If you’ve been thinking about hiring a cleaning lady for your house, you aren’t alone. Statistics show that 10% of all U.S. households paid for a maid or house cleaning service last year, with this number projected to at least double in the next year. Why? Because hiring a house cleaning service has gone from being seen as a luxury to a necessity. If you are debating between hiring an individual cleaner or the best cleaning company in your area, our list of pros and cons can help you figure out what’s best for you!
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What’s the Difference Between Cleaning Companies and Individual Cleaners?
Cleaning companies operate as a business, hiring and training employees, having adequate staff, offering customer service options, and providing general resources for their clients. Individual cleaners enter a direct agreement with you and control their hours, pricing, and tasks offered.
Deciding whether to hire a maid who is self-employed vs. a house cleaning service affiliated with a company is a big decision. Both have pros and cons, so how do you know which one will work best for you? Start by asking yourself what you are looking for in a house cleaning service.
Pros & Cons of Working with Individual Cleaners
Pro: A Self-Employed Cleaning Lady is More Affordable
A self-employed cleaner is usually less expensive than a house cleaning service.
They can be flexible on their rates for the following reasons:
- No overhead costs
- Can adjust costs based on customer requests
- Flexible on their rates for specific clients
They also offer more services around your house using an a la carte package, allowing you to choose a cleaning lady that can tailor to your specific home’s needs. While costs can fluctuate based on how their services are calculated, an individual house cleaner usually ends up being more affordable than a house cleaning service.
Pro: Self-Employed Maids are More Flexible
Self-employed cleaners have more flexibility than those working with a large company. Because they make their own hours and work for themselves, they can work around times that suit your needs. If you request a deep cleaning, they can adjust their hours to put in extra time.
Pro: Individual Cleaners are Personally Invested in Your Space
A self-employed cleaning lady learns your space and your personal preferences. Because of this, they become personally invested in your home. It also provides peace of mind knowing the same cleaning lady is coming every time and knows how you like things cleaned.
Con: A Self-Employed Maid Won’t Generally Have Back-Up Coverage
While a self-employed maid may have coverage from a friend who cleans, that is rare. Plus, do you want someone you didn’t meet yourself cleaning your house? This means that if your maid takes a vacation, gets sick, or has an emergency, you may be waiting until they are available again to get your house cleaned.
Con: Individual Cleaners Don’t Usually Have Liability Insurance
We all know that accidents happen. However, if your cleaning lady knocks something over and it breaks, they may not have insurance to replace your broken item. For more valuable items, you may not be able to get your cleaning lady to cover the cost of replacement.
Con: A Self-Employed Cleaner May Have Not Received Training
If you’ve hired someone because they were affordable, know that they may not have the skills to clean everything around your house properly and efficiently. If you end up paying by the hour, this could become expensive. And they may not understand how to properly care for materials that can be damaged with the wrong cleaning techniques, like bamboo floors getting too wet or delicate countertops getting scrubbed with harsh cleaners, leading to costly damage.
Pros & Cons of Working with a Cleaning Company
Pro: Cleaning Companies Have Several Cleaners
Some of the best cleaning companies have several cleaners on their staff. This ensures that your cleaning slot is always filled, even when your usual house cleaner is sick or on vacation, because the company ensures they have adequate coverage. And in the event that your cleaner is no longer on the roster, your services can continue without interruption.
Pro: Companies Provide More Communication Due to a Larger Staff
Larger cleaning companies set themselves apart by having a full office staff and maybe even a customer service division. The best cleaning companies have a large staff that is more than just cleaners. Therefore, if there is an issue or a change needs to be made, you can easily call the office to make it instead of waiting on one person to respond to your message.
Pro: Companies Vet and Train Their Staff
Cleaning companies have the resources to vet their staff. This ensures that everyone coming into your home has a clean background check, and you can feel safe and comfortable around them while they clean your home. They also can provide training, ensuring they know how to handle all materials and are efficient and effective in cleaning your home.
Pro: Cleaning Companies are Often Insured
Many cleaning companies are insured. So, while your vetted cleaner will take care of your home, you can rest easy knowing that your items will be repaired or replaced in the event of an accident.
Con: You Aren’t Guaranteed the Same Cleaning Lady Each Time
While some people enjoy the benefits of a large staff, you aren’t always guaranteed to get the same cleaning lady each visit. If you have preferences on how certain things should be cleaned, having to re-explain that to every maid that comes to your house can be exhausting. Though some cleaning companies, like Pure House Cleaning, send the same trusted cleaner or team for each cleaning, ensuring consistency.
Con: Employees May Cut Corners Due to Lack of Time
Larger cleaning companies have several house cleaners, and each of those cleaners has several clients. They may be assigned to clean up to eight houses a day. So, if they are running behind at all, they may cut corners during your assigned cleaning to fit the rest of their customers in before the day is over.
How to Find the Best Cleaning Company
To find the best cleaning company, you need to do your research. Read reviews, talk to your friends, and maybe even do some trial and error. Hire a cleaning company for a one-time cleaning and see if they are a good fit. If you’re in the greater Seattle area, check out the service areas Pure House Cleaning Companies for a top-notch clean with a cleaner that’s matched your needs:
Make sure to ask any questions you may have and share your preferences. If you feel they aren’t right for your needs, try someone else the next time. While it can be daunting to find the best cleaning company for your home, if you take the time to find the right fit, you won’t regret it!
As you can see, there is no right answer to hiring a maid versus a company. A lot of it comes down to preferences, scheduling your house cleaner, and cost. Cleaning services are an important part of your home maintenance and regaining some extra time in your busy schedule, and you need the option that makes you most comfortable. Take your time making your decision when hiring the best cleaning company you can find or an individual maid.