Don’t Hire a Cleaning Company Before You Read This

You’ve decided to hire professional cleaners. Smart move. Your weekends are too valuable to spend scrubbing grout and your back agrees enthusiastically.

But here’s where most people make expensive mistakes. They Google “cleaning service near me,” pick someone with decent reviews and reasonable prices, and hope for the best. Sometimes it works out great. Often it doesn’t.

The cleaning industry has shockingly low barriers to entry. Someone buys supplies, prints business cards, and suddenly they’re “professional cleaners.” No certification required. No training standards. No oversight ensuring they actually know what they’re doing.

This creates a minefield of potential problems: damaged property, stolen items, poor quality work, no-shows, hidden fees, and services that somehow make your house look worse than before they arrived.

Before you hand over your house keys and credit card, you need to understand what separates legitimate professionals from expensive disasters waiting to happen. For insights into what quality cleaning actually looks like, check out this detailed review of professional cleaning standards.

Let’s talk about the red flags, green flags, and questions you absolutely must ask before hiring anyone.

The Insurance Question Most People Skip

First question out of your mouth should be: “Are you insured and bonded?”

If they hesitate, make excuses, or say anything other than immediate “yes” with proof available, end the conversation. This isn’t negotiable.

Here’s why this matters so much:

General liability insurance protects your property if cleaners accidentally damage something. Knocked over vase? Scratched hardwood? Stained carpet? Insurance covers it. Without insurance, you’re left fighting to get compensation from a company that might vanish or claim it wasn’t their fault.

Workers’ compensation protects you if a cleaner gets injured in your home. Without it, you could be personally liable for medical bills if someone falls off a ladder or throws out their back moving furniture. This sounds paranoid until you’re facing a lawsuit.

Bonding protects against theft. It’s not pleasant to think about, but strangers in your home with access to valuables creates risk. Bonding provides recourse if items disappear.

Legitimate companies carry all three and provide proof without fuss. Ask for certificate copies and verify they’re current. Expired insurance is worthless insurance.

According to the Better Business Bureau, lack of proper insurance is the single biggest predictor of cleaning service complaints and legal disputes. Don’t skip this step.

The “Too Good to Be True” Price Problem

You get quotes ranging from $150 to $80 for the same job. Obviously you go with $80, right? You’re saving $70!

Wrong. You’re probably buying problems.

Cleaning done properly costs money. Supplies, equipment, labor, insurance, taxes – these are real expenses. Companies charging dramatically less than competitors are cutting corners somewhere:

• Uninsured workers (your risk)
• No background checks (security risk)
• Inferior products that damage surfaces
• Rushed work that misses half the house
• Hidden fees that appear later
• Unreliable scheduling and no-shows

The old saying applies: “Buy cheap, buy twice.” In this case, buy cheap and possibly buy property damage and headaches too.

This doesn’t mean you should overpay. Get 3-5 quotes and look at the middle range. If everyone’s quoting $140-160 and one company offers $75, there’s a reason. You won’t like the reason.

Benjamin Franklin observed, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” True for cleaning services in spades.

Background Checks Aren’t Optional

You’re giving strangers keys to your home. They’ll be there when you’re at work. Around your belongings. Possibly near your kids or pets.

Professional companies conduct criminal background checks on all employees. They verify identities. They check references. They don’t hire anyone with theft, violence, or fraud convictions.

Ask directly: “Do you conduct criminal background checks on all employees?”

The answer should be immediate “yes” with specifics on what they check. If they say “usually” or “most of the time” or dodge the question, walk away.

Some companies try to avoid this by using independent contractors instead of employees. That’s fine IF those contractors are also vetted. Don’t accept “they’re contractors so we don’t check” as an answer.

Your safety and security matter more than saving a few dollars.

The Detailed Cleaning Checklist Test

Ask any company you’re considering: “What exactly is included in your standard cleaning?”

Watch what happens. Professional companies immediately provide detailed checklists broken down by room. They specify what gets cleaned, how, and what’s considered extra.

Amateur operations give vague answers: “We clean everything!” or “Whatever you need done.”

That vagueness becomes a problem when they finish and you realize they didn’t clean inside the microwave, ignored baseboards, skipped the shower doors, and somehow missed an entire bathroom.

Get it in writing. Room by room. Task by task. Including:

• Kitchen: what appliances get cleaned (inside? outside? both?)
• Bathrooms: what gets scrubbed vs. just wiped
• Floors: vacuum only? Mop? Both? What about under furniture?
• Dusting: what surfaces? Do they move items or clean around them?
• Windows: interior? exterior? both?

Professional companies welcome this specificity. It prevents misunderstandings and ensures both parties agree on expectations.

Shady operators hate specificity because it eliminates their wiggle room to underdeliver and claim confusion.

The Communication Red Flag Detector

How companies communicate before you hire them predicts how they’ll communicate after.

Warning signs during the hiring process:

• Days to return calls or emails (they won’t improve after they have your money)
• Vague answers to direct questions
• Pressure tactics to commit immediately
• Reluctance to provide references or proof of insurance
• No written contracts or agreements
• Insistence on cash payment only

Quality companies respond promptly, answer questions directly, provide everything in writing, and accept normal payment methods. They understand that professional communication builds trust.

If getting clear answers during the courting phase is like pulling teeth, imagine dealing with them when there’s a problem.

The Review Deep Dive That Actually Matters

Everyone checks reviews. But most people do it wrong.

Don’t just look at star ratings. Read the actual reviews, especially the negative ones. What you’re looking for:

Do negative reviews show patterns? One person complaining about a missed appointment is unfortunate. Ten people reporting no-shows indicates a systemic problem.

