After much contemplation, you’ve decided to hire a maid service.
Perhaps your time is worth too much money, and that time is more profitable and enjoyable spent somewhere besides your kitchen floor. For example, if you typically charge $75 an hour for your services, it makes sense that hiring house cleaners for $50 an hour frees you up to make money. In this case, it’s worth it.
Or maybe you just appreciate the feeling of a clean house and you have the extra money to spend.
Regardless, it’s now time to hire the right professionals. Here’s how!
Know the Options for Maid Services
Maid services are boiled down into two types—individual cleaners that work for themselves or cleaning services that work for a company.
Both have different pros and cons.
With an individual, you can develop a relationship and even discuss adding extra housekeeping chores (like laundry), but you’ll have to cover things like background checks yourself. With a cleaning company, like those https://www.kingofmaids.com/cities/chicago connects you to, you can guarantee someone will always show up—but you might not have such an intimate relationship.
Read Online Customer Reviews
No matter what kind of home services you’re looking for, it’s imperative that you vet them online—or even with your friend group.
Before you agree to hire any one company or individual, see what the internet has to say about them. If their online presence is minimal or nonexistent, it might be because they’re new to the game—or it could be a red flag. Look for cleaners that have a slew of positive testimonials attributed to good experiences, as you’re likely to have the same interaction.
Don’t forget that word-of-mouth is another fantastic way to hear reviews and learn about new cleaners.
Comparing Maid Costs in Your Area
Earlier, we mentioned the worth of your time. You have to ask yourself: how much is your time worth to you, and how much can you afford to spend on maid services?
Independent maids typically cost less money, and you know that money is going straight to the individual. Still, if that person goes out of town, you’re out of luck for cleaning that week. Cleaning companies usually cost more, but there’s greater reliability attached, as well as insurance and background checks.
On average, maids cost between $40 and $65 an hour, depending on the square footage of your home, how often the maid comes out, and whether you choose independent vs corporate. Maid services should easily fit into your budget since this is a luxury service rather than a need.
Being Transparent About Your Needs
Finally, you should be clear about what you expect from your maid.
During the meet-and-greet phase, discuss what you hope to be accomplished during the cleaning. That’s a perfect opportunity for the maid to either agree or say it’s over their head.
You should know exactly what you want—even making a list—and find someone who’s both willing and able to do that for you.
Hire a Maid Service Today!
Once you learn your options, get recommendations, sift through reviews, compare costs, and know your needs, you’re ready to start interviewing.
It’s not a bad idea to meet with a few options before settling on the one you think suits you best. Do a walkthrough of the home to ensure communication and expectations are clear.
After you hire a maid service, head back to our homepage and see how else you can optimize your home life!
Alison Lurie is a farmer of words in the field of creativity. She is an experienced independent content writer with a demonstrated history of working in the writing and editing industry. She is a multi-niche content chef who loves cooking new things.