Don’t choose a cleaning contractor purely on cost. Read on for some things to check prior to committing to a contract.
Can You Show Proof of Insurance and Vetting
Ask to see the public liability insurance certificate for their policy and confirm it is current and has not lapsed. It is also worth establishing whether the cleaner(s) have been DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked particularly if they will be working alone in your premises out of hours. There’s nothing worse than discovering a contractor’s ‘policy’ is no more than a line in their brochure.
Will the Same Team Come Each Visit
Be mindful that consistency is key and no matter how great a contractor may seem initially, ask to see if the same cleaner will attend your property on subsequent dates and what the alternative will be in the instance of a cleaner being off work due to sickness or annual leave.
What’s Included and What Costs Extra
Find out from your potential cleaner what their charges are for consumables such as bin liners and toilet rolls, and also for any special jobs such as window cleaning, and carpet cleaning. You will find that the cheap quote may increase dramatically once you have added all of these special charges. Make sure your contractor gives you an itemized list of the costs for you to compare with other contractors.
How Do They Handle Cleaning Chemicals
A contractor who uses hazardous cleaning chemicals on your premises must be able to tell you how they are stored, how they are labelled and how they are used. This should all be controlled in line with the HSE’s COSHH guidance. Ask to see a contractor’s safety data sheets and find out how they train their cleaning staff to use hazardous cleaning chemicals. Businesses looking for contract cleaning Cheltenham operators are beginning to ask these questions of prospective contractors, and it is only reasonable that you should do the same.
Can They Give Local References
Ask for references of work that the cleaning company have carried out for similar premises locally. Businesses must check the terms and conditions of a potential cleaning contractor to ensure they comply with their own local authority waste handling and environmental compliance. A local operator will know how to work within these rules and comply with your business requirements.
A useful reference for Contract Cleaning Cheltenham is Big Green Cleaning Company.
What Happens If Standards Slip
Also check the notice period for cancellation of your contract as well as the way complaints will be settled. Ideally this should be a clear process that can be explained in a few sentences and acted upon within a set time frame.
By asking these 6 simple questions before entering into a contract with a cleaning contractor you will soon be able to tell the professional cleaners from the ‘Rip Off Artists’ offering a cheap clean on paper.