Successful businesses all have one thing in common, they share strong and open communication with their customers. A solid and lasting partnership with customers based upon trust and a mutual understanding of needs is always preferable to fumbling around in the dark hoping things all work out for the best. Do you trust you commercial cleaning service with the keys to your building when no one is around to see what they do? Do you believe they are working hard for you and care about the level of service they provide? Do you believe they are doing their own due diligence with employees, insurance and more to assure safety and minimize liability for all involved? If the answer is “no” or “I’m not sure”, then here is a list of important questions you should be asking prospective cleaning companies to find out if they are the right fit for you:

How long has the janitorial service been in business?

If you are looking for trained staff and someone you can trust and rely upon, then you need a company that has years of experience to back up their promises. Yes all companies must start somewhere but you do not want your facility to be a cleaning company’s training ground.

Is the commercial cleaning company bonded and insured?

Any professional service based business will have insurance that covers both them and you in case of damages to assets or any issues of liability. It is a demonstration of professionalism, forethought and care when it comes to safety and safeguarding risk. On top of that, insurance is a good sign that your prospective company employs best practices including legal hiring of their staff. 

What type of services does the building services company provide?

Every cleaning company is different, and as such they all provide different services. While most offer basic cleaning services like floor cleaning, housekeeping and restroom service, some will offer specialty services. Theses companies that go above and beyond often provide extras like: hot water extraction carpet cleaning, painting, janitorial maintenance, window cleaning, medical cleaning, construction cleanup, and even 24-hour emergency clean ups.

What hours do they work? How many people do you need?

As discussed above, each business is different with their services, so look for a company that best meets your cleaning needs with a timeframe that compliments your facility’s schedule. Your office cleaner should work around you, not the other way around. Likewise, the needs of your facility may shift seasonally or situationally, your best bet is a janitorial company with flexible staffing to have the capacity to shift up or down as needed to help you get the service and value you require.

Does the janitorial company conduct both basic and specialized training of their employees? 

The well known MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) has been changed requiring that the chemical manufacturer or distributor provide Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) for each hazardous chemical.The information offered in the new SDS is much the same as the older MSDS. The main change is that the new SDSs are must be written and offered in a consistent user-friendly, 16-section format. This makes it easier for employees to familiarize themselves and understand the safety requirements of any chemicals they use. Not only does proper handling of such chemicals protect you and your cleaning staff, it is required by law. It cannot be stressed how important it is for cleaning staff to know what they are working with and to have the proper training to handle each respective hazardous substance.

Does the commercial cleaning company conduct background checks before hiring?

Any cleaning service worth their salt knows how important it is to conduct thorough background investigations on potential hires. Background checks aren’t just limited to criminal history. In order to get the best service, education, reference verifications, professional licenses, employment history and medical records should be taken into account to protect both you and them.

Are they ISSA CIMS Certified?

CIMS-GB is a certification from the ISSA that requires a building services company hit a number of high level business benchmarks that directly correlate with high levels of service for customers.  CIMS-GB certified cleaning companies are the cream of the crop when it comes to building services contractors. Not only does having a CIMS-GB accreditation guarantee that a company is dedicated to performing at or above the cutting edge in industry standards and innovation, but to even be considered for accreditation they need to meet 100% of all required standards and at least 60% of recommended standards. If you are in the Detroit, Michigan area let us know how we can help you! Stathakis offers custom janitorial, painting, and maintenance services for the entire Southeastern Michigan area. Whether you have a simple question or would like a no-obligation quote, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-278-1884.