Enjoy Your "Happy" Summer

We'd like to invite you to “Enjoy every day this summer and leave the cleaning to us”.  As the weather turns warmer and we come into “vacation season”, I automatically feel happier.  People are out and about and enjoying our beautiful area.  It is a time when kids are out of school, family often comes to visit or you take that much anticipated vacation.  

Here at our company, we encourage our friends and community to enjoy their season and let the professionals take some of the tasks that they normally do, off their list and lift a weight off their shoulders.  We encourage our employees to be happy and we strive to make our clients happy as well.

I recently came across this list whose author I am not aware of, but is worth passing along:

TEN THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DON’T DO

1. They don’t worry a lot about what other people think.
2. The don’t waste time doing things they dislike
3. They don’t try to manipulate or change other people
4. They don’t get stuck in the past
5. They don’t obsess over what MIGHT happen in the future
6. They don’t strive to achieve absolute perfection
7. They don’t forget to be thankful
8. They don’t value material possessions over experiences
9. They don’t seek fulfillment in the wrong places
10. They don’t stay in a negative situation long

Why would I include this list in an article about cleaning?  Because many people I run into feel “guilty” if they do something for themselves or accept help.  They may worry about what other people think if they seek help.  They get “stuck” (like in number 4 on the list) not knowing where to start on a project or a move.  It sometimes seems overwhelming when there is a life change like a move or a house sale.  A recent client called when her Aunt had passed and it was now her responsibility to get the house ready to sell.  This was almost more that she was able to comprehend completing because of the condition that the house was in.  After an initial day of cleaning and professional carpet cleaning, she tearfully thanked us for taking some of this huge task off her plate.  What a great feeling to provide a service that contributed to someone's happiness today!

Being the Best, Finding the Best, Reputation in Business

 Can enough importance be placed on reputation? It is paramount in almost any aspect of life.  Your personal reputation and integrity affects just about anything you do from your social circle to your professional life.  It is the same with business.  As business professionals, your companies reputation should be at the very top of your list of goals and aspirations. Of course every business owner wants others to regard them highly, however, your reputation goes further than that.  Your business reputation is affected by almost everything you do.  Here is a list of some of the most important components that affect an organization's reputation:
    1. Employees: The company has talented employees
    2. Ethics:  The company behaves ethically and is worthy of respect and trust
    3. Leadership:  The company is a leader in the industry and is innovative
    4. Financial:  The company is financially strong, profitable and growing
    5. Social responsibility:  The company is involved  in the community and supports good causes.
    6. Management: The company is well organized, well managed and has a vision for the future.
    7. Customer Service:  The company cares about and is committed to its customers
    8. Reliability:  The company provides consistent service and stands behind its products and services.
    9. Quality:  The company provides high quality of services and products to its customers
    10.  Value:  The company provides its products and services at a good value
    11. Communication:  The company provides good communication between the customer and the company representatives.
    12. Emotional appeal:  It’s a company to feel good about using
Online and social media reviews, publication awards and recognition along with overall word of mouth reputation is what drives consumers more today than ever.  Advertising is of course still viable and is how you get your businesses name in front of the public, but your reputation is what will seal the deal.
As a consumer, are you looking for a particular service or product? When searching for your next service provider or product, do your homework and research the company you are considering.  Take a look at it’s reputation online and in the community.  Try to avoid “the cheapest” deal and look for the qualities listed above. In the long run, it will save you time, money and headache.  The organizations with good reputations got there with hard work and commitment to be the best in their field.
Here at Prescott Maid to Order, we are committed to excellence and are grateful to our community and customers for our reputation.

Keeping Home and Pets Safe During Monsoon Season

                                                     

We anxiously await the rain that our area so desperately needs, but as thankful as we may be for the
moisture, we quickly realize that there are concerns during this time of the year. Mold and
mildew can create health issues and the additional dirt, debris and germs that enter our homes
can cause us trouble down the line. Here are a few tips to help us a stay safe and healthy this
summer monsoon season.

Wash your hands regularly - Additional germs and allergens are growing during this time of the
year. We bring them in on our hands and feet and on our clothing. Don’t allow wet or damp
clothing to set in a hamper, wash and dry it immediately to avoid mildew and germs. Shoes are
bound to get wet. Clean footwear regularly and make sure shoes are completely dry before
wearing again. Use antibacterial foot powder.

Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean. Check in areas that sometimes don’t get cleaned every
time, like high corners above the shower, behind and under things, window tracks and sills.
These are all areas that can collect mildew, dirt and germs.

