Written by MaidEX Cleaning Services Editorial Team · Reviewed by Milad Hoseini, Founder & CEO · Published September 9, 2026 · 4 min read
You're handing a stranger a key to your home — often while you're at work. That's not a small thing. The honest answer: it's safe when you hire a company that background-checks its cleaners, is insured, gives an exact flat-rate price, and backs the work with a guarantee. No one can promise absolute safety, so your job is to check those four things before you hand over a key — and the good news is two of them (who shows up, and whether the quoted price is the price you pay) tell you almost everything.
The good news: once you know what separates a trustworthy company from a risky one, it's easy to tell them apart in a five-minute phone call — or before you even pick up the phone. The cleaning industry in BC is lightly regulated, so the responsibility falls on you to ask a few good questions first.
What a trustworthy cleaning company actually looks like
A good company removes the guesswork before you ever book. At MaidEX, that means four things you can check up front:
Background-checked cleaners. Every MaidEX cleaner is background-checked before their first job. You should never wonder who is standing in your kitchen.
Fully insured. Accidents are rare, but a real company carries insurance so that if something is ever damaged, it gets documented and made right — you're never left to absorb the cost yourself. (What “insured” actually means for your protection — and the exact coverage questions to ask — is explained in are house cleaners insured?.)
An exact, flat-rate price before you book. This is the one most people overlook. With MaidEX you see your exact total — service, home size and any extras — in seconds, before you commit. No vague “estimates” that balloon on the day. See live pricing.
A real guarantee. MaidEX backs every clean with a 100% satisfaction guarantee: if something isn't right, tell us within 24 hours and we re-clean it free.
A quick Vancouver note on tax
House cleaning is PST-exempt in British Columbia, so you should only ever be charged 5% GST — never PST. A properly set-up company (MaidEX is MAIDEX CLEANING SERVICES LTD., GST-registered) charges GST and gives you a real invoice. A cash-only cleaner with no GST and no receipt can be a sign a business isn't fully set up or insured. See why cleaning is PST-exempt in BC.
7 questions to ask before you hand over a key
Ask any company these seven questions. A business operating properly will have clear, confident answers to all of them. If someone gets vague or evasive, that's already your answer:
- Are your cleaners background-checked? (MaidEX: yes, every cleaner, before their first job.)
- Are you insured — and what happens if something's damaged? (MaidEX: fully insured; we document it and make it right.)
- Is the price flat-rate and upfront, or an estimate that can change? (MaidEX: an exact flat-rate price before you book.)
- Do the cleaners bring their own supplies? (MaidEX: yes, included; eco-friendly, pet- and family-safe options on request.)
- Do you offer a satisfaction guarantee? (MaidEX: yes — 24-hour free re-clean.)
- Can I get the same cleaner or a consistent team? (MaidEX: yes, with a recurring plan.)
- What areas and hours do you cover? (MaidEX: all 16 Lower Mainland cities, 7 days a week — see our service area.)
Red flags worth walking away from
- A price that seems unusually low — it's usually low for a reason (skipped insurance, no vetting, corners cut).
- They can't tell you who's coming or won't confirm background checks.
- Cash-only, no GST, no invoice — a sign the business may not be properly registered or insured.
- Vague answers about insurance or what happens if something breaks.
- “Estimate only” pricing that can climb once the cleaner is already in your home.
Want to see the real results a proper clean delivers? Browse before-and-after photos from real MaidEX jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to hire a cleaning company in Vancouver?
Yes — when the company background-checks its cleaners, carries insurance, and gives you an upfront, flat-rate price and a real invoice. The risk comes from cash-only operators who can't tell you who's coming or won't confirm they're insured. MaidEX background-checks every cleaner, is fully insured, and shows your exact price before you book.
Are MaidEX cleaners background-checked and insured?
Yes. Every MaidEX cleaner is background-checked before their first job, and all work is fully insured — so you have complete peace of mind letting us into your home.
Do the cleaners bring their own supplies?
Yes. MaidEX cleaners arrive fully equipped with professional-grade supplies and equipment, included in your flat rate. Prefer we use your own products, or want eco-friendly, pet- and family-safe options? Just let us know at no extra charge.
What happens if something gets damaged during a clean?
MaidEX is fully insured. In the rare event something is damaged, we document it and make it right — you're never left to sort it out on your own.
How much does house cleaning cost in Vancouver?
MaidEX uses honest, flat-rate pricing. Pick a home package and you'll see your exact total — with any extras — before you book, in about 60 seconds. Prefer hourly? It's $37.50/hour for your first clean, 3-hour minimum. Recurring plans save up to 15% from your second clean.
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Milad Hoseini
Founder & CEO, MaidEX Cleaning Services
Written by the MaidEX Cleaning Services Editorial Team and reviewed by Milad Hoseini, who founded MaidEX in Vancouver. MaidEX provides insured, background-checked cleaning across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. More about MaidEX →
How this guide was made
This guide draws on MaidEX's hands-on cleaning experience across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, along with publicly available sources. It was drafted with the help of AI tools, then reviewed and fact-checked by our editorial team and approved by Milad Hoseini, Founder & CEO, before publishing.