Cobb should know. She has someone clean her own house, and she concedes good-naturedly that cleaning for the queen can be intimidating. One of the primary decisions you need to make is whether to contract with a cleaning service or hire an individual. Independent housekeepers may be cheaper, but you need to do your own background checks and recognize that illness or car trouble means your house won't get cleaned. Bob Fitz, president of Ohio-based Action Maids, says his company often gets calls from desperate people whose housekeeper has fallen through.
Many cleaning services use two-person cleaning teams and always send the same team to a home.
That way, if someone can't make it, at least one team member is familiar with the home and the cleaning routine, says Debbie Pickens, president of Maids Plus, a cleaning service based in Ohio. Keep in mind, too, that you may be liable for paying taxes for an independent house cleaner, whereas a company will take care of that for its employees. Beyond those considerations, finding the right house cleaner is largely a matter of finding someone who fits your needs and your style, Cobb says. She recommends calling at least three references to ask about the cleaner's abilities and work habits. Find out what specific tasks he or she performed and the square footage of the house, so you can make a good comparison.