35 Tips to Start Door2Door Home Cleaning Service

Door2Door Home Cleaning Service : Cleaning the house can be a time-consuming process.

That may be difficult to fit into your schedule.

If your financial situation allows you to hire a cleaning service.

This option can save you time and leave you with a sparkling home.

There are likely several cleaning services in your area.

Choosing and hiring the right one requires you to be aware of your own needs.

And to do some research on various services’ reputations and specialities.

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Door2Door Home Cleaning Service

1. Before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you.

While this is one of the easiest businesses to start due to its low/non-existent overheads and reliance on basic skills, you need to be able to live up to the promises.

Cleaning is hard, strenuous work.

You need to be in good physical condition and able to bend over.

Kneel down, reach up and do repetitive actions for a sustained amount of time.

If you have experienced past injuries.
Check with your doctor that it’ll be okay to take on this very physical work for a living.

2. Decide what you want cleaned.

You may only choose to have the service tackle particularly tough spots in your home.

Such as the kitchen and main bathroom.

Some families will want the house cleaned from top to bottom.

You’ll also need to decide whether you expect services that may go beyond standard cleanings, such as wiping down the baseboards or washing the windows.

• Many services will not clean windows
• As they don’t want to create streaks or damage. You may need to turn to a professional for this.
• You may be able to choose different packages depending on the cleaning you need. If you get a standard cleaning, you can expect them to dust, wipe everything down, vacuum, and arrange your home. However, you wouldn’t expect the person to clean the inside of the appliances or the nooks and crannies unless you requested a deep cleaning.
• You can also hire a cleaner for a move-in or move-out, which is similar to a deep cleaning, but it’s tailored to someone who’s preparing a property to move into or for a landlord review.

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3. Get Estimated Time: 

Most cleaning services will ask you how big your house is.

How many bedrooms and bathrooms it contains, and what kind of routine cleaning you usually do.

One bedroom and one bathroom usually takes about two and a half hours to clean.

And kitchens take another 1-2 hours. If you haven’t cleaned in a while, these numbers may go up.

Preparing this information for the service will help you both decide what you can afford.

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4. Decide how often you want your service to clean.

Depending on your family’s needs, you may only need the service to come once or twice a month.

If you have a bigger budget and a busier schedule, you might opt for more frequent visits.

You can also create an alternating weekly schedule that directs the cleaners to clean different rooms every other time they visit.

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5. Buy your own cleaning supplies if you have a preference.

Because they’re more expensive, most cleaners will not clean with natural cleaning solutions.

If you don’t want chemical cleaners used in your home.

Or if you have special cleaners you prefer, you’ll likely need to provide these to the service.

• You may be able to negotiate a lower fee with the service if you provide your own cleaners.
• Ask potential services if they’d be willing to have this conversation with you.

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6. Define your budget.

Before you start calling potential cleaning services, examine your finances.

Make sure you know exactly how much you’re able and willing to pay companies.

This will help you say no to companies that are out of your price range.
While also allowing you to make informed decisions about which services you can afford.

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7. Choose a cleaning service for better legal protection.

When you hire a cleaning company rather than an individual.

The company takes responsibility for running background checks on its employees, providing worker’s compensation, and dealing with insurance issues.

This option is generally better for families who may not have the time and legal knowledge to protect themselves from conflicts with individual employees.

• It’s a good idea to ask potential cleaning services whether they’ve performed background checks on their employees. Reputable companies will certainly have performed these checks on any new hires.
• Cleaning companies may charge more than individuals, but the legal peace of mind they provide will likely be worth the extra cost.

8. Choose a company that’s bonded and insured.

Reputable services will have a policy that covers damage to your home incurred during the cleaning process.
As well as missing or broken items. This can allow both you and the company to feel protected while cleaners are in your home.

It is, however, a good idea to inform cleaners of items that may be more delicate or need special care.

• If the cleaner is insured and they accidentally break something in your home, the insurance will cover the cost.

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9.Reach out to your family and friends for referrals.

People who are close to you will know what you need.

And they’ll be ready to provide you with honest advice about their past experience with various cleaners.

Be sure to tell those who you ask for advice that you plan to hire a reputable service with an insurance policy, as this may affect the options they give you.

10. Ask the service for references if there aren’t online reviews.

If a company is new to your area or smaller in scale, they may not yet have an online presence.

You can ask these companies for a list of referrals from their previous clients.

When you call these clients, be sure to ask what kind of cleaning the company performs for them.
And whether the client still employs the service.

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11. Ask potential companies what they clean and charge.

Most companies will have a list of the typical types of cleaning they perform.

They’ll also inform you whether they charge a flat rate for each cleaning, an hourly fee, or a room-by-room charge.

