4 Step Guide to House Cleaning Contracts

by Martin Moran Project Management Consultant

Having a regular house cleaning service can add to your quality of life by ensuring that you live in a clean environment and allowing you more time to enjoy life. It's estimated that a family that cleans their house daily, gains back about 30 days per year when they hire a home cleaning service. Many of us choose to DIY, but if you are a parent, working full time, or are physically unable to clean, consider hiring a pro. When doing so, you'll definitely want someone reliable and certified. To maintain order and make sure you're getting quality work under your terms, you better sign a contract with your house cleaners. Here are some contract elements to have in mind.

Average Cost of Quality House Cleaning

The price for hiring cleaning services can depend on various factors. The square footage of your home is of course the biggest influencer on cleaning rates, with the number of bathrooms and bedrooms being the large cost differentiator. Having multiple floors or even pets can also influence the price, as well as the overall scope of work like cleaning inside cabinets and appliances, or making beds. House cleaners base their pricing generally on the number of hours it will take to clean your home, but might also charge more for specialized cleaning products or difficult cleaning tasks. If a team of 2 or 3 cleaners is involved, the price will increase, but they may be able to complete the tasks faster than just one technician.

How to Save on Cost

You can choose to have daily, weekly or monthly house cleaning sessions. Also you may request specialized visits like before or after a holiday party. The average daily cost is generally lower than the monthly cost, due to the fact that your house cleaner will mostly focus on maintenance work. Because maids generally price their services on the above factors, making rooms easily accessible and having minor messes, will make their job go faster. This doesn't mean you need to clean up before the cleaners. However, laying out sheets for changing and putting away belongings will save them time and you will save money. You might also be able to save on cleaning costs by purchasing your own cleaning supplies and equipment, but be sure to buy the right detergents for your home.

Signing The Contract

After you have found your desired cleaning company, you'll want to sign up an agreement regarding all terms and conditions of work. The contract is a legal written document, signed by all parties, agreeing upon specific terms. Being clear about terms of employment will ensure both you and the contractor are on the same page when it comes to expectations. Most cleaning companies will provide you with a contract, so you don't have to worry about writing or finding one online.

Create Good Relations

You should be able to get along well with your house cleaners and feel that you can trust them. Maintaining a strong line of communication with your cleaning company will help improve the quality of work and your overall experience. Don't hesitate to ask questions for any concerns you may have. Your cleaner is there to help. The contract should cover every possible way to address issues you may have as service goes on, and specify what will happen if you need to cancel the service prematurely.

As a conclusion, when deciding to hire a house cleaner, make sure to plan ahead for times that are particularly busy for cleaning services, such as spring cleaning or just before holidays.