Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I choose Home Sweet Home Residential Cleaning Service?
Home Sweet Home is a professional, honest business. We are legally owned and operated (many cleaning "companies" are strictly under-the-table, which is illegal), and are insured & bonded for your protection and ours. Customer service is our number one priority, and we will never leave you dissatisfied. Above all, we are friendly, hardworking people. We will do our best to make you happy and leave your home sparkling!
Return to the list of questions?
How do you determine your rates?
Our rates are based off the size and condition of your home, and the frequency that you will have us come clean for you, in addition to other factors. Because of this, we can not give you a true quote without doing a free, no-obligation walkthrough estimate with you.
During the walkthrough estimate, we will go room by room through your home, discussing the specific cleaning services that you want us to provide. We will fill out a service agreement for you that includes the specifics on the services to be provided, the frequency of those services, and the estimated cost of those services. In addition, we will provide you with an informational packet about the company, the supplies and methods that we use, and the staff members that will be cleaning your home every time.
Return to the list of questions?
How do I pay you?
We accept cash, checks, and credit & debit cards.
Checks can be made out either to Meghan Buckley or Home Sweet Home -- since I am a sole proprietor, it does not matter which of these you choose. To pay with a credit or debit card, please set up a Paypal account and contact us. We will advise you as to how and when to send a credit card payment through Paypal.
Payment should be made on or before the date of service.
Return to the list of questions?
Do I have to sign a contract?
We do not have a contract, but we have a service agreement which is helpful and recommended as they spell out the responsibilities of both parties. However, you will never be obligated to continue service if a situation arises and you wish to discontinue. You can cancel at any time with at least 24 hours notice.
Return to the list of questions?
What if something in my home gets damaged?
We are very careful when cleaning your home and all of our cleaners are trained to protect your home and belongings. We are 100% damage free so far! However, accidents can happen.
Should something become damaged or broken during our cleaning, we will attempt to call you. If we cannot reach you, we will leave a note at your home explaining what happened and we will discuss with you what can be done to repair or replace the item.
Return to the list of questions?
What if I am not satisfied with the cleaning?
We will do our best to make sure you are always thrilled with the cleanliness of your home after our visit. However, we are humans and we make a mistake once in a while. If that happens, do not worry!
If you are not completely satisfied with the service, let us know within 24 hours and we will return to your home and personally address the problem.
See the information on our guarantee for more information.
Return to the list of questions?
What is the best cleaning frequency for me?
Weekly - If you have many people in your home, you have pets, or you would like to do no maintenance in between cleanings, we suggest weekly cleanings. Weekly cleanings also tend to be quicker for us to do, so we will be in and out of your home during maintenance cleanings in no time.
Bi-Weekly - If you do some of the maintenance between cleanings yourself, but want help with the detail work, we suggest bi-weekly cleanings.
Monthly - If you do complete maintenance work yourself but want a deep cleaning once a month, we suggest monthly cleanings.
Return to the list of questions?
How many people will be in the home to clean?
Between one and three. First-time (initial) cleans will always be two or three people, but it is possible, depending on the size and condition of your home, that we can negotiate to have only one person for all maintenance cleans. We prefer to have two people on each job when possible.
Return to the list of questions?
Will the same cleaning crew service my house each time?
Yes. It is very important to us that you know and trust the people that you allow into your home. We have a very small staff and we match up the same cleaners with the same residences every time. If an emergency change is needed (for example, if the person who usually cleans your home is out sick), we will do our best to let you know before the service.
Return to the list of questions?
How long will it take the cleaning crew to clean my home?
We begin your service with an "initial cleaning", which is a detailed cleaning of your home. This first cleaning is a deep, involved cleaning. There are many first time tasks performed during this clean that require extra time and effort.
Depending on the size and current condition of your home, it could take anywhere from 3-6 hours to clean initially with a two person team. Even if you have had a cleaning service before, we will do a deep initial cleaning to get everything in your home sparkling clean and ready for maintenance cleanings.
During the walkthrough estimate, we will be able to give you a better idea about how long it will take us to complete most maintenance cleanings in your home.
Return to the list of questions?
Do I need to provide any supplies?
We provide just about everything that we will need to clean your home. Our cleaning professionals are thoroughly trained in the use of our supplies to insure your house is left absolutely clean.
If you would prefer that we use your cleaning products, we will certainly oblige, but cannot promise the same results as if we had used our own. If we use your products, we also cannot guarantee against damage of certain surfaces (for example, if you have stone countertops and the cleaning product that you ask us to use etches them, we cannot take responsibility for that damage).
The only thing that we do request that you provide is a brush to clean the toilet. We do not consider it sanitary to bring the same one from home to home, but it is much easier to clean with a brush than to use something that we can throw away.
You also may prefer to use your own vacuum, particularly if you have allergies, because many of our clients have pets. We do thoroughly clean and disinfect the vacuum, but there is a possibility of pet dander and dust being carried within the vacuum.Return to the list of questions?
Should I do anything before you arrive to clean?
If you would like us to change bed linens, we do ask that you leave clean sheets on the bed, and if you would like us to change bath towels, please leave fresh ones out. We also ask that you put away stray items (especially items on the floor, that we would need to move in order to vacuum) in order for us to clean efficiently and effectively.
Please also have your payment set out on the kitchen counter in a labeled envelope; we require payment on the day of service, but will not search through your belongings to find it! Other than that, prepare to relax when your cleaning is complete!
Return to the list of questions?
Do I need to be home when you come to clean?
No. Most clients prefer not to be home while we are cleaning, in fact. Some clients leave a key in a secret place and some provide us with a key.
Your spare keys will be labeled with a randomly generated code that is not related to your name or address, which is stored in a safe area. We will be very careful with your key!
If you would prefer to be home, you are also welcome to do so. However, if we arrive to the scheduled appointment and are unable to enter your home to clean, we will charge you a $25 lock-out fee and you will need to reschedule.
Return to the list of questions?
What if I need to cancel or reschedule an appointment?
We ask that you give us at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule. If less than 24 hours notice is given, your account will incur a charge of $25, because we will be unable to fill your time slot at such short notice.
Please note that we would be willing to waive the fee if a legitimate emergency has come up, because we understand that life happens. However, please understand that canceling appointments on short notice is not easy for us and try not to do so if possible.
Return to the list of questions?