Hiring a cleaning professional may be a small addition to your monthly budget, but it is well worth spending the money on. Imagine the pleasure that comes when you return to an immaculate home after a long day at work and all that is left for you to do is to spend quality time with family, prepare dinner or just have a shower and call it a night? Cleaning ladies are actually in high demand because of the busy schedules we all keep. The cleaning business is one of the most lucrative businesses around.
In short, you can find a cleaning lady may by simply browsing through your local classified ads. She may be a local professional just get started in the business, or she may be a woman attached to a reputable cleaning organization where employees are trained properly to get the job done.
So which one are you prepared to choose? It really depends on what you are looking for – that is, a cheap price over experience and professionalism? Of course, cheap prices do not necessarily mean lack of experience, so you will need to evaluate the person’s skills carefully. In terms of the cost, you can usually expect to pay several hundred dollars per month, but this will vary widely depending on how big your house is, and the type of services offered.
The first thing to do when considering hiring a cleaning lady is to ask for references generated from your friends, co-workers and family. One of them may have had a cleaning lady who they were impressed with and that can assist you with the selection process. After all, word of mouth is always the most effective form of business generation for many of these individuals. Recommendations may also be generated from the telephone directory under the “house cleaning services” section, through fine-print newspaper advertisements, and even via the internet.
During your search, be sure to narrow it down to three cleaning ladies and get each of their rates. Keep in mind that if you decide to go with a cleaning lady who charges you less, prepare to get exactly what you pay for, inferior products and all. Again, this may not always be the case, but you may want to ask questions up-front as to what she uses to clean homes with. Basically, the more time you spend looking for the right person, the more likely you are to receive both quality service and a great rate.
Find out the type of products that will be used and what services are included in the price. Does she do general cleaning in the home, with the exception of windows? Is she experienced at moving furniture around when vacuuming? Does she do precisely what the client asks, or does she take certain liberties on her own? These are questions that you will want to ask. More importantly, listen carefully to the answers each individual provides and be sure that the person you are hiring is going to be capable of doing everything you need.
Before hiring an individual, always be sure to check your cleaning lady’s references and perform a background check. This can be done through a number of services available on the internet. The last thing you want to do is hire a cleaning lady that does not appear trustworthy. This may require a bit of cynicism on your part, but being critical is absolutely necessary when you are considering inviting a professional into your home. It’s also a good idea to make sure you or someone you trust is home during the actual process, simply to evaluate performance.
Be sure to inquire if the cleaning lady is providing her own cleaning supplies or if she needs you to recommend your own personal favorite products. Often, the best individuals will be receptive to suggestions and consumer preferences. If not, make sure to ask her why she uses the products she does.
Bear in mind that a cleaning lady is not a maid, so you may very well have to put out some extra cash if you are expecting her to get the laundry and cooking done. Typically a cleaning lady will come to the home once every week or two, depending on what your needs are.
Ultimately, the cleaning lady must be someone that you feel comfortable working with. Have your final three choices come to your home one by one and interview them in front of your family. Then have a meeting with your family or friends on how the interview went after they leave. You will be surprised to discover how many things you may have missed in the interview that your family members or friends were able to point out to you. Sometimes it takes multiple sets of eyes to see everything there is to see.