Keep windows closed when you leave the house. As you know, it may be sunny one minute
and a cloud burst the next. Water entering through an open window can damage sills, walls,
curtains, furniture and floors. Open windows again when you are home and it is not raining.
Your home needs as much fresh air ventilation as possible.

Make sure to use area rugs on the interior and exterior side of each door to the outside. Leave
soiled shoes in a shoe rack instead of walking around the house and spreading the dirt and
germs.

Remove any containers or buckets outside that may collect rainwater. Once the rain stops and
the sun comes out, that standing water is a place for mosquitos and other pests to gather and
breed. Keep pets clean and teach them to wipe their paws on the rug outside (yes, they can
learn that), or you can wipe their feet.

Keep furniture clean and dry and disinfect all hard surfaces often. Outside of appliances, walls,
fixtures, door handles, ceiling fans can all collect dirt and germs.

Make sure your pets are safe during the thunderstorms. Many normally well behaved pets
totally “lose it” during the storms and will dart out of the door, or over a fence. Some people
have had success with the “Thunder shirts” that can be purchased at most pet stores. If you
don’t have one of those, and your dog or cat is sensitive to the sounds of thunder, place a crate
with a comfortable blanket, one of your t-shirts and a toy inside, in an interior bathroom or closet
with a little radio or music playing. You can cover the crate with a sheet. The crate serves as a
“den” which is a natural comfort for most dogs and cats and is a safe place for them until the
storm subsides. Micro chip your pets so that if they do get separated from you, they will have a
better chance of returning home safely.

After the monsoon season, it is a perfect time to get windows, tracks and sills professionally
cleaned and carpeting and draperies professionally cleaned to prepare for the winter and to
avoid the continued growth of mold and mildew.

Have a great summer and be safe and healthy.

THE VACATION RENTAL EXPERIENCE

There is a lot of talk out there about vacation rentals in Prescott.  Some are in support and some are against the vacation rental industry here in Prescott and the surrounding communities.  Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, the fact is that people want to come here and enjoy the many things this area has to offer. 

The Prescott area continues to be named “The Best” in many publications and surveys including:

#1     “Best Place to Retire” – escapehere.com
#13     “Happiest Healthiest City” in the country – Sunset Magazine
#5    “Best Arizona Attraction” – USA TODAY
#3    “100 Best Places To Retire” – topretirements.com
#1    “Best Destination for Nature Lovers” – Expedia

With all of this in mind, owners of vacation rentals need quality, professional and reliable service to keep the properties in shape and cleaned between renters.  Many owners work out of the area or just don’t have the time to manage the maintenance and cleaning required to provide a successful vacation rental.  It is important to have a bonded and insured company overseeing the ongoing cleaning schedule.

The company should:
*Provide quality cleaning
*Handle laundry service
*Monitor condition of the property
*Report damage or excessive use
*Provide pictures of property condition to owner
*Be available to make minor repairs
*Report daily maintenance issues such as light bulbs, batteries in fire alarms
*Restock supplies and snacks
*Take care of outside yard maintenance
*Respond to renters needs when requested
*Provide professional window and floor cleaning

I am sometimes amazed at how lucky I am

to be able to live every day in a place that many people spend their valuable vacation time to visit.  I am able to look out my window and watch as people from all walks of life enjoy the trails and the outdoors.  It is very important that visitors are able to return to a clean and comfortable place to stay while here.  It is our goal at Prescott Maid to Order to help owners provide a positive and wonderful experience for their renters.

Finding A Star in a Home Service Provider

With such a huge array of choices these days of home service providers,  how does one choose the right company for the the job, a “Star” of sorts in the industry that they represent?  Of course it depends on the type of work that needs to be done, however, many of the same important factors will apply.

When searching for the right company:  *Make sure to check the companies ​reputation online​.  Choose sites that you trust such as Yelp, BBB, Home Advisor and even Facebook reviews.  Take a look at how they rate compared to other companies within the same field.

 -Check for​ licensing, bonding and insurance​.  If someone is coming into your home for any type of work, you should make sure that they are qualified and carry the appropriate licensing and insurance for the job.

 -Is the company a member of​ trusted organizations​ in the community?  A good sign of a reputable company is its involvement in the community and in the organizations that require a level of professionalism and accountability.  Some of these types of organizations may be the local Chamber of Commerce, trade organizations, community groups, local and national charitable organizations etc.

