7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Cleaning Company

You've decided to hire a cleaning company. You search online, find a few options, and realize you have no idea how to tell the good ones from the bad ones. Every website says the same things: "trusted," "reliable," "satisfaction guaranteed." Here are the questions that actually separate a real operation from someone with a mop and an Instagram page.

1. Are your cleaners W-2 employees or independent contractors?

This is the single most important question and most people don't know to ask it. W-2 employees are trained, background-checked, insured through the company, and accountable to the company. Contractors set their own methods and may not carry insurance. If a contractor is injured in your home, you could be liable. If a W-2 employee is injured, the company's workers' comp covers it.

2. Do you carry workers' compensation insurance?

Not just general liability - workers' comp specifically. General liability covers damage to your property. Workers' comp covers injuries to the people cleaning your home. Many smaller operations skip workers' comp because it's expensive. That savings passes the risk directly to you.

3. What happens if something gets damaged?

Listen for specifics, not generalities. "We're insured" is not an answer. A good answer sounds like: "We carry general liability insurance. If something is damaged, you contact us directly, we assess it, and we either repair or replace it through our policy. Here's our claims process." If they can't describe a process, they probably don't have one.

4. Do you bring your own supplies and equipment?

Professional companies arrive fully equipped. If they're asking you to provide a vacuum, cleaning products, or paper towels, that's a red flag. It means they don't have a standardized product stack, which means the quality of your clean depends on whatever's under your kitchen sink.

5. What's your cancellation policy?

Life happens. You'll need to skip a visit or reschedule at some point. Some companies charge full price for cancellations within 24-48 hours. Others are more flexible. Know the policy before you need it.

6. How do you handle feedback or complaints?

The question isn't whether problems will ever happen - they will. The question is what the company does about it. A good company has a clear process: you call, they address it within a specific timeframe, and they make it right. Ask if they have a satisfaction guarantee and what it actually covers.

7. Can I see proof of insurance?

Any legitimate cleaning company can produce a Certificate of Insurance on request. If they hesitate, deflect, or say they'll "get it to you later," that tells you something. At Lambert, we can provide our COI the same day you ask for it.

The bonus question

"How long have your current employees been with you?" High turnover means the people in your home are constantly changing, which means inconsistency. Companies that treat employees well (fair pay, real benefits, respect) keep them longer, and that stability shows up in the quality of the work.

If you'd like to see how we answer these questions, request a quote or contact us directly. We're happy to provide our COI, explain our process, and let our answers do the talking.