Every office cleaning company sounds the same in the first month. The differences show up in month three — missed visits, shrinking scope, a new cleaner every week who does not know the office. Here is what to check before signing.
1. Do they visit before quoting?
A quote given over the phone for a space nobody has seen is a guess. A serious company does a short site visit: floor area, washrooms, kitchenette, floor type, headcount. The written quote should list exactly what is included per visit — not just "general cleaning".
2. Who supervises the cleaners?
Ask who checks the work and how. Companies that send unsupervised cleaners rely on you to be the supervisor. There should be a named contact, a checklist the team works to, and a way to report problems that gets a response.
3. What schedule do they actually keep?
Agree fixed days and times — before work, after hours, or during the day — and ask what happens when a cleaner is absent. A company with no cover plan simply skips your day and hopes you do not notice.
4. Who supplies what?
Clarify in writing whether the company brings equipment and chemicals, and who supplies washroom consumables like soap and tissue. Ambiguity here becomes a monthly argument.
5. Are staff vetted and the work insured?
Cleaners work in your office unsupervised, often around equipment and documents. Ask how staff are vetted, whether there is a key-handling procedure, and what happens if something is damaged.
The red flags
Be cautious of quotes far below everyone else (the scope will shrink or the price will rise), refusal to put the checklist in writing, no site visit, and companies that cannot name a supervisor. A slightly higher price with a written scope and a named contact is almost always cheaper over a year.
Our office cleaning service starts with a site visit and a written scope, on daily, weekly or monthly contracts — get a quote.