Office cleaning seems like such a straight forward service and yet, it can be perplexing why so many office cleaning companies seem to get it wrong. As a Facility Manager, finding the right office cleaning service can be nebulous. Part of the issue is there are just so many office cleaning services out there that separating the real pros from the rest can be taxing. Then if you do find decent office cleaners, all too often what started okay slips quickly into a familiar pattern of mediocrity. Or maybe your office cleaners were solid but a revolving door of new people keeps you in a constant cycle of training your cleaning company’s people. There are so many obstacles that get in the way of finding a true partner in your commercial office cleaning, but you can overcome these hurdles. Arm yourself with the best information and selecting office cleaning services for your facility won’t be effortless, but is certainly worth the effort.
Sure everyone appreciates a clean and tidy office but it isn’t just about aesthetics and image. Office cleaning has a notable impact on important business metrics like productivity, absenteeism, employee engagement and even profits. When you have mediocre office cleaning services, revenue and sales drop off, productivity declines, staff morale collapses, quality standards fall and absenteeism and attrition grow. Poor office cleaning will eventually hit your facility right where it matters most, your bottom line. A poorly maintained facility sends the wrong message about commitment, performance and professionalism. A properly maintained office sets a standard and expectation. It tells your employees that you expect a high level of performance and it tells customers, you care about details. Likewise, when an office is cleaned well and regularly, employees and tenants are far more likely to contribute their own time and effort to keeping things clean and tidy, impacting the overall condition of your facility. And you shouldn’t disregard the studies that tell us a well maintained workplace has a significant beneficial influence on employee retention and satisfaction. Additionally, research demonstrates that clean buildings offer an impression of reliability, quality and trust to our customers and prospective customers.
One of the challenges in finding commercial office cleaning services to partner with is that there are just so many in the very flooded cleaning market. The perceived low cost of entry means that each year, new office cleaning companies pop up. Now every company starts somewhere but add these new entries into the market with other startups, small mom and pop operations, one man and a van set ups, medium sized office cleaning services, mid to large size local commercial cleaning companies and franchise and national office cleaning operations and you can see how hard it isn’t hard to find an office cleaning company but it can be hard to find the RIGHT office cleaning company. And as is the case in any industry, some of these commercial office cleaning companies are great and some are not. At a real pro level, an office cleaning company must have an established service record and reputation for consistent, reliable service. Solid office cleaning requires no less planning and strategy than any other business. The best service is built on plans and systems that guarantee reliability though accountability. Wanting to be great isn’t enough, you have to plan for it. Even if you find an office cleaning service that has their heart in it, if they are not equipped with the knowledge, experience and strategy to deliver the highest levels of service, they simply won't be able to.
In the crowded office cleaning marketplace, there is no shortage of mediocrity. In fact, it is probably among the industry’s most significant problems, quality control. The good news is even though there are many companies that will let you down, there are plenty of office cleaning services ready to deliver. What do the best office janitorial companies do differently? What do they know that other janitorial services do not?
The most effective, efficient, responsive, consistent and professional office cleaning services:
Finding a commercial cleaning company that will have you ready for business isn’t easy, but it is worth it. But how do you choose when as we have noted, there is a crowded marketplace filled with different levels of professionalism and experience? First, don’t buy based upon price alone. On one hand, a low low price should a red flag. And yet, paying more doesn’t always net you more. Your goal should be a reasonable, livable cost and value over price. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Unusually low office cleaning quotes are likely to be too good to be true. Either the company is inexperienced with accurately pricing their services or they are purposely lowballing hoping to recoup costs down the road, neither good for you, your facility or your budget. Only consider office cleaning services or general office cleaning with clear, straight forward pricing so that you can compare office cleaning bids in a meaningful way. And look for those cleaning companies that can back up their claims of solid, professional processes. Commercial cleaning companies that have put money, time and resources into great employee training will be more than happy to tell you all about it and even show you. They WANT you to know what they do differently that makes them better. It is also useful to check in with fellow facility managers, vendors or contractors you know and trust for referrals.
Professional certification is not only a sign that you are dealing with a seasoned pro, it can be a useful way to draw up your short list of prospective office cleaning companies. Professional certifications like CIMS offer a valuable shortcut in finding a real partner in your office cleaning. CIMS stands for the Certified Industry Management Standard and is a certification offered through the ISSA or International Sanitary Supply Association. This leading professional organization for Building Service Contractors offers a rigorous certification process that only the most serious and professional cleaning contractors even attempt. Certification covers integral elements like:
Want to know whether your prospective office cleaners are set up to succeed? These benchmarks can be a solid indicator of a plan and commitment to the highest levels of service. And while CIMS certification is difficult and costly for a building services company to achieve, it is free for you to use as a shortcut to finding the right office cleaning company that will work hard to keep your facility well maintained.
Here at Stathakis, office cleaning has, and will continue to be, a hallmark of the services we offer the businesses and industries of Southeastern Michigan. Not only are we committed to following industry best practices with regard to our office cleaning services, we have been at the forefront of developing and setting the standard for professional, effective, affordable and customer focused building services for over thirty years. From state of the art equipment to green cleaning products to professional systems and processes that assure reliability through accountability, we are committed to keep your offices clean, fresh and helping you create a healthy, productive work place.