PhotoWhen life gets on top of us and we have to juggle umpteen different things at once, a helping hand around the home can prove invaluable. However, you don’t want to invite just anyone into your home without first asking some important questions to ensure they are the right fit. Here are three questions that you might want to ask to help you filter through and find a cleaner you trust and who suits your lifestyle.
What are your standard duties?
This is one of the first questions you will likely need to ask, as it is vitally important to know just what a cleaner will and won’t be willing to do around your home. Most cleaners will perform a set range of basic cleaning duties. These can include tasks such as dusting, vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom. However, some professionals will offer additional deep cleaning support, such as with cleaning windows or scrubbing ovens.
Getting the answer to this question early on will give you the tools you need to make the right hiring decision, depending on whether or not the professional meets your expectations. Furthermore, it helps to set boundaries, as you will know what you can ask them to do and what will be off limits. This also makes it clear in your head which tasks will be your responsibility on a weekly basis, allowing you to plan your time more effectively.
Do you supply your own equipment and products?
It is a common misconception that cleaning professionals will always supply their own equipment and products. Whilst this is certainly true in some cases, not all professionals will want to carry their own equipment around all day and will instead use what you already have around the home. It’s not uncommon for cleaners who use their own products to add a surcharge to the basic rate to cover costs, so bear this in mind when finding your professional.
This question will be particularly important to people who suffer from allergies or are particularly eco-conscious. It may be that you are allergic to certain cleaning products, or favour ones with natural ingredients. As a result, if you’d prefer a cleaner to use your products and equipment, make sure this will not be an issue before signing any contracts.
How much do you charge?
Across the United States, you can expect to pay your house cleaner an average of $133 per visit. However, this can drastically increase in some of the larger cities like New York. Price can also be affected by things like the number of rooms in your home, or the type of service you expect them to provide. Money can be a tricky subject to bridge, so it is important to have transparency at all stages of the process to ensure there are no surprises or disagreements.
At this stage, it might also be worth considering asking how your cleaner accepts payment. Find out whether they accept digital payments through apps like Venmo or Paypal. Particularly if you don’t expect to be home every time your cleaner comes, digital payment can make things a lot easier, saving you having to find the right change every time.
Ask these three questions and you will be well on your way to finding the home cleaner you’ve been looking for!
