The start of a new year offers a blank page of sorts, a chance to get it right, do it better. For many Facility Managers, when they look over what area of their work is causing them the most problems and could really use improvement, it is often their maintenance services. This can seem like a challenging problem to tackle because it is not under your immediate control as a Facilities Manager. Rather, you rely on the cleaning company you contract with to make good on their promises to you. So what is a Facilities Manager to do when their commercial cleaning company isn’t doing enough? There is no time like now to make a positive change for your facility. Your New Year’s resolution should be to acknowledge this:
Resolution #1
There are professional, reputable commercial cleaning companies that not only care about the work they do, they have the systems to insure very good work that is responsive to your facility’s needs, consistent and affordable.
Resolution #2
You are paying the bills for a commercial cleaning service either way, why not feel satisfied each month knowing that the commercial cleaning company you work with is earning it by delivering on their promises to you.
Resolution #3
Finding the right maintenance company isn’t impossible and the very best commercial cleaning services won’t necessarily cost you any more than you are paying now for substandard work. In fact, many of the more established maintenance companies understand best how to work with razor thin budgets.
Finding a Commercial Cleaning Company That is Committed to Quality Work
While this may not be easy, it isn’t impossible. The challenge here is that there are so many cleaning companies that wading through the pile to find the gems can be arduous at best. In the cleaning industry, over promising and under delivering run rampant. Some cleaning companies will say anything to get your business with no intention of delivering at that level. Other janitorial companies fully intend to give you the work they promised, they simply are not equipped to follow through. Great janitorial service is dependent on three things: very good people, the systems to keep these people on track and management in place to keep it running smoothly and implementing industry best practices to continually raise the bar.
“Great janitorial service is dependent on three things: very good people, the systems to keep these people on track and management in place to keep it running smoothly and implementing industry best practices to continually raise the bar.”
In order to find the best Michigan commercial cleaning company, ask them to show you, not just tell you, how they get the work done. Any great cleaning company will have systems for nearly anything. They should be able to tell you how they attract great people, how they screen these people to make sure they are a safe presence in your facility and how they train these people to deliver quality work. The right Michigan cleaning company should have transparent pricing, a clear work order and the processes needed to insure this promised work is delivered. And even the best commercial cleaning services will make mistakes so there must be a process in place for that too. Catching missteps early can keep a mistake from turning in to a problem.
I’m Not Sure I Can Afford Great Commercial Cleaning Services
Far too many Facilities Managers settle for sub par cleaning services because they believe very good services are outside of their budget. Very good commercial cleaning does not necessarily equate directly to price. Because of the wide variety of cleaning company types, sizes and experience, pricing can vary dramatically. Some companies undercut in order to get your business only to upcharge or do less later on. Other companies bid high out of either misguided optimism or a lack of the knowledge of what is both needed and competitive. For these reasons your commercial cleaning bids can vary tremendously and are not likely directly linked to the maintenance service you will get. What can you as a Facility Manager do? First, demand transparent pricing, that means you know precisely what you are getting for your dollar. This will allow you to compare multiple building services quotes. Second, throw out the highest quotes and lowest quotes of the bunch as they are likely to be off base. Too low and you won’t get the work done and too high is no guarantee of great service.
“What can you as a Facility Manager do? First, demand transparent pricing, that means you know precisely what you are getting for your dollar. Second, throw out the highest quotes and lowest quotes of the bunch as they are likely to be off base.”
Turn Your New Year’s Dreams Into a Reality Faster Than You Expected
So you want to find a great commercial cleaning company that you can afford, easy right? Well, not so much. On your own, ferreting out the good from the great from the downright horrible involves loads of questions and due diligence on your part. You must ask to see how each promise is fulfilled and often wade through complicated, cloudy pricing to get to the real deal. This can be challenging for a Facilities Manager with an already very full plate.
A simple way to shortcut this overwhelming process is to shop maintenance services from companies that have achieved industry certification through their industry organizations. For example, the ISSA, a building services industry organization offers the CIMS, or Certified Industry Management Standard. Like other professional associations, the ISSA certification offers dedicated, professional cleaning and maintenance companies the opportunity to earn additional certifications that demonstrate their commitment to their industry and show they meet the very highest standards set forth by the best of the best within their industry. CIMS is the Cleaning Industry Management Standard Certification. The CIMS is among the most rigorous and difficult levels of certification offered. By choosing your next Michigan commercial cleaning company from those who have achieved the ISSA CIMS, you let someone else do the lion’s share of the due diligence for you.
Start the New Year Right By Finding a Better Commercial Cleaning Company
Once you realize that truly great cleaning companies are out there, that you can afford them and there is some help in finding them, there should be nothing standing in the way of you making a positive change for your facility. Make this one positive change and everything you do will become easier. The best Michigan cleaning company will help manage the day to day maintenance of your facility freeing you up to put your focus where it needs to be.
“Once you realize that truly great cleaning companies are out there, that you can afford them and there is some help in finding them, there should be nothing standing in the way of you making a positive change for your facility.”
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