Have Your Janitorial Services Gone From Bad to Worse?

Are your janitorial services less than stellar? Maybe they started strong but have slowly gone downhill. Or perhaps, your cleaning company never delivered to begin with. Maybe your janitorial company was doing a solid job but with multiple staff changes, the service has declined to a level you can’t live with. Maybe your commercial cleaning company isn’t staffing people who are a good fit for the work or perhaps they are failing to train their teams to be effective. Whatever the reason, finding a solid, effective janitorial company shouldn’t be impossible. And yet, janitorial companies that will deliver effective, responsive professional service at a value are often in short supply. When you look at the cleaning services you have now, is it time to schedule a sit down to try to get everyone back on track. Or is it time to toss your current commercial cleaning company out with the trash?

Is High Turnover From Your Janitorial Services Company Impacting YOUR Facility?

You don’t want to really think too hard about your janitorial services companies’ turnover right? After all, one of the reasons you outsource your cleaning services is to get those worries off your plate. And yet, if your janitorial company suffers from high turnover, the impact on your own facility is significant. High janitorial turnover from your Detroit janitorial company can leave you with unfinished work, missed responsibilities, dirty restrooms and a host of complaints from tenants and employees alike. Add to that the fact that when you contract with a facilities services company that struggles with high janitorial turnover, even if their janitorial bid was the lowest, they will ultimately fail to deliver real value for your facility. Not only will high janitorial turnover cause you countless headaches, it will cost you money. The reality of it is that a series of new cleaning people coming in and out of your building means you are absorbing the costs of training your janitorial company’s new hires. What does that cost look like?

• Actual and perceived security issues with a steady stream of unfamiliar people in and out of your building.
• You don’t get the work you were promised.
• Inexperienced cleaning staff often miss tasks, waste supplies and damage equipment.
• Beginners cover less square feet during their shifts reducing the value of what you are getting.
• Your time is used helping new hires become acquainted with your building and their responsibilities.

Does Your Cleaning Company Offer Real Value & Transparent Pricing?

In order to make a good decision about selecting a janitorial company, we have to have good information. In order to determine the value of what you are getting, your commercial cleaning company must offer clear, transparent pricing. How else can you both compare competing janitorial bids and hold your office cleaning company accountable to the work they promised? 

The most effective cleaning companies want you to understand what you are buying and they want to offer you value and help you maximize your budget. Creating this solid reciprocal relationship is good for everyone and is how long-term business partnerships thrive. So how do you decide between competing janitorial quotes? Brian Mamo, Director of Business Development at Stathakis offers these suggestions:

• Prepare to see cleaning prices way below cost, super high over market and everywhere in between. This is often the result of start-ups and inexperienced janitorial companies that do not know how to accurately price their services.
• When a building services contractor offers prices are seem too good to be true, it should be a big red flag. These unworkably low prices are quite often a sign that (1) they will play “shell games” with your pricing down the road (2) they use illegal hiring to keep prices artificially low.
• It is in your interest to understand how cleaning buds are estimated. Check out this article for good information on how to consider janitorial pricing.
• Inquire about references from trusted facility and building managers. Testimonials can offer a valuable way to develop a short list of prospective cleaning companies. 
• Thoroughly screen and interview janitorial companies before requesting bids. Know what to ask and look for evidence of systems and procedures, not just lip service. Companies that take the time to assure effective service will be happy to show you behind the curtain.
• Only request cleaning bids from experienced, reputable companies that have likely cut their teeth long ago and have systems in place to accurately price and value their services. 
• Request references and take the time to check them, it’s time well spent.
• Compare apples to apples. Give would-be contractors a standard service specification so you are getting janitorial pricing on the same services.

Identifying a Janitorial Services Company That You Won’t Have to Kick To The Curb

While finding a janitorial company that you wont soon have to kick to the curb can be time consuming, it is time well spent. Partnering with a cleaning contractor who can’t deliver on their promises t you wastes your money and it wastes your time. While it isn’t easy, finding a commercial cleaning company that will be a true partner in your facility is possible, but you need to know what to look for. What are the most effective cleaning companies doing differently and what should you look for when considering a new janitorial services company?

Quality Systems: A paradigm to guarantee operational effectiveness & continual improvement

Service Delivery: Usable, effective systems in place to deliver consistent, quality service

Human Resources: Best practices for managing any service industry’s greatest asset—their people

Health, Safety, & Environmental Stewardship: Ensuring regulatory compliance, workplace safety, and health and environmental management

Management Commitment: Establishing a Mission, Vision, and Values that safeguard that the organization's continued success.

CIMS: CIMS is a hard-earned certification that establishes a janitorial company’s commitment to effective service. And as a busy Building Manager, drawing up your short list of janitorial service contractors from CIMS certified companies can help you cut through the clutter of cleaning companies that make claims they cannot back up.

If you think it might be time to throw out your janitorial company with the trash, know that there are many janitorial companies out there capable of delivering the effective, responsive janitorial service you deserve at a price that meets the realities of your budget. Don’t settle for ineffective, unresponsive, inefficient cleaning services with minimal value. Do your homework and find the right partner for your building and you will set you and your facility up for a long term partnership that benefits everyone involved.