The calm in our neighborhood is about to end with the start of school in a few weeks.  Our fast-paced lifestyles and hectic schedules typically push our housecleaning chores to professionals, but before picking up the phone to schedule an appointment with a service, it’s important to know whom you are letting into your home.

Bonding:  Make sure the company is bonded for its clientele. Should a theft occur, you need to be protected. Some companies, if they are bonded at all, protect only themselves, not the consumer. 

Insurance: Make sure the company is insured. If a maid slips and falls while cleaning the shower, your home owner's policy might not cover the incident.

References: Make sure the company is reliable. Ask for references and a work history.

Screening and hiring: Ask if employees' references are checked and if their residence status is confirmed. Some established company policies include screening for honesty and dependability.

Cleaning products and equipment: Some independent housekeepers as well as some services expect you to supply all cleaning products and equipment. Check out what's included with your house cleaning.

Guarantee: Make sure the service is backed by a written satisfaction guarantee.

Taxes: Make sure you don't break any tax laws. If you pay a housekeeper or maid a certain amount per year, the federal law requires you to pay social security and other taxes on that person. However, some states may require you to withhold state taxes on payments smaller than $1,000. Most maid service companies withhold taxes for their employees, but check to make sure. For more information about household employee taxes, call the Internal Revenue Service. 

The Maids of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex have provided the following tips.  To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at www.themaidsdallas.com

Our residential cleaning services are based on The Maids’ unique cleaning regimen, our 22-Step Healthy Touch® Deep Cleaning System. We use only environmentally preferred cleaning supplies and state-of-the-art equipment to remove more dust, dirt and other allergens than conventional home cleaning practices.