F.A.Q.
Why choose Sparkleaning?
In addition to our low costs -- a result of nearly zero overhead -- we offer all the protection of a large company. Did you know that if you have an independent person clean your house, and specify how the work is done, you are considered a household employer.
According to the IRS, if you pay someone $1400.00 or more, per year, you may be liable for unpaid taxes. If you happen to have a household employer there are some ways you can protect yourself -- other than using our services!
- File form I-9, which can be found online or at any office store. This is used to verify the employee can legally work in the United States.
- Obtain an employee identification number -- this can be done through the IRS website
- Withhold medicare and social security taxes.
- Withhold federal income tax and, if applicable, state tax.
- File unemployment returns and pay taxes, if applicable.
- File form W-2, to report wages and taxes
- File Schedule H, or form 1040, to cover household employment and pay applicable taxes
- Possibly cover yourself with insurance.
By hiring Sparkleaning, we not only make your life easier, by taking care of household chores, we help with the additional stress of literally running your own business and getting in trouble with the dreaded tax-man.
Why do I have to get an estimate?
We can clean your home without an estimate, however, we highly recommend you get an estimate prior to the initial cleaning. By giving us the opportunity to give you an estimate, we can help you and your family prepare for how long we'll be there, it helps us with scheduling and logistics, and we know what products are necessary to get your home the way you like it.
During the initial estimate, we also go over things you may or may not be particular about, this way we can get it cleaned just the way you like it. It also lets us set a goal of how long we will be in your home. We do not charge more than this initial estimate. For future cleanings, if we find it takes longer to clean your home, for unforeseen reasons, we may adjust the price. If we come to your home and we over-estimated the time it would take, we still only charge for the time we were there! Getting an estimate can actually save you money.
Will the same people clean my house every time?
We try our hardest to have the same cleaners in your house each time. If someone is no longer working with us, or in the case of an extreme emergency you may see a new cleaner in your home. However, we clean in teams of two, so it is extremely unlikely you will see two new faces at once.
Occasionally we do on-site training -- in this case you will see one new person working, with one or two of the cleaners you are accustomed to. Don't worry, you won't be charged for the extra person.
How long does an estimate take?
An estimate usually takes no longer than 10 minutes. Sometimes we talk about other things to get to know eachother, which may extend our visit. We enjoy this because it makes you feel more comfortable knowing the people in your home aren't complete strangers anymore.
Do I have to be home when you clean?
Some of our clients prefer to be home. Others feel that they get in our way and love the feeling of coming home to a freshly cleaned home. The choice is completely up to you.
Can I add/change the type of cleaning I get?
Absolutely, if you would like a deep-cleaning, or you no longer need the inside of your stove done, just try to give us 24-hours notice, so that we can recalculate our price.
What if I need to cancel a cleaning?
Life happens -- If you need to cancel a cleaning, please just give us at least 24 hours notice, so that we can reschedule a cleaning with you, at your earliest convenience.
Do I pay ahead or at each cleaning?
You can pay at the end of each cleaning, or you can book us in advance. If you are a business, we can work out terms with you, usually 5/10 net 30.
How long does a cleaning take?
This depends. Depending on the package you order, how your home is kept, how big it is, etc. By getting an estimate we can calculate how long a cleaning will take to give you a very good idea of how long we will be in your home. Our estimates are usually correct to within 15 minutes.
What if I forget about my cleaning that day?
If you forget about a cleaning, most of the time it's not a problem. We call the day before to confirm our appointment and call when we're en route to let you know we're coming. If you happen to forget, most likely you will remember and it won't be a problem. If something is going on and we need to leave, we can reschedule at your convenience.
Do I need to disable the alarm, for Sparkleaning?
If you will not be present to allow Sparkleaning into your home, please either disable the alarm or give us an access key, so we don't create any problems.
What do you prefer we do with our pets, during a cleaning?
If you normally keep your pet in a cage while company is over, feel free to do that. We do not expect you to buy a container for your pet, just to accomodate us. Remember, we do offer 100% enviromentally sound cleaning products, if that's one of your concerns.
What about my valuables?
If you have any valuables or family heirlooms, please keep them in a safe place. If you put something away in a drawer, we understand that is not to be touched, unless otherwise noted. Keep in mind, we do carry insurance, in the event something gets broken.
Do I need to supply you with cleaning products?
We supply all of our cleaning products. If you have a preference and would like to supply us with something to use or a special tool for getting a certain hard-to-reach spot, we would be more than willing to use whatever you have.
Is there anything I have to do before you get here?
There's nothing you have to do, but to make our job easier and allow us to work on what we need to, we do request the following:
- Remove all contents from sink
- Remove all miscellaneous items from the floor
- Move items which are to be left alone out of the way
- Leave all of the products which you would like us to use near the entrance
If you will not be home when we are finished, please leave your payment with us on the counter, unless we arrange another method of payment.