Not All Cleaning Proposals Are Created Equal
Tina Rose, VP of Operations, Clean Advantage
After reviewing various quotes for commercial cleaning services, the proposals and the numbers will start to all look alike. Because this isn’t a decision and process you go through every day, you may need some help navigating the terminology and language of the contract proposals. Who is providing the cleaning supplies? Does the contract mention when your cleaning services will be performed or is no schedule set out? For anyone in the cleaning industry, reading the fine print and even seeing what is missing from the contract becomes easier and easier over time. We’ve put together a few tips from our experts on how to scrutinize a contract proposal to ensure you are getting the best service for the best price.
Are Cleaning Supplies Included?
When reviewing a contract proposal, look for a mention of cleaning supplies. Some companies will leave them out of the contract entirely, leaving the client to cover the additional cost. If there is no mention of supplies, then you will want to have that question answered before you commit.
Schedules: When, For How Long and How Often Will Cleaning Services Be Performed?
Determining when the cleaning services will be performed may seem like an obvious bit of information to include in the contract, but be sure you review it and discuss the schedule with your community.
For example
- Company 1 may provide a part-time cleaner for 35-37 hours a week.
- Company 2 may have full-time employees which means you would get 40 hours of cleaning a week.
- Company 3 may provide an employee for 35 hours during the week and a couple of hours over the weekend instead of employing a second person.
Because the hours vary in each of these proposals, it adds a complication when reviewing contracts side-by-side.
Illegal Employment Concerns
A growing concern these days is illegal employment. Especially in the cleaning industry, some companies will hire illegal labor — paying cash under-the-table, paying under the minimum wage and withholding legal mandates, like sick leave. This creates a concern about the company and their practices before you even sign a contract. When researching potential cleaning companies, look at customer reviews to give you a better idea of the company itself. This is where you will find red flags that could cause you to reconsider working with them.
Cleaning Employee Turnover and Attitude
Another trait of the cleaning industry is employee turnover and poor job satisfaction. Some companies treat their employees as a commodity and would rather replace someone than work with them to achieve job satisfaction. In this instance, looking at employee reviews online will show you the true nature of the company you’re considering. Look for a company that invests in their employees with education and opportunity in addition to pay and benefits. Employee reviews will be singing the company’s praises, talking about promoting from within and continued training for career growth. A happy, long-term cleaning employee will be a great addition to your community, but a line of temporary cleaners who cycle through every few months is frustrating to all.
Efficient and Modern Cleaning Practices and Tools
The name of the game in cleaning is efficiency. For this, you will want a company that stays ahead of the curve. Look for those that invest in technologically-advanced equipment. Of course, you want the top-of-the-line supplies and equipment for your property to look its best, but it is also a matter of safety for your residents.
Your Cleaning Proposal – Ready, Set, Compare!
Since no two proposals are alike, it will take some research to determine which is the best proposal to meet the cleaning needs. At Clean Advantage, we would love the opportunity to talk to you about the cleaning needs at your property and what has been missing from the services you have had up until now. We believe there is always room for improvement, and our team is dedicated to providing the best service to our customers. If you are currently in the mess of researching cleaning services, let the Clean Advantage team show you how we can exceed any competition!
We look forward to hearing from you!