Question: I’m interested in hiring a professional cleaning service for my house. What questions should I ask before I commit to one?
Answer: Perry Phillips, executive director of the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (arcsi.org) As a consumer, it’s your responsibility to know who you’re hiring to work in your home. First make sure that the cleaning service is properly insured with liability insurance and that they carry worker’s compensation for their employees. If they don’t, you as a homeowner are responsible if someone gets hurt while cleaning your house. Inquire whether they perform criminal background checks on all of their employees. It’s also important to be well-aware of what you’re paying for. Make sure you and the cleaning service are in agreement about what’s included in the price. Although you don’t want to anticipate problems, mishaps do occur. It’s more than fair to ask how a company handles it if something goes wrong or if the homeowner is dissatisfied.
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