 -Does the company in question have​ policies, procedures and training​ for its employees and personnel? If so, you will more likely receive consistent, quality work across the board and be assured that the best practices are being applied to the job.

 -How long has the company been in business? ​Longevity​ often provides stability and offers a sense professionalism.  It allows a company to build a reputation within the community and allows a potential customer the ability to research the history of that company.

 -​Ask a friend​.  Referrals are often an excellent source of information when seeking a qualified service provider.  You can ask them questions about their experience and depending on the type of service, you may even be able to see the work in question.

 -Get a written estimate​ before work begins.  Avoid estimates over the phone and promises without real information.  Most services done in and for your home will require an in person walk through.  Make sure that the company is thorough in their walk through and seems knowledgeable about their area of expertise.

Most importantly, you must ​feel comfortable ​with those you will be hiring to do work in and around your home.  Meet the person who will be your main contact if possible.  Make sure that they are a Star in their field.  Here at Prescott Maid to Order, we offer Stars every day for every job

Cleaning During and After this Pandemic

Covid-19 has changed our lives, our livelihoods and our businesses.  It is essential that our community does everything in it's power to minimize the spread.  Steps need to be taken on an individual, company wide, and community wide basis to protect ourselves, our families and the public.

We have heard over and over that keeping our hands and our environment clean is a top priority AND to keep our distance from other people.  We here at Prescott Maid to Order are proactively and strategically, planning and training so that we can be here to assist our clients both residential and commercial in cleaning and disinfecting their environment.

We are in prevention mode, working with our businesses, schools, offices and residential clients to clean and kill the virus on surfaces and keeping those surfaces sanitized.  This takes careful planning and training of all of our management and employees.  Steps are in place to make sure we practice social distancing and minimize any contact with our clients.  Training is in place to make sure that every area that needs to be addressed is carefully and thoroughly cleaned and executed while also protecting the health of our employees.

Soon, hopefully, the virus will subside and we will be in clean up mode.  During this phase, we will be working with businesses, industry, schools and our residential clients to get things cleaned up and ready to bring employees back in and get homes cleaned up after the quarantine period.

We are here and available to do what it takes to keep your home an business clean and sanitized during and after this pandemic.

Simplify and "Clean Up" this Spring

Ready for the Spring?  Feeling overwhelmed with your current day to day tasks? Feeling guilty about what you don’t accomplish? Afraid to make those big household project plans because there is just “not enough time”?  Everyone feels these types of feelings at some time or another or in some cases...always.  In an effort to “simplify” the day to day, here are some suggestions to consider:

    • EVALUATE HOW SPEND YOUR TIME – Make a list.  Put the priorities on top.  List the things that can be done by someone else and hire it out or ask for help. Limit the extras and eliminate the junk.

    • SLOW DOWN – We often sacrifice the important things to satisfy accomplishing everything. Families often running in different directions, work and career obligations, school activities, community and church events, household chores and so many other things keep us from slowing down and spending the appropriate amount of time on the appropriate activities.  Take stock and make priorities.
     
    • DE-CLUTTER – Own less, get rid of the “stuff”, clear out and clean up.  Either in one big project or just a little at a time.  Too many material possessions complicate our days and consume our attention.  Clean out the closet, organize the garage, get rid of the stuff that you haven’t used in the last year.  Do you really need it?  Does it ad value to your life? Donate the good stuff, it feels good.
     
    • DELEGATE – Take a load off.  Let someone else do it.  We see this all the time in our industry.  Clients are just “done” doing the stuff they have done themselves for many years. They call us and say, I just don’t want to spend my valuable time cleaning.  Hire a reputable company to come in and help do the things that you don’t want to do.  You will find yourself feeling lighter and happier when it is done…..by someone else.
     
    • COMPLAIN LESS -  You’ve no doubt heard the story of  the 2 fighting wolves inside all of us.  The one with good thoughts and deeds and the one that spreads negativity and unhappiness.  It is the one that you feed that ultimately wins.
     
    • SERVE OTHERS – There is no better feeling than helping someone.  When we serve, we lose ourselves.  At Maid to Order, we help people achieve the tasks that they need done.  Some are unable to do the physical work any more. It’s a great feeling.

In your efforts to simplify and clean up your life this Spring, we hope you will call us to help you with your goals.  We look forward to this beautiful time of year.  We want to work with the people in our community to help them with their cleaning needs in their homes and businesses.  Prescott Maid to Order and MTO Janitorial wish you a beautiful Spring and Summer!