Common Concerns When Hiring a Cleaning Company

If the weather outside is frightful, then chances are your family members have tracked their share of dirt or snow throughout your home... despite your best efforts to convince everyone to leave the dirty, wet stuff at the door. Just ask anyone who has ever had to clean up after the kids have been out playing in the snow or are returning from a day at the beach-- there's nothing more frustrating than going behind someone and cleaning up all the mess. Of course, if you are already slammed with a long list of home maintenance chores that run the gambit form mopping to cleaning the bathrooms, then one more job is not exactly the highpoint of your day.
Fortunately, you don't have to be the one to clean up all the messes...or even continually do all the housework. Whether you live in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads, New York or Atlanta, you can choose to save yourself some time by hiring a maid service. After all, your time is valuable and there are plenty of other activities and pursuits to keep you occupied without spending your time off with the vacuum cleaner, scrub brush and rubber gloves. Each day, hundreds of homeowners all across America have cleaning crews come in to take care of the day to messes created simply by living and having fun. However, if you have ever considered hiring a maid service, then chances are you have a number of questions, before you are willing to turn over the keys to your home so someone else can do the cleaning. Here are a few common concerns in hiring a professional maid service:

1. How do I know the company can be trusted? Call the BBB or check out any potential home cleaning service provider to see what others have said about the company. You can also call prospective companies and find out if their professional cleaners have had background checks, and whether or not the workers are licensed and bonded.
2. What else is important to look for? It is recommended that you only use companies that have identifiable vehicles (i.e. have a company logo on the vehicle door), have uniforms for their employees and provide insurance that protects both you and the worker. The insurance is a "must have" as it alleviates you of responsibility for any items broken or any injuries incurred while they are cleaning your home.
3. Who provides the cleaning supplies? This often varies based on the company. In some cases you may pay a bit extra for them to use their own cleaning products but this often because they are using specially designed eco-friendly products; however, if you want them to use a specific type of product, then let the company know when you schedule the cleaning service.
4. How often will the cleaners come? This is up to you. You can choose from weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, just for special events or when moving to a new home

For a free quote and to learn more about maid services, visit Custom Maid of Virginia Beach, VA. Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Treating Yourself to a Maid Service

When the holidays are right around the corner your "To Do" list increases tenfold. After all, there is shopping for specialty foods at the Old Beach Farmers Market, gifts to be purchased at the Pembroke Mall or at the Shops at Hilltop, parties to attend in the burbs of Virginia Beach and the list goes on. So, with all these extra activities added on to your already crowded schedule, how are you supposed to find time to take care of the basic like cleaning?
Since the holidays are a time of hustle and bustle, and not just along crowded streets and stores, but within your own home, why not treat yourself to hiring Custom Maid, a professional maid service. They will be happy to come in to your home and help you with all of the vacuuming, sweeping, dusting and other related household chores. In fact, Custom Maid is happy to help you with those extra tasks like polishing the silver!
The great thing about hiring Custom Maid is that they are happy to do all those little (and large) jobs that keep you from doing the things you enjoy. Whether it is sitting in front of a fire and relaxing after a successful party, going out with friends and scoring big on Black Friday sales or simply spending a an evening at home decorating cookies with the kids, knowing that your housekeeping chores are not your responsibility is a huge gift in itself.
If you have never hired a maid service, then there are several things to keep in mind so you can be sure your gift is all that you want it to be. Here are a few things you will want to look for:

• Ask family and friends for their recommendations. Also, be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau or Angies List to learn what maid service companies praised (or not) in your area.
• Hire a maid service whose professional cleaners are licensed, bonded and insured. This protects you and the company-don't use a maid service where this is not the protocol!
• Call the suggested cleaning companies and learn as much as possible about them. Find out what type of cleaning products they use, whether or not their maids wear uniforms identifying them, will they do one-time cleaning jobs (unless, you want to treat yourself for an extended time frame), what type of specialty jobs- polish silver, move furniture, etc.- they do- and any other questions you may have. However, keep in mind that the only person who will clean your home exactly the way do, is You! When hiring a maid service you may have to compromise on some things.
• Even if you don't want the services of Custom Maid, don't overlook its value as a gift for someone else on your list. Whether it's a one-time event or several times a year a gift of housecleaning will always be appreciated.

