Having a clean house has always been a point of pride.

For some, though, the days of doing all that work yourself are long gone.

They prefer to pull out the cash rather than the mop.

The end result, says Ed Roth of Merry Maids in New City, is worth it.

"They come home at night, it's nice, it's done," Roth says. "They open the door. It smells good. It looks good."

After all, working parents with a house full of active kids don't always have time to polish those Little League trophies crowding the shelves.

A quick skim through the phone directory yields plenty of options for hiring a cleaner.

Then, there are those recommendations for friends of friends who make kitchen floors simply shine.

But hiring a house cleaner — someone who will have access to your home and your possessions, often while you're not home — is not a casual decision.

Keeping a few important points in mind, though, can keep the search for a cleaner from becoming a chore.

The first decision is the most basic: whether to go through a company or hire an individual.

Lenny Rubin, who with David Behler owns the Molly Maid franchise based in Bedford Hills, says there's a clear advantage in going through an agency.

"All our employees are bonded, insured," Rubin says. "We're responsible for payroll and taxes."

When looking for help outside an agency or independent contractor, take care to make sure that you're following all the rules, says Jean Genovese, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Labor.

"People who are considering doing this ought to look at our Web site," Genovese says.

The New York labor department oversees issues related to the minimum wage and unemployment insurance tax for domestic employees. Genovese reminds that other agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, are involved in this work relationship. Among the issues to be considered are federal taxes, social security, workers' compensation and insurance.

"Every individual situation is different, and that's why people need to check their individual situation," Genovese adds.

In addition to financial matters, the character of a person hired to work in a home is also a concern.

Roth, who owns the Merry Maids franchise in Rockland County, says the company does a lot of that work for you. Criminal, motor vehicle and Social Security checks are made, and drug testing is completed on all of the company's employees.

"We've done, I think, a pretty good job of (screening) who's going to be in your home before they arrive," Roth says.

When customers hire a cleaner, the relationship usually begins with a phone call. That, most often, leads to a visit during which a company representative assesses the home and the homeowner's needs in order to set up a schedule and fee.

Determining that fee is not always straightforward; a bigger house won't necessarily cost more money to clean.

It comes down to the décor.

"Some of the homes today are pretty barren," Roth, of Merry Maids, says. "A big factor is — I call it 'the knickknack factor' — it's clutter."

Rubin, of Molly Maid, agrees that a quote can't be made without details.

A condominium complex provides the perfect example, he says.

"There could be 20 units the same, but every one is different inside," Rubin says.

When pressed, Rubin will give a ballpark figure. Take a three- or four-bedroom house with two-and-a-half baths, one that where four or five people (but no pets) live. To clean that home twice a month might cost $100 to $140 per visit.

What's done on each visit is negotiable. Most companies do routine cleaning, from vacuuming to dusting, washing floors to scouring toilets. Other services, such as cleaning a refrigerator's interior or making beds and doing laundry, can be arranged.

As in any job, things aren't always guaranteed to run smoothly. When working with an agency, there is often more recourse, though.

Say a figurine is broken during a dusting.

"None of us have gone through life without breaking things," Roth, of Merry Maids, says.

He's heard stories of cleaners breaking an item and turning the chipped side to the wall, hoping the homeowner won't notice.

That's not how Merry Maids does business.

"We're going to replace that item," he says. "We're going to have it on the kitchen table with a note, and we'll call that evening."

Agencies usually send teams of two cleaners who use company cars and bring their own equipment. Visits are scheduled on a regular basis, and if one of the regular cleaners is ill or unavailable, the agency will substitute someone else. There's no need to re-schedule.

As with all business relationships, communication is important.

And that communication should be a priority for both the customer and the company, says Robin Murphy, an owner of the regional office of Maid Brigade in Pleasantville.

"Forget what our customers ask us," Murphy says. "We want to be sure what we ask them."

She likes to know if people don't want certain things touched, or if they are extra particular about certain rooms or objects.

As with many companies, the teams from Maid Brigade bring their own products.

"We are committed to using safe, environmentally friendly products," Murphy says.

Joanne Masyr has been using the services of Maid Brigade for eight years. She has a team come to her Katonah home each week and feels secure with her choice.

"I like somebody who's insured or bonded," she says.

Masyr says going to an agency has alleviated past experiences she had with individual cleaners.

"You're never stuck with 'Oh, my house is a mess and she's not coming,'" Masyr says.

Sometimes, an individual cleaner's personal life interferes with the job.

"It's always something," Masyr says. "I don't want to get involved in someone's life."

Masyr says communication at the start of the cleaning service is best.

"You have to be very specific," Masyr says. "Never assume they're going to clean out the coffee maker."

Masyr feels she gets more than just a clean house when the team from Maid Brigade leaves.

"It makes life a lot easier," she says. "You're paying for peace of mind."


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