Schuh’s  Cleaning Services has been in the cleaning business since 1985.

When you’re in need of a cleaning profession that knows what it takes to complete a project on time,

within a budget, with the highest of workmanship,

who can relax knowing you have chosen the right company for your job.

 

Become a savvy services shopper in seconds and learn what to shop for

when you start looking for a new cleaning firm..

Here's the lowdown on what to ask and what to expect, from an  experts cleaning service.

1.How Often Should Our Facility Be Cleaned?

2.Your Needs and Service Requirements

3.Insurance and  Legality

4.Touring the Facility

5.Once the Bids are  received

6.once the New Service Begins

7.Cost Factors:

8.Working with Your Janitor

1) How  Often Should Our Facility Be Cleaned?

Most facilities with five or more  employees will need a janitorial service to clean and maintain a

location on an  ongoing basis. Once per week service is usually recommended but in some situations,

service every other week will do as well. This depends very much on  your own preferences and the

demands that are placed on your facility.

The  larger the location and the more people using it, the more frequently you will  need cleaning.

Frequency of service is a very important consideration.

Having a  cleaning service visit too often is costly and unnecessary.

But having service too infrequently can make it very difficult for the contractor to maintain your

facility and cause the appearance of your facility to loss appeal and

the deterioration of your facilities.

The following guidelines may help you  determine how often you will need a cleaning service

to maintain your facility  properly.

5 employees + 1,500 ‚¬ 2,000  sq. ft. = one visit per  week

10 employees + 2,000 ‚¬5,000 sq. ft. = two visits per week

20 employees + 5,000 ¬ 10,000 sq. ft. = three to five visits per week

30 to 50 employees + 10,000 ‚¬20,000 sq. ft. = five visits per week

50 or more employees + 20,000 or more sq. ft. = five visits per week

You should also remember to take into account the amount of traffic you will have from

the general public, type of conditions, is the parking lot paved or all dirt, type of traffic,

office personal or construction works, etc.

2)Your Needs and Service Requirements

make a list of exactly what  you do and do not want your cleaning service to offer you.

This will help you  clarify your Needs and once you are taking bids, you will be able to present  the

same Needs and requirements to each cleaning contractor ensuring that their  bids

will include the same services. This lets you compare "apples to apples"

instead of "apples to oranges."

Some cleaning requirements such as window cleaning, carpet cleaning, and floor stripping and waxing

are handled on an on-call basis with the customer charged when the service is actually performed.

This works well in many situations, however, some customers will want one flat monthly fee

which includes these "extra" services on a set schedule. A good way  to decide which works best for you

is to ask your contractor to submit bids with the extra services included in a flat monthly fee compared

with what the charges  and monthly service charge would be if billed separately on an on-call basis.

3)Insurance and Legalities

Decide what insurance and  legal requirements are important to you.

Cleaning contractors should have General Liability insurance so ask them to  submit "proof of insurance" or

certificates with their proposal. It is a good idea to be "additionally insured."

This will provide you with additional  protection should an accident or insurance related problem occur.

You  can also ask if the cleaning crew is bonded and ask for these certificates as  well.

However, bonding insurance can only protect you if you can prove someone actually took something

from your facility. Bonding insurance has definite  limitations.

Your office may require even more insurance.

If so, keep  in mind that insurance is expensive and

these costs will be reflected in the contractors estimate.

Many cleaning contractors out-source their work.

(  We only use our employees.)

This means they may have both company employees as well as subcontractors working for them.

With employees, the cleaning contractor  has more control over his staff. However, working with

subcontractors is very common in the industry and often works very well.

If this is an issue for you  or your firm, discuss it with the janitorial contractors bidding on your  location.

4)Touring the  Facility

the  janitorial vendors will want to meet with you and tour your location.

This is very important since they will want a "look and feel" of your buildings Needs  and requirements.

Both parties will also want to "get to know each other." This  is an ongoing working

relationship and both parties should feel they can do  business with each other.

Have all of your location's specific duties  and Needs ready for

presentation to your janitorial bidder. Show the individuals all of the areas you want maintained

and be very clear what is important to you and your

coworkers. It is always best to have any potential issues addressed and their

significance clarified from the very start.

5)Once the Bids are Received

Janitorial contractors use a variety of ways to determine their charges. Do not be surprised if these vary

extensively with some very high bids, some very low bids and many right in the  middle.

If you prefer a certain vendor but his or her bid was too high or too

low for your consideration, invite them to take a second look at the location

and see if an adjustment can be made.

Once you have selected two or  three vendors to seriously consider,

you must check references. This cannot be  stressed enough. Besides checking the references,

if at all possible, you should actually go visit the locations listed. Also, ask the client you visit how often

They have complaints with the service and how quickly they are rectified.

The concern is not really the problem but how quickly and smoothly things are corrected.

See if the janitorial proposal addresses issues regarding  the

training and experience of their staff. The more training and experience a cleaning crew has,

the greater their professionalism and ability to perform to  your expectations.

If these issues are not addressed in a proposal that you are

considering, ask for this information. It's important.

6)Once the New Service Begins

Since most cleaning work is performed after hours, customer

and cleaner rarely see each other. For this reason, good communication is critical.

Set up a Communication Log Book for quick and easy comments between

yourself and the cleaning crew. This is a book where items needing attention  can

be written by either party. For emergencies or immediate attention,

make sure you have a cell phone or pager phone number for your service and

they have  one for you as well. Your janitorial contractor should also have an emergency

phone number for the alarm company servicing your location.

If you have  a  janitor's closet, allow your cleaners to store their

equipment and supplies in the closet.

This should be a safe place for their items. If any chemicals are

to be stored on location ask the contract to have all

safety data sheets in this  location for your inspect.

Janitors usually prefer cleaning a location  when everyone is gone.

Let your cleaners know when the best time to service your building is.

Additionally, it is a good idea to schedule regular face-to-face meetings with

your cleaning contractor clear up any issues that may arise.

Some large complexes will meet with cleaning supervisor’s on-location during

business hours every day.

Smaller offices may like someone to pay them a visit every few  months.

7)Cost Factors:

You might get a price break by signing a long-term contract,

emptying your own trash, and washing inside windows less often,.

Not including dishes being clean can save a great deal of  money.

Having the office cleaned less frequently will cut costs.

Purchasing your own cleaning supplies can save you money.

Carpeting is less expensive to clean than hardwood or tiled floors.

You will pay more for white glove  service than for standard cleaning.

Densely populated office space will be more expensive to clean as will a factory.

Multiple bathrooms will add to your  bill.

8)Working with Your Janitor:

Do a walk through to explain tasks that you are expecting to be performed.

Establish a routine before first cleaning.

Make sure janitor has building access and knows security procedures.

Obtain an emergency contact number for you to contact them and furniture them one for you.

To schedule an appoint for US to evaluate your cleaning Needs

Sincerely

Bill & Lori Schuh

Schuh’s Services

(Since 1985 )

989-539-6601    989-426-6616    989-386-7441