For a free house cleaning quote, contact Custom Maid of Virginia.

Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Maid Service

Regardless of where you live and what you do there are times when life gets so busy that you have more to do than you can handle. As a result, you have to make the decision of which jobs on your "To Do" list are most important for you to do and which ones you need to get someone else to do. Oftentimes, those mundane tasks, such as yard work or housework are jobs you will most benefit by hiring someone else for.
And, even if by hiring someone else to the job, the only thing you gain is time for meeting your business partner for lunch in Virginia Beach or taking a new client out to dinner at the new restaurant in Hampton Roads, the investment in a cleaning service is good. But for many people, the decision to hire a maid service is not easy. Here is a list of the pros and cons of hiring a cleaning service, to help you decide for yourself what is best for your needs.
Pros of Hiring a Cleaning Service

• Peace of mind-Rather than trying to figure when in the course of your busy week you will have time to dust, mop, vacuum or clean the bathroom, you can rest assured that these jobs are being taken care of, without that responsibility resting on your shoulders. Plus, you can schedule the maid service to come weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or as often as works best for your needs.
• Cleaner air- In today's society, the desire to use environmentally safe products and equipment is paramount. As a result, most cleaning services have invested in vacuums and cleaners that are of a higher standard than those owned by the average homeowner. Consequently, your home's air is cleaner helping you stay healthier.
• More time- Sometimes, it's not that you need time for work obligations but rather that you just want some time to hang out with your friends shopping at the Mac Author Center, taking the kids to Animal Jungle or just relaxing in the sunshine at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. When you hire a maid service, your schedule gets lighter so you have more time for doing what you like the most.

Cons of Hiring a Maid Service

• Make sure that you and the cleaning service understand each other! If you want certain jobs (i. e. furniture moved every time they vacuum) let them know, don't assume it will be done just because that's how you do it.
• Don't expect the job to done exactly the way you would have done it. You may even have a few things that you will need to do yourself so that it meets your standards.
• Watch for companies that seem to have a constant influx of new employees. Ideally, you want the same team cleaning your home every time so that you can develop a relationship and level of expectation where everyone is happy.

For additional information on the topic of maid services visit Custom Maid. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Tips For Selecting a Maid Service

When you live in area as beautiful and interesting as Virginia Beach, Virginia you will find there are many way to spend your weekend. After all, what's not to love about picnicking at the National Wildlife Refuge or the nearby Norfolk Botanical Gardens? Or, perhaps you prefer to spend your time at the Artist Gallery or indulging in some retail therapy by shopping at Shops at Hiltop? Regardless of your passion, one thing is certain, there are too many pleasurable activities to spend the weekend with your mop and broom. After all, just because there are a myriad of home cleaning products available today to make the work easier than it once was, that doesn't mean that you want to be joined at the hip with them every time you have a day off.
Fortunately, you don't have to spend your weekends and vacation days cleaning house. There are many great cleaning companies who are happy to take on the task of cleaning your house for you in. In fact, there are so many choices available today, that it may be difficult to determine which one will best work for you and your needs. After all, this is your home and you want it to look good, you just don't want to have to do the work!
As you begin to look for a maid or cleaning service to help you, it may seem to be a bit daunting. Most areas have a number of choices and knowing who to trust can be tough. To help, talk to friends, co-workers and family to see if they recommend someone and why or why not they do. Be sure to make a list of the recommendations and then do some basic background checks on the company. Check with the BBB, or sites such as Angieslist.com, to see if any compliments or complaints have been noted. In addition, find out how long the company has been in business; typically, the longer the better.
As you begin your quest, here are a few things to keep in mind:
When you start making phone calls to prospective cleaning companies, ask if they will make an estimate over the phone. You should be able to give them square footage of your home, the number of rooms to be cleaned and any specific cleaning needs and they should be able to give you an estimate-sight unseen. Having a ballpark figure will help you eliminate those services whose prices are beyond your means.
Be sure you ask prospects what their billing procedures are, as well as whether or not their cleaning professionals are licensed, bonded and insured.
Who supplies the cleaning products? Most professional companies will have their own cleaning products. Many companies today are recognizing that green cleaning products are not only better for people, animals and the environment, but these products do a better job as well.
To learn more on how to select a maid service or cleaning tips, please visit www.cmaid.net or call 757-499-8568.
Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views anad opinions of Custom Maid.

