Your house cleaner gets to know almost everything about you over time. A lot has been discussed about security, or how safe the belongs in the house are. People want to know who is coming into the home. A big question is if the same people will be doing the cleaning each time. Another question is about back ground checks.
Last week at a networking event the host asked me about any dirt I might have on one of our clients. He was joking, but there was a marked pause in the meeting, where people really wanted to hear something, some gossip. It is kind of a common passing comment.
My response, as always, is to praise our clients for the impeccable way they manage their lives. This particular client is extremely successful, and he makes a list each morning of the tasks he wants to accomplish, then checks them off during the day. The note book he carries is common knowledge, he has carried for the past twenty years.
Over these many years that we have been in the cleaning business I have learned that refusing to respond makes you sound like you are hiding something. Anything negative you say will of course be wrong. We have found that we do have an incredible set of clients who are remarkable, and sharing the success of their lives is something every one responds to favorably.
I never lie, or make something up, because that has negative consequences. It’s best to be forthcoming with some obvious virtues which leaves the questioner with no where to go.
Since 1968, high school, I have worked on properties for rent and sale. My first company was formed in 1972 with a partner. Over the years the business grew. Last year in 2008 my main company A Spring Cleaning won an award for Cleaning Service by the U.S. Local Business Association.
A Spring Cleaning was my own creation. In the 1980s and 1990s we did many things. Dry rot repair, yard work, paint, pressure washing, hauling, and design. In 2000 we changed to a regularly scheduled house cleaning company with the trade name Seattle House Cleaning.
The transition was gradual. A Spring Cleaning got a boost in 2005 with a mention on a national TV show, then a few interviews in the local media, and business was very good. I was also a licensed Real Estate agent with some project properties.
In 2005 I became concerned about the housing market and concentrated on finishing my projects full time. We sold off properties in 2006 then concentrated on the Seattle House Cleaning business. Three years later the cleaning business is good.
Blogging is a part of my daily routine. Most of the time my focus has been on Real Estate and economics. To go along with that we encourage people to be in business. Our cleaning business has branched off into other cleaning businesses and we consult with other business owners.
This site is an extension of what we already do. By sharing what we have learned about the cleaning business we hope you will see it's more than just a bucket and rags that get you the fresh feeling of a clean home. These are just some tricks of the trade and some of the pit falls we experience.
Security and confidentiality are two most important things that comes in mind before hiring a professional cleaners. So it is always good to do some basic investigation before hiring any service provider.