This is one of those categories that a Do-It-Yourselfer does not want to do and therefore from the outset we are assuming you are hiring someone to do this for you. We all get too busy with work and life, and at times (perhaps regularly) we need to pay someone to do some of the repeated household tasks, so that we can gain a little leisure time for ourselves and our families. I want to outline some of the important considerations that you need to be aware of before turning your home over to a cleaning service. These are not necessarily in order of importance, but are all important!

• Check References. Ask the service provider for recent references, and follow-up by calling those customers and asking questions about the reliability of the service, the quality of the work, and any negative feedback they might have. You should ask them how often they have used the service, how were complaints remedied, and if they would recommend them without hesitation.
• Are They Insured and Bonded? If something is stolen during the house cleaning, are you protected by the service provider’s insurance? If a maid is hurt while working in your home does their insurance provide both liability and accident coverage? It is possible that your own homeowner’s policy will not cover the maid service. Asking in advance sure beats asking after the accident or theft takes place.
• Who is Employed? Does the company take the time to check potential employee’s references? Are criminal checks done as part of the application process. We have all heard of the politician’s embarrassment for hiring illegal workers as maids. Will any maids working at your home be illegal residents? One big question is whether the maids are employed by the service or if the service simply contracts with others over whom they bear little or no control.
• What Chemicals are Used? Do you have to provide all of the cleaning supplies? If not, what kinds of cleaners will they use? Will supplies be safe for man and beast? The popularity of “green” cleaners has led to watering down harsh chemicals by some providers, that ultimately clean less than the full-strength version. Research what “green” cleaners are used by the company so that you are not getting the short end of the stick on these supplies.
• Who’s Equipment is Used? Do they come with a high quality vacuum cleaner or other needed equipment, or are they depending on your equipment being used?
• Is There Follow-up? Is there someone in the company who will call or come by to check with you on the quality of the service received? If there is a complaint what is the process for resolving it? Basically you need to know in advance how well they stand behind their work.
• Know Your Tax Liability! If you hire a service company, make sure that they view their maids as employees and are taking care of their tax requirements. If you hire someone on your own, you may be liable for social security and other federal and state taxes. If you ever run for public office, this will surely come out of the closet.

Hopefully this does not discourage you from finding a few more leisure hours by having a home cleaning service clean your house. Just some things to think about before making this decision.

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Tags: cleaning supplies, green cleaning supplies, house cleaning, maid references, maid service, maid tax liability