5 Common Questions Asked About Hiring a Maid Service

For many people, having a maid often falls under the heading of "One of these days, when I...whatever". But, as life continues to get busier-whether it is time spent taking the kids to sports practice in Chesapeake, untold hours sitting in traffic on your way to your Norfolk office, or simply trying to squeeze in a weekend get away to Virginia Beach, you may be reconsidering just how "out of the question" hiring a cleaning service would be.
After all, you are a busy person with many responsibilities. Why should you have to spend your free time with the Swifter Sweeper, Windex, and vacuum? Time is not going to move any slower, the days aren't going to suddenly have extra minutes, so you want to make the most of the free time you have. Besides, there are many other activities that will bring you and your loved much more pleasure than hours spent cleaning house.
So, with a bend toward spending more time with your family and less time doing household chores, it is time to consider hiring a maid service. Of course, like any new venture you probably have a few questions. Here are some of the most common questions asked of the companies by those seeking a professional cleaning service:

1. Can I get a rough estimate on the cost of the job? Most reputable cleaning companies can give you a ballpark figure without seeing your home. You will need to know what your square footage and have an idea of what jobs you would like done. Often times, the company will ask if they can schedule a walk through to give a more accurate quote.
2. What exactly does your cleaning service entail? This is an important question, but not one with a rote answer. Cleaning services vary from company to company, but will typically include mopping, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, and sweeping. However, many companies will charge more for the first cleaning of your home as they will want to do a deep cleaning so that the home is "easier" to clean on repeat visits.
3. Who is responsible for providing the cleaning products? Many companies will have their own cleaning agents. If you have preference for one type of a cleaner over another, be sure to mention this in the phone interview or walk-through. A large number of today's professional cleaning services are using environmentally safe products which are great everyone and everything around.
4. Do I have to be home during the cleaning? In the majority of cases this is not necessary, reputable companies will have drug-free, bonded, licensed and insured workers so you can rest assured your home and valuables are safe.
5. Will you be on time, how can I know it is your cleaning crew? A reputable company will be there when they promise. In addition, they should have uniforms and a clearly marked vehicle that identifies them as the home cleaning service you have hired.

For additional information on the topic of hiring a maid service visit Custom Maid. Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

3 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Maid Service

Do you feel like your free time is spent with your mop, vacuum, and dust cloths? Are your weekends devoted to cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, family room and bedroom? Would like to have some time to enjoy activities such touring the Nauticus and the USS Wisconsin or relaxing at the Virginia Zoo? Perhaps, you would like free time that is actually yours to do something pleasurable so that it actually feels like you took time out on your days off.
If you are like many Americans, then free time just for chilling is a rare commodity. After all, there is the 40+ hours of the work week, the commute to and from work, taking the kids to a laundry list of activities, and then the many social obligations to be accomplished week in and week out. So, when are you supposed to have time for simply kicking back and enjoying something like a quiet walk at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge or a weekend getaway to Hampton Roads?
One way, is by shortening your To Do list. For most people one of the most time consuming activities is that of housework. Consequently, the easiest way to save time is to hire a maid service to do this job for you. There are many reasons people hire a maid service, but here are some of the most common:

