Reviews do not show the whole operation
A five-star rating can reflect a handful of jobs, while one angry review can come from a misunderstanding. Read for patterns, not perfection. Repeated comments about missed appointments, poor communication or billing surprises matter more than a single complaint.
Look at the working system
Ask who supervises cleaners, how inspections are recorded and how replacement staff are trained. Request a sample checklist or quality report. A company does not need fancy software, but it should be able to explain how it knows the work was completed.
Check the proposal carefully
Good proposals define tasks, frequency, exclusions, supplies, service hours and pricing. Generic one-page quotes make it difficult to hold either side accountable. The proposal should match what the representative observed during the walkthrough.
Use references well
If references are available, ask specific questions. Was the crew consistent? Did managers respond when something went wrong? Were price changes explained? Would the customer hire them again? Specific questions get more useful answers than asking whether the company is good.