Office Cleaning in Wollongong: What to Ask Before You Sign

Quick answer: Before signing an office cleaning agreement in Wollongong, ask for a Certificate of Currency, confirm cleaners are police-checked, agree how after-hours access and keys are handled, and get a written scope with frequency, consumables and a notice period. It suits office managers and business owners comparing cleaners, and a site walk-through gives a more reliable quote than a phone estimate.

Choosing a cleaner for your workplace is a bigger decision than it first looks. The people you hire will have access to your premises, often when nobody else is there, and the standard they keep is the first thing staff and visitors notice each morning. This guide sets out the questions worth asking any provider, whether you are looking at office cleaning Wollongong businesses for the first time or reviewing a contract that is not working.

1. Insurance and a Certificate of Currency

Every commercial cleaner should carry public liability insurance. Do not take this on trust. Ask for a Certificate of Currency, which is the document an insurer issues to show a policy is current, and check the policy dates and the named business match the company you are signing with.

If you lease space in a managed building, your building or strata manager will often want a copy on file before any contractor starts. Ask whether the cleaner can send it directly to them. It saves you a round of emails and shows the cleaner is used to working in managed buildings.

2. Police-checked cleaners

Ask whether every cleaner who will attend your site has a current police check, not just the business owner. Also ask what happens when your regular cleaner is sick or on leave. A good answer explains who fills in and confirms that person is checked to the same standard.

3. After-hours access, keys and alarm codes

Most offices are cleaned before staff arrive or after they leave, so access is one of the most important parts of the agreement. These are the questions worth asking any cleaner:

• How are keys or access cards stored, and who holds them?


• Are keys tagged with your business name or address, or kept anonymous?


• Will each cleaner have an individual alarm code, so the alarm log shows who entered and when?


• What happens if a key or card is lost?


• What is the process if the alarm is triggered during a clean?


• How are keys returned if the agreement ends?

A cleaner who has thought about this will give clear, practical answers. Put the agreed process in writing as part of the scope.

4. A written scope and frequency

The single best protection against disappointment is a written scope. It should list each area of the office, the tasks done in that area, and how often. For example, desks might be wiped every visit while internal glass is done weekly and skirting boards monthly.

A written scope does two things. It lets you compare quotes on a like for like basis, and it gives both sides something to point to if a task is being missed. If a cleaner is reluctant to put the scope in writing, treat that as a warning sign.

Frequency is worth thinking about carefully. Busy offices with a shared kitchen usually need more visits than a small studio. If you are unsure how often your space needs attention, our guide on how often to deep clean your office walks through the options.

5. Consumables

Ask who supplies hand soap, toilet paper, paper towel and bin liners. Some businesses prefer to buy their own, while others want the cleaner to keep them stocked. If the cleaner supplies them, ask how they are charged so there are no surprises on the invoice.

6. Bathrooms and kitchens

Bathrooms and kitchens are where standards are judged. Ask specifically what is included: toilets and urinals, mirrors and vanities, high-touch fittings, bench tops, sinks, the outside of the fridge and microwave, and the dishwasher. Ask whether separate cloths and equipment are used for bathrooms and kitchens to avoid cross-contamination.

7. Logbook and issue reporting

When cleaning happens after hours, you rarely see the cleaner. That makes communication important. Ask whether there is a logbook on site that records each visit, and how the cleaner reports problems such as a leaking tap, a broken light or a blocked drain. Ask how you should raise a concern and how quickly it will be looked at.

8. Contract length and notice period

Read the term and notice period before you sign. Some providers ask for a long fixed term. Others work month to month with a set notice period. Ask what happens if the standard slips and whether you can adjust frequency as your needs change. Flexibility matters if your team grows, moves or changes its working pattern.

9. Why a site walk-through beats a phone quote

Two offices with the same floor area can need very different amounts of work. The number of bathrooms and kitchens, the type of flooring, how many desks there are, and whether cleans must happen after hours all change the time involved. A cleaner who quotes over the phone has to guess, and a guess usually means either an inflated price or a rushed clean later on.

A walk-through lets the cleaner see the space, ask questions and write a scope that fits. It also gives you a chance to meet the people you might be trusting with your keys. For managed buildings with shared lobbies or common areas, it is worth looking at strata cleaning alongside your office clean so the whole building is covered.

A simple checklist before you sign

• Certificate of Currency received and checked


• Every attending cleaner police-checked


• Key, access card and alarm code process agreed in writing


• Written scope with tasks and frequency for each area


• Consumables arrangement agreed


• Bathroom and kitchen tasks listed


• Logbook and issue reporting process in place


• Contract term and notice period understood


• Quote based on a site walk-through