Resources / Commercial Cleaning Advice
How to compare commercial cleaning proposals
Before comparing the prices in two cleaning proposals, check whether they cover the same work. A useful proposal lets you see the areas included, the tasks to be performed, their frequency and what is priced separately.
At Aqua, we build the proposal from the walkthrough and our conversation with you. These are the details we suggest reviewing when you have proposals in front of you.
Match the areas and tasks
Start with the rooms and spaces covered, then look at the tasks within them. Does the wording address the details that matter in your facility?
When taking over offices, we have found overlooked dusting, buildup around fixtures, high dusting, floor edges, and areas under or around trash cans. Discussing these details makes it easier to agree on what thorough cleaning should include.
Clarify instructions around belongings and equipment too. If something needs to be moved—or left untouched—both parties should understand that arrangement.
Separate visit frequency from task frequency
How often the cleaners attend and how often a particular task is done are two different things. A periodic task needs an agreed schedule of its own.
On one account, for example, high dusting was scheduled monthly. That detail would be easy to miss in a proposal that listed only the number of weekly visits. Look for the frequency of the tasks that matter to you, as well as the overall service schedule.
If the proposed schedules differ, our office-cleaning frequency guide can help you consider how each one fits the building’s use.
Identify work outside the recurring price
We usually price periodic work separately and identify it in the proposal. You should be able to see what the regular price covers and which additional services carry a separate charge.
If you expect stripping and waxing or another periodic floor service, check that it is specifically addressed. A general reference to floor cleaning may not answer that question.
For work requiring the area to be cleared, agree on the preparation responsibilities as well. Our cleaning-estimate guide explains how preparation can affect labor and price.
Clarify supplies and access
Some facilities prefer to purchase their own paper products, receptacles or disinfectants. Others want help with those arrangements. Check who is responsible for the supplies discussed during your walkthrough and whether any associated cost is included.
Nighttime access also needs to be agreed: how the team will enter, when it can begin and how the building will be secured afterward. Those instructions are specific to the facility.
Ask who handles concerns
Know whom you can contact if something is missed or expectations need clarification. With Aqua, you speak directly with the owner. We listen, investigate and correct mistakes, or explain our findings when the concern has another cause.
Before deciding, make sure you can answer: What is included? How often is it done? What is separate? Who handles supplies and other agreed responsibilities? Clear answers make the prices easier to compare.
Our office cleaning page explains how the owner checks the work and handles concerns directly.