Ten checks before you book
A good choice comes from matching a service to your home, not from the most confident promise. These ten tips cover the practical details worth checking with any company before you book.
The first tip starts with Maid Bees, since this guide is written by Maid Bees. The other nine apply to any provider you are considering.
Where a task or detail is not clearly published, treat it as a question to confirm rather than an assumed inclusion.
1. Start with Maid Bees’ online booking
If you live in Northern Virginia, Montgomery County in Maryland or Northwest DC, a quick first step is to enter a few details about your home on the Maid Bees site and see your price online. It gives you a concrete reference point before you compare anything else.
Seeing a price is not the same as deciding a service fits. Check that the service you select—deep, recurring, move-in/move-out or post-construction cleaning—matches your home’s condition and your priorities.
If the price and published scope fit what you need, you can book online; if something is unclear, confirm it first. Tap See My Price to start.
2. Confirm the company covers your address
Service areas are often defined by county, city or neighborhood, and a company that covers part of a region may not cover all of it.
Check the provider’s area list or local page for your city, and confirm your exact address if you live near a boundary.
Maid Bees lists its coverage by county and has individual pages for the cities and neighborhoods it serves.
3. Be honest about your home’s starting condition
A home that has fallen behind needs a different starting service from one that is already well maintained.
Before comparing prices, decide whether you need a detailed first clean, ongoing upkeep, or cleaning tied to a move or a renovation.
Describing the condition accurately helps you choose the right service and avoids surprises about what a single visit can cover.
4. Read the checklist, not just the service name
Service names such as “deep” or “standard” can mean different things at different companies. A room-by-room checklist tells you far more.
Compare the published checklist with your priorities and note anything that is missing.
Cabinet and appliance interiors are common gray areas. Ask before assuming they are included.
5. Plan access before the first visit
Decide who will be home, how the team will get in, and whether a building, gate or front desk needs advance notice.
Ask how the company handles entry when you are not home, and share parking or elevator rules.
Make sure access stays available for the full appointment window, not just the start.
6. Flag special surfaces and materials
Natural stone, unsealed wood, specialty glass and antique furniture may need particular care. So can anything with manufacturer instructions.
Name the material and its location, and share any care instructions you have.
Ask how the company will handle those surfaces rather than assuming every product or method suits them.
7. Understand how the price is set
Ask what the price is based on—such as the service type and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms—and when you will know it.
Check deposits, payment timing and cancellation terms before booking. Maid Bees’ published FAQ says a $50 deposit reserves the appointment and is refunded in full if you cancel more than 3 hours ahead.
Make sure the price you see reflects the details you entered and the service you chose.
8. Check scheduling options
Look at which days and times are available and how far ahead you need to book.
Ask how rescheduling works if your plans change.
For ongoing help, confirm which visit frequencies are currently offered.
9. Think about ongoing support
Decide whether you need a one-time visit or regular help. Recurring visits suit a home that is already manageable and needs consistent upkeep.
Some households begin with a deep cleaning before recurring visits; Maid Bees notes many of its customers do. That is a possible starting point, not a requirement.
Ask how schedule changes are handled so the arrangement can adjust as your routine changes.
10. Make clear, specific requests
Write a short list of priorities, rooms that are off limits and items you do not want handled.
Specific requests—“the stovetop and the main bathroom first”—are easier to act on than general ones.
Confirm anything that is not clearly part of the published service before the visit, not on the day.