With a year-on-year growth of 1.2% since 2017, commercial cleaning services are becoming the go-to for property owners who are looking to have their commercial facilities maintained by professional cleaning companies.

Today, organisations understand that it makes more sense to hire a professional cleaning service than to employ multi-tasking employees or hire in-house janitorial staff, which could increase their overhead costs.

If you’re a maintenance manager or procurement manager of a commercial building, one of the key steps in maintaining your property and preserving the value of your building is to hire experienced cleaning services that have the necessary capabilities to handle your cleaning requirements.

With over 36,000 commercial cleaning services in Australia, it can be difficult to select the right service provider. If you’re not sure about what to look for, you may be making some common mistakes that could impact the quality of your building.

Avoiding these common mistakes will give you the confidence of knowing that you’ve hired the right professionals.

Failing to read reviews and testimonials

One of the most common ways to determine if you’re investing in the right cleaning service is to check the company’s reviews and client testimonials.

To determine if a cleaning service provider is the right one for you and if their services are trustworthy, find out what their past and current clients are saying about them. Some companies will also feature the buildings and locations they’ve worked on to give prospective clients a much clearer picture of the services they offer.

Reviews and testimonials can be viewed on their website or even by doing a simple search online. You can even go a step further and request some references from the cleaning company and reach out to their existing clientele.

Failing to consider other factors apart from cost

Cost is an important fact to consider, but it shouldn’t be the deciding factor. 

Avoid opting for the cheapest company. Instead, call for quotes from different service providers that provide cleaning services for commercial buildings.

Prices or quotes that are cheaper than their competitors can be indicative of the quality of their services, employees’ skills, experience, and the equipment they use. 

Make sure that the fee they charge is reflected in the quality of their services before you proceed to work with them.

Failing to verify whether the company is licenced or insured

Always check if the cleaning company has the necessary certifications and licensing to work in your local area. Look into insurance coverage as well to make sure that you can avoid any liabilities and don't have to face any lawsuits in case of an accident or injury.

Aside from legal issues, you should also be mindful of any loss of property that may occur as a direct result of hiring cleaners that don’t meet the necessary standards or criteria. The company you hire should have adequate insurance coverage including:

  • Product and Public Liability Insurance
  • Worker’s Compensation Insurance
  • Key Loss Extension Policy

Failing to check the necessary certifications

Third-party certifications and memberships in professional Australian cleaning associations can legitimise the services offered by a cleaning service and give you the confidence of knowing that the service provider has the right experience, knowledge, and skills and leverages the right techniques to carry out the work.

For instance, trade associations ensure that their members follow industry best practices and provide training courses to provide cleaning technicians with the experience they need to offer high-quality services with no risk of property damage. 

Australian cleaning companies are also required to adhere to health and safety standards to operate legally. Failure to request a safe work plan and incident reporting process can lead to significant consequences for the property.

You should also pay attention to the products that are being used, as sustainable and eco-conscious products are all key elements of a professional and ethical commercial cleaning service.

Failing to ask the right questions

One of the most important things to remember is to not be afraid to ask questions from the companies you’re planning to work with. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential service providers, speak with them directly and ask them questions about the services they offer, their experience, their employees, and their skills. 

Ask questions like:

  • Do your cleaning technicians undergo a background check?
  • Do you offer speciality cleaning services?
  • Do you offer emergency services?
  • What kind of cleaning products do you use? 
  • What type of training do your cleaning technicians receive?
  • Will there be a project manager who would coordinate operations?
  • What are the innovative technologies used in your services? 

This will help you determine if the commercial cleaning company has what it takes to meet your unique requirements. 

Avoid common mistakes to get the best commercial cleaning services

Building maintenance is an important part of securing the value of your property as well as your clients’ perception of your business and professionalism.

By asking the right questions and allocating resources to evaluate cleaning companies, you’ll be able to hire the right cleaning service provider that can support your business by maintaining a safe and hygienic commercial property.