 
| Please keep in mind that information on this
Web site is of a general nature and policies, practices and
procedures will vary between companies, regions and countries.
The same applies to laws relating to employment, licensing,
taxation and government regulation of business in general.
You can discuss these types of issues with your
cleaning service provider. |
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Frequently
Asked Questions
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Are House Cleaning Professionals listed here part of a franchise?
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How do I
know they're properly insured?
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What is the significance of a Fidelity Bond?
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Is there a formal accreditation program for the industry?
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Who provides the equipment and cleaning supplies?
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Is my satisfaction
guaranteed?
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How will I know exactly what their service will include?
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What about security?
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What about dependability?
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How are
cleaning prices determined?
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Members listed on this site are not franchise affiliates of this site.
They are independently-owned, local businesses. Any affiliation that any
company may have with a regional or national franchise organization is
separate and apart from their participation with this Web site directory.
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The type of insurance prudently carried by listed members will vary between
states or provinces and countries.
In the United States, responsible cleaning companies should maintain $1 million dollars
general liability insurance,
third-party fidelity bonding in the amount of $25,000/employee and must be covered by Workers' Compensation Insurance, in
accordance with state regulations. Your local company should
be happy to provide you with evidence of its current insurance coverage.
It would be prudent to ask your local house cleaning representative for details.
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While cleaning companies may have their employees covered by a bond to
protect them against employee dishonesty, only a "third-party"
fidelity bond covers you, the client. Responsible companies
also conduct criminal background and reference checks on all
employees.
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At this time there is no official
accreditation program for the residential cleaning industry. The
Association of Residential Cleaning
Professionals was established in 2003 and is developing an accreditation
program for its members. ARCP members share experiences, cleaning methods
and management ideas through telephone conference calls, seminars, workshops and
annual conventions. The association has members from all across the United
States and many other countries.
The sponsor of this Web site,
WorkEnders, Inc. in Boynton Beach, Florida offers a comprehensive training program
called "House
Cleaning Biz 101" that is being used by thousands of professional cleaning
companies in more than three dozen countries around the world. While the
program teaches efficient and effective cleaning methods, ninety percent of it
deals with how to manage and grow a successful business and become the
preeminent cleaning service in the company's market.
The house cleaning industry has traditionally been one of high turnover.
The primary reason is because from the outside looking in it appears to be a
very simple business to start and operate.
What most people fail to realize is that the greatest challenge facing
business owners in this industry is to find, train, manage and retain good
employees. More than half of the training program deals with this topic in infinite
detail and has been field-tested over many, many years in countries around the
world.
They are taught how to market and manage their business and to deliver the
highest service at a price that translates to excellent value to their clients,
while allowing them to pay their employees a good wage, cover their operating
expenses and earn a reasonable profit for their time and investment.
For more details on this Training Program, go to
www.housecleaningbiz101.com .
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They should. They have learned which cleaning
products, materials, tools and equipment work most effectively, efficiently and
safely. This not only makes their job easier, it helps them give you the
results you expect from professionals. And you get to stop buying all that
"stuff" that clutters up your cabinets, garage or laundry room. Of no
small consequence is the fact that the $400 or $500 that you normally spend on
these items every year can go toward paying for your professional cleaning
service.
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Each house cleaning professional's reputation and your future patronage depend on
their ability to
meet your expectations. They pride themselves in their work.
However, if there is ever a problem you should call their office or leave a note for
the team on their next cleaning visit and they'll take care of it.
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When your local representative should meet with you to determine your needs and
explain their service, you should be given a detailed account of what they'll take
care of on each visit. Any particular concerns or special requests
should be recorded. This helps to avoid future misunderstandings and serves
as a checklist for the team — as well as you, on each visit.
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Most clients are not home when the team comes to clean. Naturally,
they don't
expect you to leave your doors unlocked, and leaving a key under the mat sure
isn't a good idea. Customers generally loan a key, which should be coded
and kept securely locked up in the office. Because they only attach a code
number to your key, if it ever was lost there is no way anyone would have a way
of tracing its origin.
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Over the years one of the biggest complaints we've heard from
cleaning clients is the
unreliability of prior house cleaners. Professional cleaning services are as diligent about punctuality
as they are about their cleaning. Because your team generally cleans several
homes in a day, they usually can't guarantee a specific time but they can often pledge morning or
afternoon arrival on the day your cleaning is booked. Barring a major
event, like a snow storm or some unforeseen mishap, you should expect them to show up as promised
on your scheduled cleaning day.
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There are many factors that determine how they arrive at your cleaning price.
Of course, the size of your home is a factor. But when it comes to
cleaning a home, no two homes are identical even if exactly the same in size and
layout.
A 3,000 square foot, sparsely furnished home with only two
adults and no pets will usually involve less toil than a 2,000 square foot,
copiously furnished home occupied by a family with two children, a dog and a cat.
Your cleaning professional should first visit your home to evaluate your
unique situation, discuss your specific needs and determine how much work is
involved. Only then can they determine your cleaning price.
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Ask your local
House Cleaning Professional about their specific policies |
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