Vancouver has hundreds of cleaning services — from solo cleaners advertising on Facebook Marketplace to fully insured professional companies. Knowing how to evaluate them is the difference between trusting the right person in your home and having a bad (or dangerous) experience. This guide gives you the framework to choose confidently.
The 6 Things That Matter Most
1. Background Checks — The Non-Negotiable
You're letting someone into your home, often unsupervised. The most important question to ask any cleaning service: do your cleaners undergo criminal background checks?
A reputable company will say yes, run them through a third-party verification service, and be able to tell you what it covers. A solo cleaner may say "I'm trustworthy" — which is not the same thing. Background checks typically take 3–5 business days and cost the company money. If a service skips this step, ask yourself why.
2. Liability Insurance
Accidents happen. A cleaner knocks over an irreplaceable item, slips and is injured, or damages a surface. Without liability insurance, you may be responsible. Professional cleaning companies in BC should carry general liability insurance of at least $1M — better services carry $5M.
Ask: "Do you carry liability insurance, and can you provide a certificate of coverage?"
3. WorkSafeBC Coverage
This is specific to BC. Under BC law, if a worker is injured at your property and is not covered by WorkSafeBC, you (the homeowner) could be liable for their medical costs and lost income. Professional cleaning companies should have WorkSafeBC coverage for all their workers.
Individual freelance cleaners often do not have this coverage. It's a meaningful legal protection that most homeowners don't know to ask about.
4. Transparent Pricing — Before You Give Personal Information
The most trustworthy cleaning companies show you their pricing upfront — before asking for your email, phone number, or address. If a company requires you to request a quote and wait for a callback before you can see any price, they're obscuring their pricing structure.
Instant online pricing is now the standard for professional BC cleaning services. If you have to call to get a price, that's a yellow flag.
5. What's Actually Included
Read the service description carefully. Many "standard clean" prices exclude the oven interior, fridge interior, laundry, dishes, and exterior windows. A $120 clean that excludes four major areas may cost more in add-ons than a $170 all-inclusive service.
6. Reviews and Verification
Google reviews are the most reliable public signal. Look for:
- 4.7+ overall rating
- 100+ reviews (enough to average out individual variance)
- Recent reviews (posted within the last 3–6 months)
- Responses from the business (shows they're engaged and accountable)
Be cautious of services with a handful of 5-star reviews and nothing else — these are easy to manufacture.
Red Flags to Avoid
- No website or only a Facebook page
- Cash-only payment
- Refuses to provide proof of insurance
- No fixed pricing — "we'll see when we get there"
- No cancellation policy
- No way to contact them after booking except phone
Questions to Ask Before Booking
- Are your cleaners background checked? What does the check cover?
- Do you carry liability insurance? What's the coverage amount?
- Are your workers covered by WorkSafeBC?
- What exactly is included in the price I'm seeing?
- What's your cancellation policy?
- What happens if I'm not happy with the clean?
Why Maidless Meets Every Standard
Maidless was built specifically to address these concerns. Every cleaner is background-checked, identity-verified, and interviewed in person. We carry $5M in liability insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage on every job. Pricing is transparent before you give us any personal information. And every booking is backed by a 100% Happiness Guarantee. Book at maidless.ca.