Look past the bottom line
- Get every task and its frequency on paper from each bidder.
- Ask how many labor hours a visit the price assumes.
- Ask which supplies are baked in and which land on the invoice as extras.
- See if floor care and the other periodic jobs are in the quote or priced apart.
What the contract should cover
| Contract term | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Scope | Each area, the tasks in it and how often they happen. It's the part you can hold them to. |
| Schedule | Days and times, plus the holiday plan. |
| Price | The monthly or per-visit charge, which supplies that covers and who approves extra work before it gets billed. |
| Insurance | Paperwork showing liability coverage. If they've got employees, workers compensation too. |
| Keys and codes | Who holds them, and what happens if one goes missing. |
| Inspections | How often someone checks the work, and how missed items get reported and fixed. |
| Length and cancellation | How long it runs and how much warning either side gives before ending it. |
Red flags
- They give you a price without seeing your space or asking about it.
- Nothing in writing, or a written scope with no frequencies on it.
- They stall or dodge on proof of insurance.
- A long term with no exit if the cleaning falls off.