How to Hire Domestic Help

Are you absolutely certain that your cleaning service company or private maid is trustworthy? According to Mark Rosell of The Mang Insurance Group, a national survey of insurance companies concluded that 44.6% of all theft claims are derived from domestic cleaning services. In addition, Mr. Rosell states that most cleaning service companies are underinsured - protecting themselves from theft and/or damage of company property but not covering their customers. He also stated that criminal background checks are not required in order to purchase bonding insurance. These staggering facts should be of great concern to anyone hiring domestic help. Before you agree to let a stranger into your home, whether you are hiring a private maid or a cleaning service company, you must be assured that you are not putting yourself at risk.

As the owner of a cleaning service company since 1989, and as a consultant for residential cleaning companies since 2004, I have heard about many experiences. Aside from underinsured companies who may have criminals on staff, there are less dire concerns to consider. One woman came home from a month in the hospital to find her private maid had not only moved in, but brought her family of five with her. Another hired a franchise service that apparently came in only to pick up her check each time they were supposed to clean her home. I've been told about another franchise service that sent a team of three cleaning ladies to perform a cleaning, but the customer could not communicate with them because none of the three spoke English.

To ensure that you have an acceptable experience you must do your research before hiring a cleaning company. My recommendations are:

1. Remember that the fee alone should not determine who you hire.

2. Ask for proof of insurance to be sent directly from the insurance company so that you will have a document on hand should an incident occur. (Insist that the insurance certificate is sent to you by the insurance company, not the cleaning company.) Here are some coverage guidelines:

• Bonding insurance can be as low as $1,000 and protects you against theft ONLY if it is a Third Party Bond. Proper coverage would be a minimum of a $25,000 third party bond.

• Liability coverage insures that any accident will not be charged to your homeowners' policy ONLY if it is Third Party Coverage. A minimum of $1,000,000 is desirable for liability coverage.

• Worker's compensation insures that any personal injury occurring on your property is not charged to your home owner's policy.

3. Be certain that you feel comfortable with the owner or manager of the cleaning company, as they will be your contact should there be any problems with the service. Inquire about company policies regarding inadequate service, problems with employees and insurance claims. How long will it be before you are reimbursed for damaged or missing items? Will you be reimbursed for inadequate cleaning, or will a team be sent to reclean your home, and how long will this take?

4. Ask if the cleaning company checks employment and criminal records. From one hundred applications reviewed we can invite an average of ten for interviews because of a lack of stability in work history and residence. Out of the ten applicants invited for an interview, nine are eliminated because of poor work ethics, excessive residences and/or criminal records. Although my company would bring in more immediate income if I carelessly hired anyone who applied, I assure you that repeat business would suffer tremendously and my customers would feel violated.

5. How far back does the company check criminal records? A ten year background check is the legal maximum in some states; however a twenty year check is more desirable. I have seen applicants who appeared to be upstanding citizens but had criminal records reminiscent of infamous outlaws of the Wild West. One young woman who had applied to be a maid had six pages of offenses and had served time for safe cracking! Another mild mannered applicant had served time for armed robbery. Although these are extreme cases they serve to make a point -- if your cleaning service does not check criminal records then you may be inviting a felon into your home. Most often the criminal records of applicants are clean; however ten percent include assault, disturbing the peace and serious traffic violations. These are the records of applicants whose applications were above average -- can you imagine who will be sent to your home if the company you hire does not enforce the most stringent hiring policies?

6. If you prefer to hire a private maid then be certain that you perform a criminal record check. Remember that appearances can be deceiving and references can be falsified.

In most situations your greatest concern will be getting value for your investment. If you invest $120 to have your home cleaned and are unhappy with the results, then you have the opportunity to see first hand how the internal policies of the company work. Does the company have policies, procedures and resources which allow them to handle your complaint professionally and with diplomacy? Do they offer immediate remedies to correct any problem? Not only should you be assured that the company you have invited to be such an important part of your life will clean your home properly and without incident, but that they will take your concerns seriously.

The labor intensity of the residential cleaning industry is equally rivaled by the communication and management intensity. If the cleaning company does not utilize proper management techniques, your overall experience will not be desirable.

In conclusion, as with any important decision you should educate yourself before making a final choice on which company you'll allow to clean your home. Make inquires by phone, in person, online, speak to friends and neighbors about their experiences with local cleaning companies. Bottom line - you are getting ready to invite people into your home, for many their most private and prized possession. Be certain that your decision is an educated and prudent one, not solely based upon price. Like so many of our customers you may find that a decade later the same friendly faces and good service are a refreshing and very necessary part of your life.

Copyright © 2004 Maid in North Carolina ® - All rights reserved.
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Walter L. Gibson established the cleaning company Maid in North Carolina in 1989. Visit www.Maidinnc.com for complete information, customer testimonials and on-line estimates.

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MAID IN NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
274-0078 - Greensboro, NC / Oak Ridge, NC / Summerfield, NC
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