Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?
A. "How is it that the team cleans so much faster than I do, but the job is still thorough?"
Two reasons!
The first is that we are housecleaning professionals. We know what products to use on each surface, have the right supplies ready to go, and accomplish each cleaning in a purposeful (almost choreographed with the rest of the team!) manner that ensures each surface is cleaned without retracing steps. Also by working in teams, certain tasks are also accomplished in less total time- it takes 2 people 25% of the time to make a queen-sized bed as it would 1 person alone.
The second reason is that we're not distracted in our own home! Our cleaners don't get distracted when the home phone rings, or when they come across that unfinished project you've been meaning to get to...
Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
A. Carpe Diem Cleaning is the largest locally based cleaning service in the Triangle. We have learned what clients are looking for and how to train our crews to clean thoroughly and provide excellent customer care. We have found good communication to be the key to successfully meeting our clients needs, so we are very thorough in learning the client's expectations before beginning service and clearly defining what will be included in the service.
Q. What do you like most about your job?
A. We love working with people! We have 2 number one clients- our customers AND our employees. Our service is a win-win for both parties- our customers can relax in their clean homes, and our employees have meaningful work in a company that cares about them.
Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A. "Do you clean baseboards?" Yes! All (reachable) baseboards are cleaned at the Initial Cleaning, and the baseboards in the bathrooms, kitchen, and main traffic areas are done each time. Lower traffic areas (some bedrooms, offices, etc) are cleaned on a rotating basis at least once per month!
"What about the top of my refrigerator?" Yes, we get that, too! Definitely on the first cleaning then at LEAST once per month after that!
"I'm signed up for regular service, but what happens if I need to miss a cleaning?" As we often turn down other work to reserve a scheduled cleaning, we ask for as much notice as possible if you need to change a cleaning (at the very least 2 days notice). Oftentimes we can reschedule the cleaning then resume your normal routine at the next interval, or we can cancel if needed. Of course if there is an unavoidable emergency or sickness in the home, we are glad to cancel or reschedule with no late-notice cancellation charge.
Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
A. In January 2011, we attended an "Edu-Sational" Conference hosted by Cleaning For a Reason in Dallas, Texas. Conference sessions included maid service best practices.
Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.
A. Pricing is based on the job to accommodate each home's specific needs. Factors include surface area, types, and density, frequency of cleaning, and traffic in the home.
We provide two quotes at the consultation- 1 for the initial cleaning, then 1 for the subsequent recurring maintenance cleanings. These quotes are flat rates.
Minimum job size of $80 (maintenance cleaning). Average homes $110-125 for every 2 week cleanings.
