Do not accept an office cleaning contract from companies that are not willing to invest the time to do a formal walk-through. Rather than just giving a bid based on square feet it is essential for the following reasons:

1) Age of the building – older buildings are going to take a little longer to clean properly.

2) Number of people working in the building – more people = more mess.

3) The building layout. A two story building is probably going to be a little harder to clean than a one story. Also, some layouts are more conducive to janitor service than others.

4) How many restrooms they will be responsible for. This is a big one as it takes more time to clean restrooms than another room of the same size.

5) What you use the building for. A hospital is going to need much more time than a retail store.

6) They need to know what types of supplies they are going to need. They more it will cost them in supplies, the more it will cost you.

7)If you are dealing with carpet cleaning companies because of specific carpet concerns make sure that they have the nedexx

It is important that they give you a solid bid so they will not cut corners in the future to make up for a low bid. In order for them to give you a good bid, they need to do the walk through.

You should get a written estimate before you hire any janitor service. This is insurance for you if they are doing a bad job. You will usually be hiring on a contract basis, which means you are responsible for keeping their service for a certain length of time. It will be a real headache for you if they do a lousy job and you are in a contract with them.

You should receive a formal bid within 24 to 48 hours. Your decision should be based on this estimate as well as all of your previous experience with the company in your research process. Be picky! This is a big decision that will either save you hours or cost you hours & hassle.

Do not feel obligated to a company once you have gotten a written estimate. You should be getting at minimum 2 written estimates (and up to 5). Pick the best company. A company that is willing to take the time to do a formal walk through and give you a solid written estimate are more inclined to work hard to protect the investment they have made in you as a client.

With several written estimates you are picking the best janitor service from the best companies out there (that fit your needs). This is a great place to be.

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Have an on-site walk through to receive a proper janitor service before you sign the office cleaning contract or even a formal written estimate.

Before you can get a written formal estimate, you need to do a formal walk-through with a representative, preferably the owner or manager, of the company you will potentially hire. This walk-through serves two purposes.

1) This gives them an opportunity to inspect the job you have for them. They can see the size and the full scope of cleaning that you need to have done on a regular basis. This is essential to be able to know a fair price to charge for their service.

Be wary of anyone who tries to give you an estimate without a full walk through. This mean that either they don’t know what they are doing, are very lazy (which will be reflected in their work), or they charge hourly. You will want to stay away from a janitor service that charges on a hourly basis.  Their best interest (to take longer) will be costing you more. On the same note, it is okay to be charged hourly for special and or additional assignments you give them on an occasional basis.

2) The walk through is also a chance for you to interview them. Get to know as much as you can about their character, how the business runs and the janitor service you are hiring.

3) Make sure the janitor companies doing the walk-through have the equipment and experience to take care of the various carpets you have within your offices. You may need to include the carpet cleaning companies in your area in this selection process.

Be sure to ask the company or companies providing estimates to also bring references (if you have not already received them) and a copy of their business licenses, bonding (if desired) and insurance for you to verify.

A quick note: It is a good idea to have qualified the cleaning service through their references before getting to this step so you don’t feel obligated toward them for the time they spent on the estimate. However, if you had no way of getting references before this time, DON’T forget the references now!

Shortly after doing the walk-through, the janitor service should present you with a written estimate. You can compare this estimate with the others you have based on services provided, price and over all quality of business.

Even though it can seem like there is a lot to do to find and hire the right janitor service, remember that hiring is the easy part. Dealing with sub-par service is a lot more tiresome. In the end you will be glad you took a bit more time in the beginning because you will get what you want without the hassle of having to deal with people that don’t meet your standards or don’t know what they’re doing.

When you first sit down to find a good janitor service, did anyone ask the question “What janitor service or services do you specifically need?” Do you need one of the carpet cleaning companies or is it a Janitorial company that will provide an office cleaning contract? The first step is to make two separate lists.

On the first list: Write down the minimum services you need for your business. For example you may need vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, trash removal, etc.

On the second list: List of all the additional services you would like the janitor service company or people to offer. Perhaps you would like them to offer carpet, curtain and upholstery cleaning. If one specific company does not offer some items such as these it doesn’t mean you won’t hire them. You can always hire a separate company to do these specific things when they are needed.

When you call and talk to different janitor service companies, keep the lists with you and remember to ask the questions. Keep track of each janitor service that can meet your needs on a written sheet. On that sheet record the name of the company, the phone number, the date you made the contact and the name of the person you spoke with. Some companies specialize in their service. A company may only service hospitals or manufacturing plants for instance. Since this is the first step, weed out any janitor service company that can not meet your business needs or standards.

Set appointments with from 2 to 5 companies to get from them an accurate written estimate for their services. We suggest a minimum of 2 companies, and a maximum of five. It may be a good idea to ask other local businesses or associates whom they higher, and who they would recommend. Be sure when you do make a decision, that the company is reputable and can meet the needs of your business. It is also a good business practice to thank those people who gave a positive reference for the company you hire after they have proven that they are good for you a well.