How does the company respond to criticism? Defensive and argumentative? Red flag. Apologetic and solution-focused? Green flag. Ignores complaints entirely? Run.

Are positive reviews detailed or generic? “Great service!” repeated fifty times might be fake. Reviews mentioning specific employees, particular tasks done well, or detailed experiences are more trustworthy.

Recent vs. old reviews? Company might have been great three years ago but under new management now. Focus on reviews from the last 3-6 months.

Check multiple platforms: Google, Yelp, Facebook, Better Business Bureau. Cross-reference to spot fake review patterns.

According to research on consumer review behavior, 94% of people read online reviews before hiring services, but only 30% dig deeper than star ratings. Be in the 30%.

The Trial Run Negotiation

Never commit to weekly or monthly service immediately. Start with a single deep cleaning or trial service.

This lets you evaluate:

• Do they show up on time?
• Is the quality actually good?
• Did they follow the checklist?
• Were they respectful of your home?
• Did they communicate about any issues?
• Did the price match the quote?

Professional companies expect this and offer trial services. They’re confident you’ll want ongoing service after seeing their work.

Companies that push hard for immediate long-term contracts are often those who know customers rarely stick around after experiencing their work. They want commitment before you discover problems.

The Payment Structure Matters

How companies handle payment reveals a lot:

Red flags:

• Cash only (avoiding taxes, usually)
• Full payment upfront (what’s their incentive to do good work?)
• No receipts or invoices (no paper trail)
• Pressure to pay before completion

Green flags:

• Multiple payment options (cards, checks, electronic)
• Payment after service completion
• Detailed invoices with task breakdown
• Clear refund or dissatisfaction policy

Legitimate businesses run proper accounting. They provide documentation. They stand behind their work by accepting payment after you’re satisfied.

The Supply Situation Question

Who provides cleaning supplies? This matters more than you’d think.

If you provide supplies:

• You control quality and environmental preferences
• You know what’s being used on your surfaces
• Cost is predictable
• But you have to keep everything stocked

If they provide supplies:

• Professional-grade products usually work better
• One less thing for you to manage
• But verify what products they use
• Ensure nothing will damage your surfaces or trigger allergies

Neither approach is wrong, but understand which it is upfront. Some companies charge more if they supply products, others include it in base price.

Ask specifically about harsh chemicals if you have kids, pets, or environmental concerns. Professional companies can accommodate green cleaning requests if you ask.

The Scheduling Flexibility Reality

Life happens. You might need to reschedule occasionally. How does the company handle this?

Questions to ask:

• What’s your cancellation policy?
• How much notice do you need for schedule changes?
• What happens if you can’t make a scheduled appointment?
• Do you charge cancellation fees?

Reasonable policies protect both parties. 24-48 hours notice for changes is standard. Same-day cancellation fees are common and fair.

Unreasonable policies indicate inflexibility that’ll frustrate you long-term. Companies that can’t accommodate occasional schedule changes or charge excessive fees for any modification will be annoying to work with.

The Employee vs. Owner-Operator Question

Is the person you’re talking to actually going to clean your house, or are they sending employees?

Both models work, but you need to know which you’re getting:

Owner-operators:

• More invested in quality (reputation on the line)
• Consistency (same person every time)
• Direct communication
• But limited scheduling flexibility
• Can’t scale if you need more services

Employee-based companies:

• More scheduling options
• Can handle larger jobs
• Backup if someone’s sick
• But quality depends on training and management
• Possible consistency issues with rotating staff

Neither is inherently better, but know what you’re getting. If they send employees, ask about training processes and whether you’ll have the same team regularly or rotating crews.

The “What’s Not Included” Conversation

Professional companies clearly state what’s NOT included in standard service:

• Exterior window washing
• Oven interior deep cleaning
• Inside refrigerator
• Organizing/decluttering
• Laundry
• Dishes
• Moving heavy furniture

These are often available as add-ons for additional cost. The point is clarity. If you assume standard cleaning includes oven interior scrubbing and they don’t do it, that’s a problem created by unclear expectations.

Ask explicitly about boundary cases for your situation. If you have anything unusual – pet birds, expensive antiques, delicate surfaces – mention it upfront and confirm they can handle it.

The Satisfaction Guarantee Reality

Many companies advertise “satisfaction guaranteed.” What does that actually mean?

Get specifics:

• If I’m not satisfied with something, what happens?
• Do you come back and re-clean?
• Is there a time limit on complaints?
• What if the problem happens repeatedly?

Some guarantees are legitimate commitments to quality. Others are marketing fluff with so many conditions they’re meaningless.

Test it: “If you finish cleaning and I notice you missed the bathroom, what’s the process?” Their answer reveals whether the guarantee is real or just words.

Trust Your Gut (But Verify Everything)

Sometimes companies check all boxes but something feels off. Trust that instinct. Your subconscious picks up subtle cues your conscious mind misses.

Conversely, don’t let a charming salesperson override red flags. Personality isn’t qualification.

The poet Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” If a company shows disorganization, poor communication, or unprofessionalism during hiring, believe them. They won’t magically improve after you commit.

Look, hiring a cleaning company should reduce stress, not create it. The companies worth hiring make this process easy. They answer questions. They provide documentation. They communicate clearly. They stand behind their work.

If you’re fighting to get basic information or feeling pressured into decisions, that’s the company showing you who they are. Believe them and move on.

The right cleaning company exists. They’re professional, reliable, reasonably priced, and will make your life genuinely better. But finding them requires doing homework upfront rather than learning expensive lessons afterward.

Ask the questions. Demand the documentation. Start with a trial. And don’t let anyone make you feel like these reasonable expectations are somehow excessive. They’re not. They’re the bare minimum for trusting someone with your home and your money.