How to Select A Cleaning Company      I'm sure you've probably heard someone speak of a bad experience they've had with a cleaning company or, maybe you've had the experience yourself. If you'll follow the guidelines below, you can reduce the chance you'll have a bad experience with a cleaning company.      The first thing most people want to know is whether they can afford the service unless they're responding to a coupon. When you ask for a quote or call about a coupon offer, be sure that everything you want done is included in the quoted price. For instance, some companies charge extra to vacuum, remove spots, treat heavily soiled areas, or move furniture. Once you're satisfied that the price fits your budget, you'll want to ask additional questions to determine if the company is one you want to work for you. I consider the following to be "must ask" questions. How long have you been in business? (About 30% of the cleaners in the yellow pages are out of business by the time the new phone book comes out.) Can your service people show me a copy of a Certificate of Insurance to verify your liability insurance and Workmans Compensation coverage? (Lack of Workmans Compensation insurance could expose you to a suit if a service person is injured while on your property.) Do you work by appointment and, if so, do you give a discount if you're not on time? Will the service person look at my job before work begins and tell me about any problem areas that might not meet my expectations? What guarantees do you offer on your work and can I get a written copy? How long do you think it will take to accomplish the job? How long will I have to keep traffic off the floors or upholstery? Can you provide 5 references that I may contact regarding your service? (You may not want to call all 5 but you should be able to reach 2 right away and I would encourage you to take the time to make at least 2 contacts.) After you have satisfactory answers to these questions, take the time to call the Better Business Bureau and ask if the business has had any complaints filed against it. If there are none, you should feel fairly confident that the company you selected will satisfy your requirements. 919-369-5560