Everything You Need to Know About Hiring a Cleaner

If you’re working a 9-5 job and have a long list of commitments and appointments to juggle, cleaning your house isn’t the ideal way to spend the precious time that you do get to yourself. Hiring a regular cleaner will inevitably free up your spare time and will allow you to spend more time on the things that matter to you. If you’ve been struggling to find the hours and energy to clean your home, it might be time to consider outsourcing some of those tedious and time-consuming chores to an efficient, qualified professional.

So here’s everything you need to know if you’ve ever been curious to learn more about what hiring a professional home cleaner entails.

What should I look for when hiring a cleaner?

If you’re looking at hiring a cleaner, you’ll want to make sure that you pick the right person for the job. This person should be qualified, efficient, and trustworthy. Think about it, your cleaner will be in your home on a semi-regular basis and will have access to all your private belongings, so it makes sense to do some vetting before you make a commitment. Some of the initial questions you could ask are questions like: “How long have they been in business?” “Are they insured?” “Are they well reputed?”

One of the most important things (if not the most important thing) to find out before hiring a cleaner is whether or not they’re insured and whether or not they hold a current police check. These two details will help you gauge the legitimacy and professionalism of your cleaner, so it’s definitely something worth checking. At Jim’s Cleaning, all of our cleaners have current Police Checks and are covered by $10 million Public Liability Insurance, so you can rest easy knowing that you’re in safe, secure, and trustworthy hands everytime you hire one of our cleaners.

Another thing to look out for is the cleaner’s reputation. How well reputed are they in their community? In this industry, word of mouth is king, so if you’re looking for a cleaner, the best place to start is by asking friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. Aside from references, you can also do some independent research to try and gauge the quality of services on offer. If you do a quick search online, you’ll also be able to find some valuable information that will help you make your final decision.

What do professional cleaners clean?

From bathroom tiles to kitchen benches, professional cleaners can clean most things in your home. Different companies offer different services, but most cleaning companies have a standard list of inclusions that come along with all their services. These inclusions can include basic tasks like mopping and vacuuming the floors, dusting furniture, and wiping down and disinfecting surfaces.

If you’re after a more detailed clean, many professional cleaners will offer these surfaces upon request. Tasks like oven cleaning and full appliance cleaning can definitely be done – all you have to do is ask. Since there’s such a wide range of cleaning tasks out there, it’s a good idea to check with your cleaner what they actually include in their services before you make a commitment. A quick phone call and chat will usually do the trick, so if you’re unclear, just ask!

How many people will come to clean my home?

For small to medium sized homes, one cleaner is usually sufficient. For larger homes, or for more complex cleaning assignments, two or more cleaners might show up for the job. Reputable cleaners are highly skilled in getting the job done without causing any inconvenience, so if you’re concerned about the potential disruption that a professional cleaning service could cause, there’s usually little to worry about. If you really are concerned about the number of people who will be entering and leaving your home at any given time, you should absolutely bring it up with your cleaner well in advance so that they can help you come to a solution.

Do I have to stay at home while the cleaner is there?

Some cleaning companies require a member of the household to be present while they perform their service, while others do not. At Jim’s Cleaning, we don’t ask our customers to stay at home while we clean their property. Since all of our cleaners are police checked and fully insured, there’s really no reason for you to be present during the service. However, if you do prefer to be at home during the service, we also welcome this and will do our absolute best to cause minimum disruption and inconvenience. If you’re on the fence, you could always stay at home for the first 15 or so minutes of the service, or you could choose to stay at home for the first few appointments. Ultimately, it’s up to you – so do whatever makes you feel comfortable!

How much does house cleaning cost?

The costs of hiring a professional house cleaner in Australia and New Zealand depends on several factors, including the size of your home, your location, and the kinds of tasks that you want performed. Naturally, a two-storey 5-bedroom house will be more expensive to clean than a one-bedroom apartment. Oftentimes, a cleaner will visit your home to make an assessment and then decide what the rate will be. This allows them to get a clearer picture of the type of job in question and how demanding it is on their time and resources.

Cleaners usually charge by the hour or by the job, and there may be a minimum cost involved to compensate for the travel and set-up time. For the most accurate quote and estimate, it’s best to contact your cleaner directly.

Usually, professional house cleaners will bring their own supplies and equipment, so you won’t have to worry about purchasing these items and making them available during the appointment. At Jim’s Cleaning, all of our cleaners show up to their jobs fully equipped with the latest cleaning equipment and products, so you won’t have to worry about a thing.

Nobody wants to spend their weekends vacuuming and dusting. Outsourcing your household cleaning tasks to a qualified professional will make your life that much easier and will allow you to spend more time on the things that you value the most. If you’re looking to free up more of your time this year, contact us at Jim’s Cleaning today to see how we can make this happen. Call 13 15 46 today for an obligation-free quote.