1. Hiring a maid service means that you can cross off those time consuming chores that you have been "meaning to do" for quite some time. Whether it is deep cleaning the carpet, removing the cobwebs in a room that you don't use very often, cleaning out the refrigerator or laundry room, hiring a maid service means you can cross that job off.
2. When you hire a maid service, especially one that uses green cleaning products, you will find that your health improves. A qualified maid services knows how to best clean your home so that allergens, dust, and germs are removed effectively and efficiently. They will use products designed specifically for the job to be done as well. When a room is cleaned correctly, using the right tools and products, you will feel better and the room will look better than ever!
3. Hiring a maid service also ensures that your house is cleaned each week, whether you have time to do it or not. So, rather than feeling guilty for spending an afternoon shopping with friends in Virginia Beach rather than doing housework, you are free to enjoy reconnecting with the people that matter to you.

Hiring a maid service is one of the best ways available to "add hours" to your week without adding items to your To Do list. Yes, there is a cost involved, but you will find that the opportunity to relax and enjoy those people and activities that matter most far outweigh the money spent on a maid service. Take some time to talk to a maid service so you can start chilling!

For additional information on the topic of home and office cleaning services visit Custom Maid. Article independently authored by Janet M. Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.

Let's examine a typical week in the every day life in the USA. Assume, for a moment, you live along the coast in Virginia Beach, VA, a typical tourist city. After a busy week of "working for the man", running the kids to an assortment of practices, lessons, and sporting events in Virginia Beach, along with the myriad of "things" that seem to take over one's free time, who wants to spend the weekend with a mop, broom, or vacuum? After all, you have worked hard all week and deserve a bit of time for fun. And whether it is a day getting some retail therapy at the MacArthur Center (a very large mall), loving the high of an adrenaline rush while riding the Lochness Monster at Busch Gardens (an amusement park), or taking a leisurely stroll along the Old Beach Farmers Market you should be able to take some time to unwind.
Unfortunately, for many people their work week is followed by a work weekend of cleaning house. But it doesn't have to be that way. Today, there are many qualified maid services that are glad to come in and clean your home, so you have more time for the things that matter in life. After, weekends should be spent with family and friends- not the broom and cleaning products. So how do you go about finding a maid service? After all, you don't want to just open the phone book, or go online and call the very first Hampton Roads cleaning company listed. To help out in your selection process, here are a few questions you should ask when deciding which maid service is right for you.

1. Does the residential cleaning service provide their own cleaning agents or do you need to supply them?
2. Will there need to be someone home at the time the cleaning professionals show up?
3. Does the house cleaning company provide liability insurance for their workers?
4. Are the maids licensed and bonded?
5. If the company has a key to your home, then how is the system set up to protect your privacy?
6. Are there any areas of a home the service will not clean, e.g. the bedrooms but not the office?
7. Will/can the furniture be moved and cleaned behind/under it on a regular basis?
8. When are payments expected and what types of payment are accepted?
9. What is the policy on job cancellation?
10. Does the cleaning company require their maids to take any special training class or meet certain requirements?
11. Does the service do extras like polish the silverware, in the event that you will be hosting parties?

In addition to these questions, there are several other things you can do to ensure that the maid service you select is all that you want it to be. These steps are:

• Ask around and see who others recommend.
• See if the company will provide you with the names of some of their clients. You may even be able to talk to these clients and learn firsthand about their experiences.
• Call the Better Business Bureau and find out if there have been any complaints posted.
• Find out if the company does background checks for their workers.

For further details on residential maid service, please visit www.cmaid.net.

Article independently authored by Janet M Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Custom Maid.

Custom Maid Announces New Website Design By WebDrafter.com, Inc.

Custom Maid is proud to announce their new website design by WebDrafter.com, Inc.

Custom Maid is a residential house cleaning & maid service for Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Norfolk residents in Virginia.
* Professional Residential Cleaning Service since 1985
* Licensed, Bonded, and Insured
* Competitive Prices with Superior Service
* Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly Service Available
* Member of Better Business Bureau since 1987
* Member of Association of Residential Cleaning Services International

Call Custom Maid today and never clean your home again.

Visit www.cmaid.net to learn more!