Managing a strata property can come with a steady stream of service providers coming in and out, but one of the most consistent visitors is the cleaning team. Since they’re regularly responsible for keeping shared spaces clean and safe, it’s worth ensuring they’re the right fit. Whether you manage a small residential block or a large commercial complex, the expectations for cleanliness, professionalism, and reliability stay the same.
Asking the right questions before locking in a regular cleaning arrangement can help you avoid misunderstandings later. It also sets a clear benchmark for the quality and consistency of service. From experience with similar properties to how they manage security, these early conversations go a long way in building trust and keeping tenants or owners happy.
At City and Regional Cleaning Services, we understand how strata properties function day to day. We work closely with property managers across Newcastle and the Hunter Region, and know how important it is to keep common areas maintained without disrupting residents. Here’s a breakdown of the key questions you should be asking when meeting your cleaning provider for the first time.
What Experience Do You Have With Strata Properties?
When it comes to shared buildings and common areas, experience matters more than many people realise. Cleaning a strata complex isn’t like tidying up after office hours. It involves different surfaces, varied materials, and usually a lot more foot traffic. Think elevators, stairwells, bin rooms, car parks, and entryways. That constant use means things get messy quickly, and it takes an experienced team to stay ahead of it.
Strata-specific experience shows that a cleaning service knows how to organise their schedule and cleaning methods to suit multi-use environments. It’s also a good indicator that they understand the expectations of both owners and tenants. When cleaners already know how to manage cleaning around peak use times, or which areas build up grime quicker than others, it saves everyone time.
During early meetings or quote discussions, consider asking:
– Have you worked with buildings similar to ours?
– Can you walk me through how you manage cleaning across different common areas?
– Do you have a regular system in place for bin rooms, stairwells, or car park ramps?
– What adjustments do you make during bad weather or high-traffic weeks?
Hearing real examples goes a long way toward understanding whether the provider knows what they’re doing. For instance, a cleaner with experience in high-rise buildings will likely know all about how wind can blow leaves and dust into lift lobbies or how quickly scuff marks build up inside stairwells. These might sound small, but they reflect attention to detail and a better grasp of what strata cleaning actually involves.
How Do You Handle Security And Access?
Any time a cleaning provider needs access to shared spaces like rooftops, fire stairwells, lifts, and internal courtyards, they’ll need the right keys or fobs. That means security is just as important as how well they mop or sweep. Handing over access codes or master keys can be nerve-wracking if you haven’t discussed how your cleaner manages entry safely.
You don’t just want a cleaner who shows up. You want one who understands how to work within the strata’s systems. This may include logging entries, working around security cameras, following noise rules, or controlling who’s allowed onsite during cleans.
Access-related questions to ask during initial meet-ups include:
– How do you manage key or fob access to communal areas?
– Do you have a logbook or sign-in procedure when entering properties?
– Are your staff trained to use site-specific security measures?
– What happens if access is denied or an issue comes up out of hours?
The answers you receive will give you peace of mind that the cleaning provider respects the strata’s rules and takes the safety of the site seriously. If they’ve worked with strata properties before, they’ll already have a system in place. At the very least, they should be open to adapting to the building’s existing access control process.
What Cleaning Methods And Products Do You Use?
Asking about equipment, techniques, and cleaning products upfront can help avoid drama later. Different buildings have different surfaces and foot traffic, which means the cleaning approach should fit what’s actually needed, not just what’s easiest. Harsh chemicals or the wrong gear can wear out paint, leave streaks on glass, or damage polished floors. A good cleaning team will take the time to match their method with what’s right for the surface.
Environmentally friendly products have become popular in shared buildings, especially those with families, pets, or people with sensitivities. If that’s something your community takes seriously, check whether they offer options that won’t leave behind strong smells or residue.
Other questions worth asking include:
– Do you use the same products for all buildings or change them depending on the surface?
– Are your cleaning chemicals safe to use around children and pets?
– How do you make sure your methods meet strata hygiene standards?
– What do you do if a product creates problems on a surface, like streaking or stickiness?
Asking about their tools also gives you insight into how they approach their work. For example, do they use microfibre cloths for glass and stainless steel? Do they steam clean tiles instead of relying on mops every time? While you don’t need to create a checklist for every item, you want to know you’re working with a team that thinks about what they’re using and why.
Can You Provide References?
References are underrated. If a strata cleaner has been doing this kind of work for years, they should have no problem putting you in contact with other sites they’ve cleaned. Reaching out to current or past clients helps you skip the guesswork. You can ask them straight out about things a quote can’t tell you, like how consistent the cleaners are, what happens if something goes wrong, or how flexible the team is when you call with last-minute requests.
When asking for references, you may want to check:
– Whether they’ve cleaned similarly sized properties
– How long they’ve been working with that client
– If they handle regular, one-off, or seasonal cleans
– How they handle missed cleans or shift changes
Even a five-minute chat with another strata manager can reveal a lot. They won’t sugar-coat it. If the service is solid, they’ll let you know. If it hasn’t been great, you’ll hear that too. Either way, it’s better than going in blind and dealing with gaps in service or awkward misunderstandings.
Make Your Strata Cleaning Questions Count
Choosing a long-term cleaning provider in the Hunter Region means more than just comparing prices or matching calendars. It’s about finding the kind of team that understands how strata buildings operate, from tight schedules to shared access points and all the odd quirks in between. A good cleaner knows the difference between cleaning for appearances and cleaning for the long run.
By asking smart, practical questions upfront, you’re putting yourself in a better position to avoid the common frustrations that pop up down the track. Whether that’s missed bins, patchy floor cleaning, or break room smells no one quite claims responsibility for, it pays to be clear right from the start.
These questions aren’t tricky or awkward. They’re fair, reasonable, and all about getting the best service for your site. A team that takes pride in their work will answer them easily and with confidence, especially if they’ve spent years cleaning strata buildings across Newcastle and beyond. It’s your property, your schedule, and your peace of mind. Make it count.
If you’re looking for a reliable cleaning team in the Hunter Region to take the stress out of managing shared spaces, City and Regional Cleaning Services is here to help. We offer dependable, high-quality cleaning designed with strata needs in mind, so your property stays safe, clean, and welcoming every day.
