Is my Maid insured, bonded and licensed?
By Boston Maids In Uncategorized On February 25, 2014
People hire professional cleaners for many reasons. The number one reason is to save time in their very busy lives. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the daily activities and choose between family and personal time or house cleaning. Hiring a good reliable home cleaning service can bring you back some of that time. Cleaning services are no longer a luxury that only some can afford. It has become a necessity to keep up with the pace and busy life style that we all live nowadays
Photo Credit: gstatic
You want to hire a cleaning service to clean your house in Boston, what are the things you should know first?
What you need to know before turning over the keys to your home before you hire individuals or a cleaning service. Most people understand that it is important to work with a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, but many don’t know what it really means. Let’s reviewthese three components and why it is so important for a contractor to possess these qualities…very simple; they provide the homeowner with protection and peace of mind.
In order to be licensed, a state agency must legally recognize your business as an entity. What most homeowners do not realize is that there are multiple licenses one must receive in order to be considered a fully licensed contractor. Most, if not every business, is required to be licensed with the city and state for tax purpose. You’re probably thinking “It is not my problem if they pay taxes or not, what do I care?” The reason this is important is because it indicates whether or not the company is legitimate and stable. For example, if your maid/house cleaner is indebted to the IRS for $300,000 yet are offering you some sort of warranty, chances are that warranty is not going to be honored. The company should have no problem showing you a copy of this tax privilege, and any other documentation that your state may require.Typically, when you do your contractor search, in addition to seeing that they are currently licensed, you can also see if they have ever had to pay out of their recovery fund.
What does “Bonded” mean?Bonding is another form of protection for the homeowner. Essentially, bonding gives homeowners the opportunity to be reimbursed for poor workmanship or non-performance by a licensed contractor.
What does it mean to be “Insured?”
Insurance for contractors works much like car insurance…if there is an accident the contractor will have the money from an insurance company to fix it. What is important to know is that just because a contractor says they are insured doesn’t mean they have every type of insurance they should, and/or proper limits. Different businesses need different insurance, but typically a maid servicer should have liability, auto and workers’ compensation. Liability insurance can reward money for damages caused by the maid service. Workers’ compensation covers employee injuries so that neither the homeowner nor their own personal insurance has to. Finally, auto insurance is one of the most commonly overlooked insurance policies a contractor should have; however if a maidr drives the car into your home, you will be glad the car was insured
In more simple words:
The question to ask when hiring any contractor is for the Liability and Worker’s compensation insurance. Pleased find attached copy of our certificate of insurance. This insurance is very expensive as employees are exposed to trips and falls. Our price reflects the cost of carrying these two types of insurance. When you call a Company and the company is sending employees to perform any service, Tthe company should be able to provide proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Here is what each term means. I hope this helps. : )
Bonding
Bonding protects the consumer if the contractor fails to complete a job, doesn’t pay for permits, or fails to meet other financial obligations, such as paying for supplies or subcontractors or covering damage that workers cause to your property.
Liability Insurance
Protects the consumer if the employee damages or breaks something while in customers premises
Workers Compensation
It protects the consumer from an employee being injured while in customer’s promises. Any hospital bills are covered by the company and not the consumer
In conclusion, being “licensed, bonded, and insured” is more important than you think. Be careful in your selection process and ask your potential maid service for proof. In fact, ask as many questions as you can…your protection and peace of mind depend on it.