What to Look Out For When You Sign a Corporate Cleaning Contract

If you're looking to hire a professional corporate cleaning service for the duration of your office refurbishment in Sydney or hire an office-cleaning contractor to take on a large building renovation project for your company, ask about the options available to you. It's easy to assume that there's only one choice: Hire a commercial cleaning company to do the job. However, this isn't always the case.

The first thing to consider is what you want from the cleaners. Are you looking for a general house cleaning? Perhaps you're a restaurant manager hoping to reduce labour costs by delegating some of the cleaning to an external team. Maybe you're an office manager with multiple staff who are required to manage a range of cleaning duties yourself. There are many different types of businesses and situations so it's important to understand where your needs lie.

The best way to find out is to ask. Most companies have an in-house solution but whether you're a large or small operation, make sure you get a quote for both the base rate and overtime rates separately. You don't need to sign a contract. But if you decide to go down the outsourcing route, make sure you know how much outsourcing will cost. It's also a good idea to find out what other companies are charging for the same services. Outsourcing may not be right for your business.

Another thing to look at is whether the quoted price includes the cost of labour hours. Most cleaning companies will quote a base rate but make sure you know what labour hours are included. For instance, most office cleaning companies will include cleaning time and a few hours of unsupervised work for an extra fee. Always check this before you agree to a contract.

Ask for references. Before you commit to using any particular company, make sure you check their credentials. Word of mouth has long been the best way to find out about good and bad companies. Look around your local community and find out which companies other business owners are happy to use and who they would avoid.

Get everything in writing. You may think that contracts for such services are easy to write but they can be very complicated. Be sure you have a contract that covers all aspects of the project from start to finish. You should get a written quote with all details mentioned on it including any extra charges. Don't just give your provider's a pen and paper - ask them to provide you with a hard copy to make sure you have a complete document.

Stick to the contract. If you don't sign up for the contract, the provider may not honor it and you could be caught in a whole lot of legal hot water. Make sure that you read all the fine print and make sure there are no special circumstances that will let the provider off the hook. This is a one-off payment so make sure you get everything in writing and also include any other costs like labour rates or transportation costs.

Find out what happens if something goes wrong. When you hire a company to carry out your cleaning in Sydney, you want them to do a good job. If you find any issues or concerns you have, make sure you voice them immediately. There should be an opportunity for you to air your views and if you are unhappy with anything, you should be able to get a refund or even a case dismissed. A reputable company will always listen to their customers and act accordingly.

​Cutelli's Cleaning Service offers professional commercial cleaning services to businesses in all Sydney area. Our goal is to make your facility a fresh environment for business.