House Cleaning Hit List

Posted by Candice on May 17, 2010 at 20:52 pm

When it comes to outsourcing your house cleaning there are a few key requirements that most customers have when selecting a cleaning provider. What is on your hit list when selecting a house cleaning service?

1. A clean home - a good cleaning service will clean your home better than you would do yourself. If you come home to find that there is still dust on surfaces or dirt on your floors you will be disappointed. However, an important part of receiving the service you want is to communicate clear expectations to the service. In the event that you are not 100% satisfied with the cleaning any good cleaning service would want you to let them know and give them an opportunity to improve on the cleaning. Again, it is important to communicate clearly exactly what did not meet your standards and what is required to get there. Most cleaning companies understand that wowing the customer will lead to repeat business and favorable word of mouth. At Bidmycleaning.com we have a built in review service to ensure that cleaners who do a good job can be rewarded for that with a positive customer review but also that services that do not deliver can be called out for poor service.

2. Reliability – a service that arrives on the appointed day and the appointed time is important. House cleaners that show up as expected are more likely to be invited back for further cleanings or even be put on a regular schedule. At Bidmycleaning.com you select that date and time segment for your cleaning and then our service automatically sends out reminders prior to the appointment.

3. Safety - you want to know that the person or team that will be working in your home have been checked out. Background checks are a standard part of the application process for a service provider to be listed in the Bidmycleaning.com house cleaning service marketplace. Hiring someone from Craigslist or from a flyer posted on your mailbox does not guarantee you that they have been screened. In addition, at Bidmycleaning.com you can choose to only view bids from providers that are insured and bonded.

4. A fair price – you want to pay a price for your maid service that gets you the best service for your budget. At Bidmycleaning.com we make it easy to find out what maid service in your local neighborhood will cost because, based on your requirements, you can can view instant bids from various companies to compare pricing. You definitely don’t want to pay too much but in some cases you probably don’t want to pay too little either. If price is the only factor in your decision you can choose a provider that is not necessarily insured & bonded and may therefore be able to charge a little less. However, if for whatever reason you need or want a provider that is insured & bonded that option is available to you.

Recession Affects Cleaning Habits and Services

Posted by Candice on March 2, 2010 at 07:30 am

Most people would consider having someone come in to clean their home a luxury and when times get tough it is the so-called luxuries which get cut first. For many people who have had their hours cut or lost their job, cleaning their house is now something they must do themselves instead of hiring a cleaning service – in fact a survey done in 2009 by the SDA puts this at around 60%. An even higher percentage of respondents, 78% said that economic conditions have influenced their cleaning habits which changes like buying fewer cleaning products or buying less expensive cleaning products. Another group say that they began to make their own cleaning products at home while others say they are cleaning less often.

These days everyone is looking for ways to save some money or get the most value for what they spend. Here are some ways to do just that:

1. Buy in bulk – the initial cost is usually higher but the product will last longer and cost less over the long run
2. Choose multi-purpose cleaning products – there is no need to have a tile cleaner, shower cleaner, mirror cleaner when the same products is often effective at cleaning multiple types of surfaces.
3. Choose concentrated products – these can often be used in much smaller quantities or even diluted to make them stretch further.
4. Choose refillable products – don’t pay for the cost of packaging each time you purchase a product.
5. Research the most effective product – with the ready availability of customer reviews these days you really can make sure you are buying the most effective cleaning product.

Effectiveness was the most important factor for consumers when it comes to purchasing cleaning products with 87% of people ranking this highly. After effectiveness, cost and convenience are most important.

A summary of the survey results will be available on SDA’s Web site at www.cleaning101.com/newsroom.

Where House Cleaning Services Fail

Posted by Candice on November 5, 2009 at 23:22 pm

Does your house cleaner make you want to tear you hair out? A recent survey of CHECKBOOK.org subscribers revealed the various complaints people have with house cleaning services. Consumers’ CHECKBOOK is an independent, nonprofit consumer organization founded in 1974 with the purpose of providing information to help consumers get high quality services and products at the best possible prices.

The top gripes customers have with their cleaning service were identified.

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Phoenix House Cleaning Update

Posted by Candice on October 21, 2009 at 14:39 pm

Bidmycleaning.com is an online marketplace for residential cleaning service offering instant bids tailored to meet your needs based on the size and condition of your home in Phoenix, Arizona.

All house cleaning, window cleaning and carpet cleaning services are offered throughout the greater Phoenix area.

AM Charitable Cleaning Service, LLC

AM Charitable Cleaning Service donate 15% of all profits to charity, non-profit organizations and low income families. This is a family owned and operated business whose mission is to lend a helping hand to give you the clean house or clean, professional looking business you deserve.

