As with most things in life here is not a one size fits all solution. There are times when the individual cleaner is a better solution for a client. When I hear client request tasks that require very individualized attention like ironing, or a long span of time like laundry washing and drying, I generally steer that person towards an individual cleaner.
An important consideration when hiring an individual are the legal issue as well as the labilities and that one person cannot be expected to be available all of the time. A few extra steps will help to offer the protection needed when hiring an individual:
• Contact the IRS for an employer ID
• Verify that the individual can work in the United States
• Verify that your insurance covers people working in your home
• Pay additional costs — insurance, for example — if you pay them more than $1,700 per year
A big advantage to a cleaning service is the staffing that usually allows for backups to be available. A team of people can be more thorough because they are not overwhelmed by the size of the house. On the flip side, they try to cover many homes in a day, so they may be in a hurry and offer less individualized service.