Be sure you understand what’s included in the company’s base cleaning rate, and what’s not.

Ask questions about any cleaning activities the company doesn’t explicitly mention.

12. Charge reasonably for your work.

Sell your services based on your quality of work and not your low rates.

If your rates are too low, clients will think that your work is sub-standard and that you’re not experienced.

Also, you want to attract the clients that can afford your services.

As the old saying goes “You get what you pay for.” Of course, charging too high will lose potential clients too––most people needing cleaning services will have a limit on how much they can afford.

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13. Consider what supplies you need to purchase.

If you’re using your own equipment and products.

You’ll need to purchase them from a wholesaler to save money.

Get official receipts to allow you to claim back sales tax, etc..

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14.  Dress appropriately.

While you won’t be expected to wear your best clothes.

It’s important to present neatly and with clean clothing.

Your old rags won’t pass muster when you are trying to create a professional and reliable image.

Select clothing that washes well, looks tidy and is very flexible and comfortable.

Keep it in good condition and have several sets of clothing to change into during the week.

Cutting down on constant washing.

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15. Get transportation.

As discussed in the business plan, you’ll need a vehicle for attending client’s houses and carrying your gear.

Consider the costs of hiring a car or van for cleaning days or purchasing a cheap car or van for constant use.

If hiring a vehicle, consider using removable (magnetic) signage to make it seem more professional (just don’t forget to take it off each time).

Do the sums before deciding what is the best value.

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16. Develop your brand for marketing your services.

Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material.

For branding purposes (recognition), be consistent in all marketing materials that you plan to use.

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17. Invest in a website.

The internet is now the main medium of communication and it’s where many prospective clients will turn first to find you.

Having a website shows clients that you’re serious about your business and it allows them research your business in their own time.

Being busy, it’s the easiest place for clients to check out your credentials, promises, service offerings, etc.

Indeed, many workers will use work time to find your site, likely the largest source of clients needing your services.

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18. Print business cards and documents.

Give your business cards to friends and family members, people you meet, on public boards, anywhere you can.

You can also ask your local businesses if you can leave some cards on their counters, especially places where cleaning, or just “clean” are on people’s minds.

The dry cleaner’s, day care centers (parents want clean homes for their kids!).

Supermarkets, and other places like that. Make sure your contracts and invoices are ready.

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19. Get a referral program.

A great way to obtain new clients is through a referral program.

Offer existing clients a discount when they refer a friend.

You can give your existing clients a discount when the friend uses your services three times, for example.

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20. Get your first clients.

The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients.

Most clients want to know how long you have been in business, and because they’re trusting you with their belongings and personal affairs.

They’re going to want dependable references.

Being new, you won’t have any client references, but you still need to have some.

For this, you can ask friends and family if you can clean their homes.

And then get permission to use them as references.

Not only will they be able to give you an honest reference.

You’ll also pre-thank them by doing a great job on their home.

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21. Go for quality.

When cleaning the homes of your first clients.

Go for the very best quality you can give.

This is not about how fast you can clean the home.

Cleaning efficiently takes a long time.

But you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time.

At the outset you may have to resign yourself to spending a bit more time than you’d like.

Until you work out your own efficient systems but persevere as it won’t take long to get your rhythm in place.

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22. Don’t be shy about letting your clients know that you’re seeking more clients.

Tell them about your hopes for expanding your business.

Be enthusiastic without being pushy.

And you’ll find many clients will be happy to let others know about how great your services are.

Do reassure them that you won’t leave them in the lurch.

Though––some clients won’t share word about you if they’re afraid that you’ll be poached and will no longer take care of their house.

Door2Door Home Cleaning Service

23. As you start to get more clients, you will be able to hire more part time help.

Eventually you will be able to stop doing the cleaning yourself and just run the business end.

Which is the only way you will be able to grow your business.

• Start out with one part time employee. Train this person and let him or her take your place one day a week. Then have this employee take your place two days a week and so on.
• When training new employees, always, either train them yourself or have a lead person train them. There should be a lead person on each and every cleaning job––some employees have a tendency to slack off when they are on their own.
• Do a regular check the quality of the employee’s work, to reassure yourself that your standards are being maintained.

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24.  Change from doing the heavy work to managing the business.

You will eventually get to the point where you have enough employees.

And lead people and you will be able to stop working in your business and start running your business.

You will find that after awhile it will get to be too much trying to clean everyday and at the same time giving estimates.

Answering calls, scheduling, doing book work, obtaining new clients, etc.

This is when it’s time to consider a permanent base somewhere beyond your home.

If you haven’t already done so and you might even consider franchising your business if you’ve been particularly successful in establishing your niche.

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25. Door2Door Home Cleaning Service