What is the difference between the Cleaning Connection and a cleaning lady or housekeeper?

The Cleaning Connection makes house cleaning easy for you by managing all the details of employment, including filing all required state and federal paperwork and paying taxes. We make sure that we are at your home on the day you expect us to and we manage the quality. We are also bonded and insured, so you are protected against theft, accidental breakage or accidents inside your home.

When you hire an independent cleaning person, there are some important requirements to be aware of. According to Internal Revenue Service Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide, if you hire someone to do household work and if you control not only what work is done, but how it is done, you are considered to have a household employee. If you are going to hire a household employee, it is important to understand your obligations as a household employer. For more information about household employees, see IRS publication 926 at http://www.irs.gov.

If you are a domestic employer and pay your employee in cash or off-the-books, you are liable for unpaid taxes. Furthermore, your employee is not contributing to their Social Security account and may have difficulty establishing credit.

Here is an overview of requirements when you pay a household employee $1,400 or more a year:

• Find out if the person can legally work in the United States and file Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
• Obtain an employer identification number and possibly a state number.

• Withhold 7.65% for social security and Medicare taxes.
• Pay 7.65% for employer's share of social security and Medicare taxes.
• Withhold federal income tax and possibly state tax.
• File federal and possibly state unemployment returns and pay applicable taxes.
• Keep records.

• File and give your employee Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
• File Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment, Taxes, and pay related taxes.
• Review insurance requirements with your insurance agent.

This information is not intended as tax advice. You should consult your tax advisor to determine your actual requirements.

Are you insured and bonded?

Maid Connection maintains a $2,000,000 liability insurance policy and $25,000 bonding on each employee at all times. It is company policy to only consider insurance proposals from A or A+ rated insurance companies.

Must I be present while your crew is cleaning my home?

You do not have to be home while we are cleaning your home. Our clients either provide us with a key to their home (which we keep in our key safe) or are present when the crew arrives. It’s your choice. Rest assured, more than half of our clients provide us a key to keep at our office. Your protection is our number one priority.

How do you secure my keys if I choose to provide them?

Your keys are locked in our key safe at our office. The keys are accessed by our office manager on the morning of your scheduled cleaning and provided to the crew assigned to clean your home. Each key is labeled with a unique number, which is tied to a work order. The key code is disguised on work orders. At the end of each day, all work orders are destroyed and your key is returned to the key safe.

How many people will come to clean my home?

Our team sizes range from two to four people. Our typical team size is three people. Things such as, size of the homes on the route and the distance between jobs determine the appropriate number of associates for each team.

Do I supply my own cleaning supplies and chemicals?

NO! We come prepared with all necessary supplies and equipment to professionally clean your home. We work regularly to develop our methods and product lines to provide the most effective approach to thoroughly clean your home.

Will I always have the same team cleaning my home?

Yes and No. We always make it a priority to send the same Team Leader that knows your home the best. A good team leader is the key to consistency because they can make up for any inadequacies of other team members. We make every effort to keep the same associates on the same teams each week; however, due to our scheduling needs and unavoidable turnover of staff members we cannot guarantee that the entire crew will be the same each visit.

How do I pay for your services?

Payment is due upon completion of service each visit. If you are not home for your cleaning you may leave a check on the kitchen counter for the crew or we can keep a credit card number in our computer system and automatically charge your account after each visit.

What is the cost for your services?

The cost of our services is based on hourly labor rates, per person. Typically, our team will be able to give you a good idea of how long it will take on a regular basis to clean your home. After the first or second visit, the team leader will assign a regular cost to your account and advise you of the same. First time cleanings tend to take longer than regular weekly or bi-weekly cleanings. Many factors can influence the cost of a first time cleaning or even a regular cleaning. Every house is unique and requires individualized pricing. Please contact our office for further pricing information.

Is your work guaranteed?

We guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with our work or we’ll return within twenty-four hours to re-clean any area of concern at no charge. You must notify us by 9:00am the next business day of any concerns to have a crew return.

Should I tip the service providers?

We leave that entirely up to you. Tipping is a powerful way to reward excellent service and encourage future “above and beyond” performance.

What is your cancellation policy?

Should the need arise to cancel a service visit, we require forty-eight hours notice. We require this amount of time so that we may schedule other assignments for the team on the day of your cancellation. If you cancel service within forty-eight hours prior to the scheduled service visit, a $90.00 fee is payable.

Can I hire your service providers?

By accepting our standard policies and procedures, you agree that you will not directly employ any of our associates. Should you violate this policy, a $2,500 fee will be payable to The Maid Connection for the cost of recruiting and training a new employee.