick, they are on annual leave. The issue isn’t that the cleaner is off- the issue is you never seem to have a replacement cleaner in place. You already have a ton of things to cross off your list- plan induction week for the new starters, go through hundreds of employees’ holiday requests and find a more reliable supplier. Cleaning is the last thing you want to worry about right now- but you also know that a clean or unclean office is the first thing that clients notice about your office.
You also know that if the cleaning responsibilities could be taken off your hands, you could give more of yourself to your employees and focus on what really matters- your business. So you decide to do the extreme- hire an external cleaning provider.
With so many cleaning providers out there, with fancy websites and slogans, promising to provide excellent cleaning service at unbeatable prices, how can you make an informed decision that will leave you better and not worse off?
Below are a few points to consider before hiring a cleaning provider that can not only provide excellent cleaning but a hassle-free cleaning service.
Do they have enough staff members?
The last thing you want is to rely on only one cleaner- after all, this is the reason why you decided to hire a cleaning provider. Poor cleaning standards, unexpected conflict, or sudden notice from the cleaner are one of the many reasons why you don’t want to rely solely on one cleaner. If this happens, you don’t want to be left without a cleaner for weeks while the cleaning company is “looking” for another cleaner.
Although you wouldn’t want a different cleaner coming in each day, there is comfort in knowing that there is always a substitute cleaner in place, should the regular cleaner not be available.
You want a cleaning provider who can efficiently provide reliable additional cleaning staff without you worrying about how.
Also, you want a cleaning provider that can provide you with a reliable, consistent, and hassle-free service. Because if a cleaning provider can tick all the boxes, but is not able to provide additional cleaning staff, you’re better off hiring internally.
Can they provide testimonials?
Apart from a referral provided by a trusted source, the only other way you can make an informed decision about hiring a reliable cleaning provider is through customer testimonials. This can be reviewed on a cleaning provider’s website or on their ‘Google My Business page. Testimonials could also be provided by one of their clients, backing up their word, ultimately providing you with peace of mind. Testimonials will answer your questions about how reliable a provider’s cleaning services are, if they are efficient and trustworthy and if they can solve your cleaning challenges. Positive or negative reviews will ultimately decide whether you should hire a particular cleaning provider or not.
Are they insured and registered?
The last thing you want is to end up in a legal mishap with your cleaning provider. Before agreeing to a cleaning service, always ask for insurance. Insurance protects the provider, the cleaners, and you as a client, should accidents occur. Hiring an uninsured cleaning provider can cost your business a fortune and waste useful time.
Have their cleaning staff undergone a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check? This is a sensitive topic and most clients don’t necessarily know how to ask this question. However, asking this question will help you make a decision much faster. Although a DBS check is only mandatory when working around children and vulnerable adults, as a business, it is not an unreasonable request to ask that only DBS-checked cleaners clean your premises. Again, this will provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your premises are looked after by trustworthy cleaning staff.
What is included in the price?
We all want a service that is value for money, especially as a business. However, before agreeing to a cleaning provider’s ‘competitive pricing’ you want to check what exactly is included in the price. Will they provide and maintain their own cleaning products and equipment? Will regular spot checks take place? Are they charging only per hour, or per hour AND per cleaner? For example, if it takes two cleaners 2 hours to clean your premises each day, you are paying for 4 hours of cleaning each day. This means that not only are you paying for cleaning services on an hourly basis, but you’re also paying for each cleaner.
You also want to ask cleaning providers how they manage potential issues that might occur. Who should be contacted if the cleaners do not show up or if you’re not happy with the cleaning standards? A fundamental part of receiving a good cleaning service is knowing that your feedback is managed seriously.
Conclusion
There you have it! These are the top points you should consider before hiring a cleaning provider. You’re ultimately paying for a service- a hassle-free service that should buy you back valuable time and provide you with peace of mind.
If you are looking for the best office cleaners in town, get in touch with us now!
