Use this list before you say yes to anyone, including us. A quote that answers all seven points is a quote you can compare. A one line text message with a number in it is not.
The commonest cause of a bad cleaning experience in the UK is not poor work, it is a vague quote. Nobody agreed what was in scope, so the customer expected more than the cleaner priced for.
The seven point checklist
Ask for these in writing. Any reputable company will send them without hesitation, and it takes them two minutes.
- Exactly which rooms, stairs, landings and items are covered, listed individually.
- The cleaning method being used, for example hot water extraction or low moisture dry extraction.
- Whether stain treatment, deodourising and protector are included or priced separately.
- Whether furniture moving is included, and what will not be moved.
- Public liability insurance confirmation, with the insurer named on the paperwork.
- Expected drying time and any access requirements such as parking or water supply.
- What happens if you are not satisfied, in plain wording rather than marketing language.
Questions that separate a professional from a hire machine
You do not need technical knowledge to test whether someone knows their trade. Three questions do it.
- What fibre do you think this is, and how will you check? A professional will mention a fibre burn test or a discreet test patch.
- What will you do if the colour bleeds? The right answer involves testing before the whole area is wetted, not after.
- How long until I can walk on it, and how long until furniture goes back? Vague answers here usually mean over wetting.
Be honest about scope, it saves you money
If you tell a cleaner the truth about pets, spills and how long it has been since the last clean, you will get an accurate price. If you undersell the condition to get a lower quote, you get a price that has to change on the day, which nobody enjoys.
Equally, if part of the job is genuinely a do it yourself task, say a single small spill on an otherwise clean carpet, a decent cleaner will tell you so rather than take the booking.