FAQ's
Questions? We have answers.
Below are the most frequently asked about our services, pricing
and policies. Want to know more? For questions about service or
employment, please contact us at 853-0757.
Can I just get a ballpark figure of how much it will cost to
clean my home?
What are your rates?
Do you have packages?
Do you bring your own cleaning supplies, chemicals and
equipment?
Do you clean homes just once, or do you have to clean
long-term?
How many people will be in my home during each cleaning?
If I sign up for long-term service, will the same person be
in my home each time?
What time
will you be at my home?
What is the difference between Happy Homes and another
cleaning service?
What is the difference between Happy Homes and a cleaning
lady or housekeeper?
If there
is a problem who can I call?
I would like to get a gift certificate for a friend. How do
I do that?
I would like to give a gift certificate for a whole house
cleaning. Can you tell me how much to spend?
I'm interested in working for you. How do I apply?
Q.
Can I just get a ballpark figure of how much it will
cost to clean my home?
A. We may be able to give you a very wide range that takes into
account all the possibilities of cleaning your home.
However, we can't tell you where the price for cleaning will
fall in that range sight unseen. Because every home is
unique, we base our pricing on factors like clutter, pets
and even your lifestyle, which affect the way we clean and
impact the price. That's why we like to meet you at your home
before giving you a price.
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Q. What are your rates?
A. Our pricing is completely individualized, just as our service
is customized to meet your unique needs. We base our pricing on
many factors, including the presence of pet hair, clutter and
even your lifestyle. That is why we like to meet with you before
quoting you a price. Please contact us at 853-0757 for more
information.
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Q. Do you have packages?
A. No, we completely individualize our cleaning. We use a proven
system to clean thoroughly, consistently and efficiently. For a
list of items we generally clean during a visit, please visit
24 Steps to Healthy Homes.
We also tailor our visit to your individual needs and
your home's cleaning requirements. Please contact your local
office for more information at 853-0757.
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D
Q.
Do you bring your own cleaning supplies, chemicals and
equipment?
A. Yes, we bring everything we need to clean your home. You
don't have to provide a thing.
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Q.
Do you clean homes just once, or do you have to clean
long-term?
A. While most of our customers prefer a weekly cleaning on a
regularly scheduled day, we also clean homes every other week or
less frequently. Even special occasions.
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Q.
How many people will be in my home during each
cleaning?
A. Typically, there will be two to three people in your home - a team
leader and a team member or two. On rare occasions, there
may be more
people or one person. For example, if you need emergency help
fast, the office staff may send three people to do the job. If
your home is very small, one person may be able to complete the
job quickly and thoroughly. We will work with you so you know
how many people will be in your home. We respect that your home
is private, and that you place trust in us by inviting us into
your home.
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Q.
If I sign up for long-term service, will the same
person be in my home each time?
A. We make every effort to ensure that one of the two team
members who serves your home cleans during each visit.
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Q. What time will you be at my home?
A. If you would like us to be at your home at a specific time,
we recommend that you sign up for service either at the
beginning of the day or the end of the day. As we clean homes
during the day, we often encounter things that delay our arrival
at our next home, like traffic, or a customer who would like
some additional help. For midday service, we give you a window
of time for our arrival.
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Q.
What is the difference between
Happy Homes and another
cleaning services?
A. Happy Homes is locally owned by the Robert Wright family. We
love Idaho and especially the Treasure Valley, where we have
lived for over 25 years. We will take care of you like you are
our neighbor. All of us at Happy Homes understand that we must
earn and keep your trust, and give you quality and value while
always being flexible to meet your changing needs.
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Q.
What is the difference between
Happy Homes and a
cleaning lady or housekeeper?
A. Happy Homes makes house cleaning easy for you by managing all
the details of employment, including filing all required state
and federal paperwork and paying taxes. We make sure that we are
at your home on the day you expect us to and we manage the
quality. We are also bonded and insured, so you are protected
against theft, accidental breakage or accidents inside your
home.
When you hire an independent cleaning person, there are some
important requirements to be aware of. According to Internal
Revenue Service Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide,
if you hire someone to do household work and if you control not
only what work is done, but how it is done, you are considered
to have a household employee. If you are going to hire a
household employee, it is important to understand your
obligations as a household employer. For more information about
household employees, see IRS publication 926 at
http://www.irs.gov.
If you are a domestic employer and pay your employee in cash or
off-the-books, you are liable for unpaid taxes. Furthermore,
your employee is not contributing to their Social Security
account and may have difficulty establishing credit.
Here is an overview of requirements when you pay a household
employee $1,400 or more a year:
When you hire a household employee:
- Find out if the person can legally work in the United
States and file Form I-9, Employment Eligibility
Verification.
- Obtain an employer identification number and possibly a
state number.
When you pay your household employee:
- Withhold 7.65% for social security and Medicare taxes.
- Pay 7.65% for employer's share of social security and
Medicare taxes.
- Withhold federal income tax and possibly state tax.
- File federal and possibly state unemployment returns and
pay applicable taxes.
- Keep records.
Other:
- File and give your employee Form W-2, Wage and Tax
Statement.
- File Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment,
Taxes, and pay related taxes.
- Review insurance requirements with your insurance agent.
This information is not intended as tax advice. You should
consult your tax advisor to determine your actual requirements.
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If
Q. If there is a problem, who can I call?
A. If you see a problem while the team is in your home, you can
talk to the team leader, who will make immediate efforts to
correct the problem. Or you can contact the office staff at
853-0757, who
will work with the team to quickly correct the problem and
enforce our guarantee.
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Q.
I would like to get a gift certificate for a friend.
How do I do that?
A. Call 853-0757 to order gift certificates. Gift
certificates begin in $100 increments.
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Q. I would like to give a gift certificate for a whole
house cleaning. Can you tell me how much to spend?
A. It is very difficult to give you a price via email sight
unseen. We base our pricing on many factors, including the
number of rooms, size of rooms, pets, clutter, surfaces of
countertops and floors and even the lifestyle of the homeowner
(i.e., someone who is home a lot has very different cleaning
needs than someone who travels a lot).
That is why our offices are very flexible with gift
certificates. The office will clean the home within the amount
of the gift certificate, or the gift recipient can apply the
amount to additional services. For more help to determine how
much to spend on a gift certificate that you intend for a whole
house cleaning, please contact us at 853-0757 and we will be happy to help you.
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I
Q.
I'm interested in working for you. How do I apply?
A. Please contact us at 853-0757 to discuss employment
opportunities. We pay $10 to $14 an hour while cleaning, and
you'll work Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm with
holidays and weekends off. We have benefits and earned paid time
off. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have and set
up an appointment to interview you. We almost always have
employment opportunities available because we are growing so
fast. Give us a call, you'll be glad you did! We are a great
company to work for.
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