Hiring someone to clean your Houston home could be complicated. Racism can set in, fear of being judged for having a sink full of dishes at the end of a particularly busy week and many more.
If you can find it in your budget, having a professional address your mess can be life-changing. And, it can free you up to be more functional at other things in your life.
But don’t expect to simply hand over your keys to a stranger (though by cleaning industry standards, they have likely been background checked) to tackle that black mold your landlord keeps ignoring. Most cleaning companies place a premium on communication between their clients and their cleaning pros, and there are some ground rules you’ll want to establish on both ends:
When someone sees a deal online for a 1 or 2-hour cleaning, what should they know up front?
And while many cleaning jobs are charged per hour, others are not.
In short: Make sure you’re absolutely clear on how your cleaning time will be spent. Then, devote your time to check out reviews and testimonials left by customers. And if you’re on a discount, determine the regular-priced rate for the service, in case you’re thrilled with their work and want them to return.
Is there any cleaning that needs to be done before the cleaning?
“The less of a total disaster they show up to, the more likely it is that they can do a serious, deep cleaning on the areas you really hate to do yourself,” “So consider picking up your socks and putting a few things in the right places so your pro can focus on that funk behind the toilet.”
So do I stay in my home while it’s being cleaned? Or is that weird?
Among the experts we interviewed, the consensus is that it’s all up to you. Some folks like to be on hand to walk the housekeeper through their home, while others would rather leave it to the professional. Either way, any awkwardness should subside after the first meeting.
What kind of things are off-limits to a cleaning pro?
There are many things that the industry disagrees on, including biohazards like blood or urine, even pet messes. So it needs to be dealt with by a separate professional. We also don’t move heavy furniture; we don’t do blinds or outdoor work. And you have to have a certain certification to deal with pests. We’re not exterminators.”
At Sam’s cleaning and Hauling, our cleaners are trained not to touch jewelry (lest it appear stolen), TV screens, computer screens or windows due to streaking.
