Spring Cleaning Starts With Advice To HomeOwners

Advice on Spring Cleaning Services: The signs of spring are here: warmer weather, the start of daylight savings time — and a rush to book housekeeping services for an attic-to-basement spring cleaning.

Residential cleaning services have been among the top 10 most searched-for services on consumer review site Angie’s List over the past 30 days. Even in the sluggish economy, residential cleaning services are a booming business, according to a January report from The Freedonia Group. Services reeled in $12.25 billion in 2008, and the industry is projected to reach $15.8 billion in 2013.

But don’t get taken to the cleaners by your cleaners. Before hiring a company or individual for your annual scrub-down or recurring service, there are precautions to take. Make sure you and the service agree on the work to be done, how many people will be coming into your home — and how they are screened — and who will be responsible in case of mishaps. Here are some pointers.

Get an in-person estimate:
It’s more accurate than one provided based on details offered via phone or online form, says Angie Hicks, the founder of Angie’s List. Without one, you’re likely to be upset with either the service or the bill. “Each person’s definition of clean is very different,” she says. An in-person estimate lets the housecleaner get a sense of just how much work is entailed, based on the current state of your space and a description of your expectations.

Clip coupons:
There are plenty online and in coupon mailers for regular maid service, as well as specialized services such as carpet cleaning and window washing, says Lisa Reynolds, a spokeswoman for savings site RedPlum.com. Maid Pro in Louisville, Ky., has a coupon offering customers who want weekly or biweekly service a $20 discount on their first cleaning, $25 off their fourth and $40 off their seventh. It’s also good for $20 off a one-time cleaning. Check services’ own sites, too — many list coupons or monthly specials. Group-discount sites also occasionally offer deals on cleaning services. For example, Groupon.com recently offered New Yorkers three hours of Today’s Maid Service for $49, a 50% discount.

Use elbow grease:
It pays to do some prep work pre-cleaning. “[The bill] comes down to, how much time are we going to spend in the home?” says Colin Bishop, the executive vice president of development for The Maids Home Services, a national cleaning franchise. Before the maid arrives, de-clutter so she doesn’t need to waste 20 minutes picking up all your kids’ toys from the living room floor before even starting to clean.

Check the guarantee:
Most complaints to the Better Business Bureau about housecleaning services have to do with how well (or not at all) something was cleaned, says spokeswoman Allison Southwick. That includes complaints about appointment no-shows and late arrivals that cut cleaning time. Get any guarantees about time frame and duties in writing before you schedule service. Most reputable companies will come back to re-clean the problem area free of charge if the results don’t live up to their promise.

Read reviews:
Check the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and other consumer review sites to see what customers are saying about a service. Also make sure the service is both insured and bonded, which protects you if items go missing or get broken, or if the staff member is injured on your property. “Otherwise, that [claim] goes against your homeowner’s insurance,” Hicks says.

Scale back:
You’re the boss when it comes to where cleaning services make an effort. “You want the high-traffic areas to get the most attention,” Bishop says. Tell the service to skip, or only do light cleaning, on areas such as the guest bedrooms or formal dining room. If you’re paying for recurring service, some cleaning -- dusting and vacuuming -- can help you stretch the time between appointments, reducing your bill, says Teresa Ward, the owner of Teresa’s Family Cleaning, which serves communities on Long Island in New York.

Get and make referrals:
Maid services typically offer deals to both the new client and the current customer who referred them. Phoenix-based Earth Maids, for example, gives a $25 credit to each after the new client’s second service. If there’s no formal program, ask for a referral discount anyway, Reynolds says. Many services will offer a lower recurring rate if you can bring in a friend or neighbor at the same time you sign up.