Write down what you need before comparing vendors
Identify the rooms, cleaning tasks, frequencies, building hours, supplies, and problems you want corrected. Include periodic floor or carpet work separately. An identical starting scope makes proposals easier to compare and reduces assumptions on both sides.
Use the walkthrough to test understanding
Ask the provider to explain how access, occupancy, restrooms, surfaces, and storage affect the plan. A useful proposal should reflect the actual building. Request clarification when a recommendation is vague or a task appears under both recurring and optional work.
Ask for relevant evidence
Review requested insurance documentation with the appropriate insurance contact and ask which site training is relevant. References, when available and authorized, should relate to comparable work. Do not treat a logo, general badge, or stock image as proof of a specific qualification.
Agree on supervision and communication
Identify the service contact, planned inspections, process for a missed task, and method for approving changes. If records or Portal access are offered, ask what the account will actually include. A feature list is less useful than knowing who responds and what information will be available.
Review price and startup together
Compare included labor or visit assumptions, supplies, specialty work, payment terms, and contract provisions. Confirm the startup checklist and the first review date. A lower price may reflect a different scope; clarify the difference before awarding the contract.