A customer comment on one of the AM staff is very complementary:

“Mariel Black is a wonderful worker. Always punctual, has a cheerful manner and is a joy to have her around. She works hard and leaves my home sparkling clean. I don’t need to check on her, she does a great job. I am totally satisfied with her work. Thank you for sending her my way!”

Whether you need standard housekeeping cleaning for regular maintenance or a deep cleaning for less frequent cleanings or jobs requiring a little more elbow grease our providers will be able to take care of your needs. We also provide bids on annual cleanings for a once a year spring cleaning or holiday cleanings. For homeowners or renters on the move, getting bids and finding a provider for a move out cleaning or move in cleaning for when you leave your rental apartment or buy a new home.

It really is very easy to get bids from cleaning service providers in your area just start by entering your zip code and a few details about your home and you can instantly view prices for cleanings based on your particular needs. Once you find a local Phoenix provider you can go ahead and schedule online using that provider’s updated calendar showing their availability.

Photo Credit: Kevin Dooley on Flickr

Bidmycleaning’s Friday Eco-Friendly Web Find: Tonic.com

Posted by Candice on October 2, 2009 at 14:25 pm

Billed as “The place where good lives – good news, good style, and good deeds…” Tonic.com‘s mission is to make it easy for people to do good things. To be narrow it down a little look to the definition of Tonic which is “anything morally, mentally, or physically inspiring”.

The good is categorized as follows: us / world / business / social responsibility/ technology / science / entertainment / life & style and travel. A little bit of serious business mixed in with some fun! There is a handy quick navigation list at the bottom of the page with sub-categories.
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New Demographic for Maid Service

Posted by Candice on September 28, 2009 at 22:29 pm

When one thinks of the typical demographic for a maid service it would probably be a dual income household with a working mother or perhaps a Single Professional. It seems however, that the younger under-25, or Generation-Y, demographic has come to appreciate the benefits of regular housekeeping help and are happy to pay for it.

It is becoming more common for students to pay someone to keep their dorm room clean. It is a cost that can be shared among roommates. It is common for one roommate to end up carrying the load when it comes to keeping the shared space clean and so it may be an easier discussion to say I think we need to hire a housekeeper to help us stay on top of the cleaning than to say “you need to clean up more”. Parents are often willing to lend a hand with an expense like this because they feel it will free up more time for working and ensure a sanitary living environment.

For recent college grads who may not go out much and spend more time at home cooking and having friends over, the cost of a maid service is seen as an important part of ensuring a comfortable living space. They would rather splurge on this than another handbag or pair of shoes. Again, in the situations, a parent may have put down the security deposit for the apartment and hiring a cleaning service increases the likelihood they will get that back in the end.

When it comes to freeing up some time or just making sure your home is as comfortable as it can be for you maid service is beneficial for anyone.

BidMyCleaning.com Launches Gift Certificates

Posted by Candice on December 11, 2008 at 01:17 am

What to get for that difficult-to-buy-for person who has everything?  Time is something we all need more of and a gift certificate for house cleaning services from BidMyCleaning.com is the ideal “Take a break – relax or do something fun!” gift.  Friends, family members and loved ones will be more than happy to receive a gift certificate in these difficult financial times, and even happier to use a gift certificate from BidMyCleaning.com to take some of the load off their already jam-packed to-do lists.

With only 13 shopping days left until Christmas, you may not have the time to hit the stores in search of the perfect gift or maybe you just aren’t in the mood for the parking headaches and fighting the crowds!  Our gift certificates are the gift you can shop for in your PJs.  All you need to go is go online and in three easy steps you can be crossing another person of your gift shopping list.  Go to http://www.bidmycleaning.com/Gift-Certificate now and see for yourself how quick and easy it is!

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Right Now On The Net

Posted by Candice on August 29, 2008 at 00:40 am

You’ve probably seen in a movie or on a TV show that moment when a recording artist hears their song on the radio for the first time. Well today the BidMyCleaning team got a glimpse into what that might feel like! Our website was featured on the local ABC News affiliate in Philadelphia – WPVI-TV. Reporter Erin O’Hearn of the Action News Team introduced the 30 second segment saying that BidMyCleaning is the eBay of cleaning services.

Are we the eBay of cleaning services? We are like eBay in that we provide a marketplace for buyers (in this case people looking for cleaning services) and sellers (independent cleaners and cleaning companies) to find each other and transact. Like eBay we provide customers who have used one of our cleaning services with tools to rate that service and write reviews. We also provide a complete online platform for the entire process from finding a provider to scheduling the service and finally paying for the service using a credit card or PayPal. There is simply no easier way to find a maid service, window cleaners or carpet cleaners.

Watch the segment on ABC News - click here.