There is an old saying that goes “the first impression is the last impression”. It becomes even more crucial when we talk about office premises. The workplace should be spotless in terms of cleaning and hygiene. A clean workplace promotes a healthier and safer environment for the employees to be more productive, often times boosting morale and lowering absenteeism. Also, it makes a positive impact on your customers about the keen interest that you take in maintaining your office space. Offices, especially those interacting with the public, report the unavoidable requirement for a higher standard of cleanliness and maintenance which sometimes cannot be readily served in-house. Therefore, many offices look for professional cleaning services instead of hiring a full- time janitor. A cleaning service assumes the responsibility to clean each and every corner of your office, taking care to make sure that you get the spotless cleaning services you require without the need to hire, train, and absorb the extra costs associated with additional head count that comes with hiring an employee. When looking to hire a cleaning service, you may end up meeting several companies in the area. The Greater Toronto Area as a whole has a plethora of cleaning service providers who can offer advanced cleaning requirements from the offices or established companies. However, you should be vigilant enough not to commit to anyone unless you have satisfactory proof of their establishment and a successful track record of providing services over an extended period of time. Here is a “how to” guide that will help office managers and business owners in choosing the best janitorial service to suit their situation.
Compare the local service providers.
They usually come to your office premises for estimating the workload at a given time. Do not just finalize the service providers on a scale of 1 to 10 based upon cost. Make sure you take inventory of services being offered from every cleaning company that takes an interest in your business. Compare the services offered from each provider. Make sure to consider the extent of services provided and the level of detail in the proposal. This is often a good indication of how detailed their work will be.
Insurance is a must.
Never hire someone who cannot provide proof of insurance for their cleaning company as well as proof of WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage for all workers. You cannot take the chance of having to deal with the aftermath of an on-site accident, damage to furniture, or theft of equipment. Saving a few dollars from a less expensive quote may entice you to overlook the necessity of insurance but it can have serious repercussions. Companies with proper insurance and WSIB coverage may cost a little more but it is worth the peace of mind should the unexpected happen.
Do not blindly sign a contract.
Most cleaning companies want clients to sign a contract. The contract binds you to a particular cleaning provider for a certain amount of time. Therefore, it is crucial to always read through the full contract before signing anything. There should always be a termination clause to protect you as the customer as well a required notice period for rate increases.
Look for experienced candidates.
Avoid newly established companies unless you are sure about their level of expertise and competence through acquaintances. Many cleaning companies enter the industry every year looking to make their mark but a good portion of them do not last beyond 5 years. Look for companies that have been in operation for a significant period of time which allow them to show you a track record of happy customers and operational stability. With experience comes responsibility, accountability, and reliability which you may not get when hiring a less experienced cleaning service.
Reference check.
Always ask for few references from a prospective cleaning company. Only the reputable ones have the confidence to provide references of their past or existing clients. If a company hesitates in providing the references, eliminate them from consideration. Follow up with the given references to check their satisfaction levels. Ask how well the prospective cleaning company deals with issues and lives up to their promises. This would create a solid base for hiring a reliable cleaning service for your office premises.
