When singer Amy Grant made the comment, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” she was emphasizing the fact that, in as little as seven seconds, the human brain can make all kinds of subtle assumptions.

While the common expression is primarily used to describe how humans present themselves at first-time meetings, it can also be used to describe what potential customers see the first time they lay eyes on your business.

Periodically, it’s a good idea to go outside, walk around your building, and take inventory of dirt, mold, and clutter.

Because you’re at your business nearly every day, you may not notice that mud from recent downpours has splattered along your foundation. You may not have noticed that your windows are covered with dead insects or that your beautiful flowering trees have dropped dead petals on your roof or that your gutters are cracking, moldy, and leaning.

But you can bet your customers will notice.

And if it gets dirty enough, it may turn off some customers, and others might think your business is no longer open given the state of your building.

That’s why it’s a good idea to engage the services of an exterior cleaning company.

But do you know what services you need? Do you know how often you should have various components of your building cleaned? Would you even know where to start?

Following these guidelines will help you find the right exterior cleaning service to have your building spruced up in no time.

Getting Started

Once your quick look around the building has confirmed that exterior services are probably necessary, you should gather this information as well:

• The number of windows: Some exterior window washing companies charge by the pane, which could cost you a pretty penny if your building is comprised mostly of windows.
• An estimate of dirty buildup: If the exterior of your building hasn’t been cleaned in recent memory, you may not be able to determine how many years it’s been since it was cleaned. But you can walk around with a cloth to see how caked on the dirt is. The harder it is to scrub off, the longer the debris has been resting on the surfaces.
• An inventory of surface types: Finally, it’s a good idea to jot down all the types of building materials and roofing tiles on your facility. Many buildings can have a variety of surfaces from windows to brick to vinyl or stucco siding. Roofs can be made out of everything from asphalt to wood.

Once you have made this preliminary assessment, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Finding an Exterior Cleaning Service

If you belong to any number of local business groups, finding a service might be as easy as asking a trusted fellow business owner for a reference. Even in the days of internet searches, word-of-mouth is still a great way to find professional services.

But, if you’d rather find your own cleaners, one thing you shouldn’t skip when looking online at your choices is the reviews. Reviews are a good insight into how well a company performs. Always make sure you read the reviews instead of just relying on the rating.

A review can give you more insight than the rating alone. Make sure you consider the number of reviews and the specific information they contain. Look for words like “on time,” “communication,” or “professional.”

Asking Questions

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s time to start asking questions.

Just because someone’s website describes them as professional or they have a business card, doesn’t mean they meet the criteria you want when you hire a property services provider.

The questions you need to ask include:

1. Are you licensed and insured? If an employee working at your building gets injured and the cleaning company doesn’t carry insurance, they could sue you. You want to avoid that.
2. Do your employees undergo background checks? It’s important that you be able to trust the cleaners who will be working in your business and around your employees. A company that has conducted background checks will answer without hesitation.
3. What kind of training do your employees receive? Window cleaning can be a dangerous job. Reputable companies will offer their workers safety courses to keep them safe while they are cleaning. These courses also keep your employees and clients safe while the cleaning takes place on your property.
4. What is included in the service? Have them list exactly what they will do, how much each service costs, and if they have any satisfaction guarantees. You should also be able to ask for a detailed estimate. Some companies charge by the job and others charge by the service. Make sure you know how they will bill you.

You can also ask for references and testimonials, as well as the length of time they have been in business, if you want additional assurances.

Just remember that you are hiring them to care for one of your most important assets—your business.

Cleaning Day

On the day your cleaning crew is scheduled to be at your building, make sure you’ve already told your employees and clients. You may need your team to park away from certain areas.

If the cleaning is standard, your employees and clients should not experience any strong odors and they should not be subject to harsh chemicals. In cases where it is necessary to use harsher cleaning solutions, you and the exterior cleaning service project manager should schedule the work to be done when employees or customers are not present.

A thorough and professional exterior cleaning will not only brighten your building, it helps prevent long-term damage, contributes to good public health by reducing pollutants, and can even improve employee morale.

So put your best—and cleanest—foot forward and invest in some building maintenance. After all, your first impression may be your last, so make it matter.

David Blue serves as the president of Window Hero and Yard Patrol Pros, two of the five emerging brands under the HomeFront Brands umbrella.

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