When you are looking to hire a window cleaning company for your home, association, retirement community or other residential buildings, there are a number of questions you will want to ask first. It’s important to do your due diligence, so you can hire window cleaner that is perfect for your job.
Companies come and go in the contracting business. In addition to finding the right questions to ask cleaning service, you will also want to take the time to do some online research. Reading online reviews can give you a lot of insights into the professionalism of the cleaning company and their staff.
What to Look for in a Window Cleaner?
As you start to search for the right window cleaner, you will find a lot of choices out in the marketplace. Everyone can have a web site and social media presence, so that doesn’t help you truly distinguish the good from the not so good candidates.
Window cleaning jobs require experience and expertise if you want to be sure that you are getting things done right. They can also be physically challenging, especially if you have more than one level to your home or are in a multi-story high rise. It’s critical that you select an experienced company so that you minimize the risk associated with your job.
What Should You Expect from a Window Cleaner?
If you are hiring a professional window cleaning service, you want to know they fully understand the job you are hiring them to do. Ideally, they will start with an initial consultation so they can scope out the work and know what they can expect to do on site. This consultation will also let them put together an accurate quote and project timeline.
It will also let them fully assess and address any safety issues, and decide on the tools necessary for the job. When the work is complete, they should let you know if there are any issues with the windows you need to be aware of. They should also give you a follow up call a couple of days after the cleaning job to make sure you are completely satisfied with the work they did.
What Services Do You Offer?
It’s important to ask the window cleaning company what services they are offering. When you are clear on this, it helps both the customer and the service provider. Find out if they do both interior and exterior window cleaning. You’ll want to know if they clean the window tracks, and if the screens can be cleaned too.
Asking about the equipment they use can also give you insights into the company you are interviewing. The more you go into detail, the more you will be able to be sure that you are making the right choice.
Are They Licensed?
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the fly by night operators from the professional firms. One of the ways you can check the credentials of a potential contractor is to find out if they are fully licensed in your state. If they don’t have license or can not get one, that tells you there is something that is not right.
Another way you can verify their licensing is to check with the contractor licensing board in your state. Each state has an agency that is responsible for issuing licenses. You might want to look online, because the exact agency name can be different in each state. If you contact them they will be able to tell you if your window cleaning company is licensed and in good standing, and when the license was issued.
How Many Years Have They Been in Business?
In general, you can feel more comfortable hiring a window cleaning company that has been in business for a while and successfully serving clients in your area. Experience and expertise builds up over time, so a company with significant time in business is more likely to know the ropes.
When they have proven experience, they are more likely to understand how to handle any challenges or issues that come up with different window cleaning jobs. Knowing this information can give you peace of mind that you are hiring a qualified contractor.
How Do You Quote a House for Window Cleaning?
While everyone would like to get a great price for the work they need to have done, it’s far more important to know that your potential service provider is putting together a carefully considered estimate. Asking how they quote a house will tell you a lot about the type of company they are.
Ideally, you will want to hire a window cleaning company that takes the time to come out and survey your job. At your meeting, you will be able to get a good personal sense as to who they are. You will want to see that they pay attention to detail, and ask knowledgeable questions.
Do They Carry Full Insurance Coverage?
It is absolutely critical that the company you hire for your window cleaning project has full insurance coverage. If they don’t carry the right coverage and policies, you could be liable if someone is injured while they are working on your home. You want to make sure they have the insurance that is necessary to protect you, and to cover themselves.
It’s not enough to just ask about insurance. You will also want to get evidence of the policies and coverage that is in place. This due diligence is necessary to shield you from costly potential lawsuits and future financial obligations. You want to make sure they have comprehensive coverage for potential property damage, liability and worker’s compensation.
Are Employees Given Ongoing Training on Safety?
One of the best ways to minimize potential accidents or problems on your job is to only work with reputable companies that have a strong safety training program in place. Window washing jobs can be dangerous, especially if they involve working from heights where falls are possible.
It pays to find out if the window cleaning company you are thinking of hiring treats safety as a true priority. Ask their representative to talk you through the training they provide, and the steps they take to ensure employee safety.
Will They Provide You with a List of References You Can Check?
The window cleaning company should be willing to provide you with a list of references for clients they have done similar work for before. When you talk to the references, you’ll get a great sense for their satisfaction level and you will also get some tips on any specific areas of concern. It’s helpful to come up with a list of questions to ask cleaning service references before you call.
Another way to check out a window cleaning company is to invest some time doing research into their online reviews. Search sites can direct you to reviews on the company, and you can also find them on specialized review sites.
Do They Conduct Background Checks on Employees?
When you open up your home to a contractor and their employees, you want to have peace of mind knowing that they are people you can trust. Some of the companies operating in the marketplace will try to cut corners, and you don’t want to work with contractors like that.
Another employee related question to ask is how long the employees who are coming to your home have been on the job. If you are dealing with a great local company, you will find that there employees have been there for a while and are happy with the work that they do.
What Are the Rules for Window Cleaners?
Although OSHA doesn’t have specific regulations and safety standards that apply to window cleaners, they do have established standards for using swinging scaffolds and powered platforms. Those mechanisms may be used for high-rise or other complex window cleaning jobs.
At the state level, there may be regulations that specifically govern window cleaning. These standards often address safety issues, specifically related to the height of the work being done and the safety precautions and safety equipment that must be used. Asking your potential contractor to walk you through the applicable rules will be a good test of their knowledge and commitment to safety.
Do You Offer a Satisfaction Guarantee?
When you are doing a window cleaning project, unexpected things can always come up. It’s important to know whether your window cleaning company will take the time to assure you are satisfied with the job they do.
Find out if they offer a satisfaction guarantee. If they do, it’s a good sign that they truly believe in the quality of work that they do. You might also check online reviews for instances of customers who were taken care of under this guarantee.
When you are hiring a window cleaning company to work on your home, you want to make sure that you are selecting a company that you can trust. It’s important to do your due diligence before you make a final decision, and ask informed questions so you know you are making the right choice. If you want to get a free estimate from a window cleaning company that will get the job done right, give us a call at (773) 227-4522 or email us today at anchors@shineongroup.com.
