Some people may lavish money and attention on home security, but then cut corners when hiring a house cleaner. It’s a bad decision that could cost more than you imagine. The workers who enter your private domain should not only be skilled at their jobs, but vetted and backed up by a reputable and insured professional enterprise.
Here are five things to look for when selecting a cleaning service:
Reputation and experience
It is important to find a reliable and respectable organization that knows how to get the job done and done right.
Affordable Maids® has been in the cleaning business since 1992.
The business has eight locations servicing the North Hills and South Hills areas, East and West areas, and Westmoreland and Butler counties. It is the largest maid service in the Pittsburgh area.
It has an A+ accreditation by the Better Business Bureau, more than 120 five-star Google reviews and nearly 175 glowing customer testimonials.
Owner and president Robert “Casey” Reynolds said his group of nearly 50 employees has earned its outstanding reputation.
“It doesn’t happen by accident,” said Reynolds. “It took years of hard work. It boils down to trust. We’re in people’s homes. It gives our customers peace of mind that they’re dealing with a 30-year company that they can trust.”
Affordable Maids® was also named Tribune-Review’s Best of the Best Cleaning Service in the East.
Employment screenings and background checks
Reaching those milestones and accomplishments comes from hiring the best people.
Affordable Maids® runs complete background checks on potential employees, checks references and calls former employers before it welcomes a new team member.
Reynolds said other businesses may not be going the extra mile when it comes to their hiring practices. There have also been recent articles about house cleaners from other towns and businesses stealing items.
“Due to the nationwide labor shortage, some companies are desperate for employees,” he said. “So they are lowering their standards and bypassing background checks. That’s rather scary, because God only knows who is coming into your house.
“With Affordable Maids®, we run complete background checks and call former employers of all prospective employees. Nobody slides through the cracks with us.”
Team members of Affordable Maids
Employees are thoroughly trained with a 12-level program with room for advancement in a “learn more, earn more approach,” Reynolds said.
Many employees have between five to 25 years of experience with the company, and clean about 400+ homes a year.
Customer service
Being able to customize a job and the ease in how that is done can make a huge difference. Affordable Maids® prides itself on having a personal touch.
“We are not a franchise that forwards your calls to an out-of-state call center that doesn’t know the first thing about the problems Pittsburgh homeowners are experiencing,” Reynolds said. “We are a local company that knows how to service local residents.”
All calls are addressed within 24 hours.
They also have a website in which potential customers can browse through services, testimonials, frequently asked questions and scheduling an estimate. A new website is in development.
Services provided
Not every home or business needs the same amount of cleaning.
While some service providers only handle light duties — dusting, cleaning countertops, vacuuming — Affordable Maids® takes care of everything. That includes kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, bedrooms, hardwood floors, carpeting, patios and doors.
There are packages for moving in and moving out of properties, spring and commercial cleanings. Jobs can be done weekly, biweekly, triweekly, monthly or whatever the customer may need.
Teams of two to three people are sent to homes or businesses for a job, with one being a team leader to ensure all cleaning standards are met.
“We give them a thorough cleaning every time,” Reynolds said. “We do it right the first time every time. What we will customize is what they want done, but the cleaning is consistent every time.”
Insured and bonded
Homeowner’s insurance may not cover everything that could happen with a cleaning.
In the unlikely event of an accident, customers can have peace of mind in knowing Affordable Maids® will take care of any problems.
They have $2 million in liability insurance, workers’ compensation and a security bond.
“If you let someone in your house that isn’t insured with these things, or bonded, a lot of nightmares can happen,” Reynolds said. “If the person damages the home by leaving the stove on, catching the house on fire, scratching the quartz or granite countertops, or the stainless steel appliances, you could be paying thousands of dollars to repair those items. In addition, if they trip walking down your steps, they can sue you for their hospital bills.”
He said customers “are risking everything” if they do not use a company that is properly insured.
More information about Affordable Maids® is available at affordablemaids.com or by calling 412-521-6243.
This has been a paid article submitted by our content partner.
https://triblive.com/news/partner-news/how-to-pick-a-cleaning-service-you-can-trust-the-top-5-things-to-look-for/
