If you have used house cleaning companies such as Merry Maids or The Maids, please let me know your thoughts. Pros/cons? Would you recommend either company? Do the rates tend to be higher or lower than hiring an independent person/team?
Hi there, D. -
Try going to http://www.britemaidservice.com/ I know the owner and she is excellent. She pays her maids a good salary, even if the owner cancels, she pays her maids. But, she is also very reasonable and she is bonded and insured. You definitely want someone that is bonded and insured in your house. You can get a quote right on the website.
E.
www.thegreatproduct.com/richerlife
I think they'll do a good job the first time and then after that it will go down hill.
Individuals make more money and are therefore more motivated to clean your house. Merry Maids etc may be cleaning two or three houses a day for a flat rate of $50. You may pay them $80, but the maids get a flat fee from the owner usually for the day. At least that's what I hear from my housekeeper who bailed out from an operation like that.
The Maids charge $40/hr per person. Five years ago they got paid $6.75 an hour...nothing if they have to reclean.
I clean houses and I have talked to people who have used Merry Maids and other cleaning services and they have not been that pleased. Several reason are...they have a crew of three sometimes four people who come in and clean and they are not always the same people. The communication isn't that good and sometimes things are not done adequately for the pay that is given. If you need someone I would be glad to give you a quote. I have been cleaning houses going on five years now and most of my clients have been with me that long.
We used Merry Maids for the past 5+ years and were pleased for most of that time until recently. It depends a lot on the crew you get, I think. The office staff are very receptive to feedback and they will send a crew back to re-do at no additional charge if things aren't up to snuff. They are bonded and insured and offer their employees benefits. We have recently switched because the most recent crews they gave us have not done as good a job as we expect for what we were paying. Also, they use their cleaning supplies which are not "green" supplies and we're going green. We've since hired an independent. I agree with another post - entrepreneurs are going to be motivated to keep their customers!
