If you’re running a cleaning business as a sole trader, you’ll often encounter the inevitable question that clients repeatedly ask: how often should a property be cleaned?
But what’s the appropriate response?
Whether you serve a client in a one-bedroom apartment or a three-story townhouse, sticking to a cleaning plan is the most efficient method to keep a client’s home clean.
One way to achieve this is to collaborate with your customer to establish a timetable. Once this timetable has been agreed upon, your house cleaning procedure will operate like clockwork. Small tasks, such as sweeping the kitchen floor or wiping down surfaces, should ideally be done daily, but not many customers have the funds to pay for a daily cleaner.
It is, nevertheless, feasible to create a good cleaning routine. It’s possible to create a cleaning plan that matches your client’s needs based on their lifestyle, the size of your property, and how much of the cleaning they feel they can contribute. The main objective is to agree on what you will be responsible for as the contracted cleaner and set clear expectations for what will be achievable in the time allocated to the job.
What needs to be done?
It may seem apparent, but few people take the time to sit down and think about all the things that need to be done—studies show that we are far more reactive without a clear strategy, things might be overlooked, and you may find that the cleaning work you perform doesn’t meet the client’s expectations. Alternatively, you may spend more time on a customer’s property than you are being paid for because you feel pressure to ensure all the cleaning duties are performed in full.
To begin, walk around the house and list what the customer would like to achieve in a perfect world in each area. That will help you identify needs and plan the amount of time that will need to be dedicated to that particular house. Having estimated the time it would take to deliver everything the customer wants in the ideal scenario, you may find that the time required exceeds the available time or the time the customer has the funds to pay for. In such a case, you will need to review each item on the list with the customer and decide which tasks are a priority. You may subsequently agree that some tasks are performed every week, while others are performed regularly; for example, monthly or quarterly.
- Wipe off all surfaces
- Empty the trash can
- Clean the bath and shower
- Clean the toilet
- Mop the floor
- Change towels
- Descale the showerhead once a month
Concentrate on the customer’s personal priorities and choose how to organize chores by frequency.
How much time do you have on your hands?
It’s essential to remember that there is no right or wrong method to clean things; while some have fewer people in their house, necessitating less cleaning—demands will change, and your optimum timings for how often you clean will range as a consequence.
Creating a Schedule That Is Specifically For Your Client
You must work with your customer’s lifestyle and personality for any timetable to be productive. Choose the ideal times of the week to visit the property and agree on a specific list of what you will achieve.
Don’t forget your insurance
If you are working as a sole trader as a cleaner, you should consider ensuring you have adequate cleaner insurance. but the most common is public liability. When it comes to property damage and personal injury, which are the two primary events covered by public liability insurance, you face a lot of dangers as a cleaner. Because of the liquids involved, cleaners face a significant risk of slip and fall claims and the danger of property damage from certain of the cleaning chemicals employed. Fortunately, public liability insurance or other forms of insurance for tradies may assist you and your company avoid some of these risks.
Your specific needs as a sole trader will determine the insurance you need to have in place. Cleaning contractors, for example, work in several places, and not all insurance providers cover all of them.
If you work in places with a lot of foot traffic, such as shopping centers, train stations, or major commercial buildings. In this scenario, a specialised insurance provider may be required.
The safest approach is to disclose everything about your firm to the insurance provider or broker. Your rates may be slightly higher as a result, but you will be adequately protected.
