Myths About Maids - Why Scammers Are In The Minority
Professional maids and cleaning agencies have been given a bad reputation over the years for employing criminals who steal from homeowners. Not only is it easy to protect your home from internal theft, but also it isn't all that common.
Money is the biggest deterrent for hiring professional maids,
but even though several agencies offer reasonable prices, people still seem reluctant to allow strangers into their homes. Stealing, damage, and other disturbing behaviors are not the norm, however. There are the occasional scam artists, as there is in most service industries, but some common sense can help you avoid falling for their traps. Don't let the myths and horror stories discourage you from getting some professional cleaning help when there are several ways to safeguard your home and property.
If you want reliable and honest service, choose cleaning companies or self-employed maids that have a good reputation in the community. Scam artists tend to breeze through different locations, never staying put long enough for legal repercussions. A solid choice is someone who has been living and working in the area for several years and can supply a few different references. Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising, and one of the most difficult things to fake. You can feel confident if you have positive responses from the referrals as well as a comfortable interview with the manager or individual cleaners.
While you can save some money choosing self-employed maids, an agency comes with more protection for the homeowner. Companies are licensed and insured against damages and theft, so if there is a problem you can rest assured you will be compensated. There is also a manager in charge, which means if you are dissatisfied with the quality of work or suspicions over missing or damaged goods, you won't have the awkward task of confronting the workers. It is important, however, to supply some form of evidence or probable cause before making any accusations to an agency regarding their employees. Not only will it reinforce the validity of your claims, but also it can help prevent the wrong person from being blamed. If you're hiring a freelance worker, check your homeowner's insurance policy and update it if necessary.
If you're afraid of maids snooping around, then simply make sure you're at home while they work. It's a simple solution that can greatly comfort a concerned homeowner. You can check in occasionally to see their progress as well as keep a closer eye on any valuables or highly personal possessions. If you're extremely private, simply make certain rooms off limits and place inside any items that you would prefer them not to touch. Some agencies also prefer to send multiple staff members for a faster, more efficient job. You can request a single person instead so you can keep better track of their whereabouts as they work.
Cleaning services can be well worth the relatively inexpensive cost for the time saved, and while there are some risks, they are quite minimal. For less than the cost of a night on the town, you can have your house scrubbed from top to bottom so you have more time to spend with your family or friends. And if you find a particularly good company, they'll likely be extremely thorough.