Guide
Questions worth asking a cleaning company
Eight questions that separate a business that has thought about how it works from one that has not. Most of them can be asked in a single phone call, and the answers matter more than the price.
Before the quote
Who will actually be in my house, and will it be the same person each time? Continuity is most of what makes a regular clean work, because the second visit is always better than the first and the tenth is better again.
Are you insured, and can I see the certificate? One page, one minute. See the guide on insurance and DBS checks for what to look for on it.
How long have your cleaners been with you? A business whose people stay is a business that pays properly and is worth more than one that quotes a pound an hour less.
About the work itself
What is on the list, and what is not? A regular clean that does not include the inside of the oven is normal. Discovering that after three months is not.
Do you bring products and equipment? Both answers are fine. Only one of them means you need to keep a cupboard stocked.
What happens if I am not happy with a visit? The useful answer is a specific one: tell us within a day or two and we will come back. A vague reassurance is not a policy.
About the arrangement
What notice do you need for a cancellation, and do you charge for a late one? Almost every company charges for a same-day cancellation and it is entirely reasonable. It should be said at the start.
What happens when my cleaner is ill or on holiday? A sole trader will tell you honestly that the visit does not happen, which is a fair answer. A company should be able to say who covers.
What the answers tell you
None of these is a trick question and none has a single right answer. What they show is whether the business has thought about how it works or is improvising, and improvising is what produces the third missed visit and the awkward conversation.
A business that answers all eight without hesitating has had them asked before, which is itself the most useful thing you learn.
Common questions
Should I ask for references?
For a regular cleaner who will hold a key, yes, and ask how long that customer has used them. Length of relationship says more than enthusiasm.
Is a home visit before quoting a good sign?
For one-off work, strongly. Nobody can price a deep clean or an end of tenancy clean accurately from a room count, and a company that tries will either pad the price or come back for more.
What if they want payment up front?
A deposit on a large one-off job is normal. Full payment before any work has been done is not, and there is no reason to agree to it.