Yes, we maintain a $10,000 bond with Surety 1. Although a service bond is NOT a legal requirement in the house cleaning industry, we like to provide our clients with the peace of mind that in case some damage is caused during the course of service, we will replace or reimburse the client with reasonable compensation for the wear; within certain limits.

In the past ten years of servicing thousands of properties in Ventura County, the average claim is still under $100, and we only process about three claims in the average year. This is evidence of our commitment to quality service. Sure, accidents do happen, even to the most experienced and established companies, and that's one reason why Service Bonds exist in the first place.

Generally speaking, we will only honor claims up to $150 per occurrence. If something is broken or damaged, please get in touch with us immediately, and we will be sure to reimburse you the amount of the fair market value of the item/s. If the amount to replace the item exceeds $150, we will only cover the $150 maximum. In this case, we can arbitrate and determine the damage's cost. If you have an item that will cost more to replace than our bond limit, please let us know so we choose the best course of action. Usually, if it is some type of antique that can be put away when the service is done, that's what we suggest. We may exclude that item from our service list if it cannot be moved.

This is our stance regarding ANY payouts regarding any damage claims:

• Elegant Empire will reimburse the fair market value, according to bond limits set by Elegant Empire, of an item that was damaged beyond repair makes it of an item that was damaged beyond repair makes it unusable for its intended purpose. If the item was damaged and is repairable, we will reimburse the amount it costs to repair the item, not to exceed the bond limit.

• If the item is damaged, is not repairable, but still functions for the intended purpose, we will arbitrate the amount of the damage and reimburse the client accordingly.

• If the amount it costs to repair or replace an item exceeds the bond amount, we may honor a higher amount based on the situation.

• Under no circumstance will we issue the total replacement cost of an item that is slightly damaged but still serves the function it was built for? ALL surfaces in the house wear and tear over time, EVEN if the best procedures are used every single time a character is cleaned.

• We can refuse service to any client or business we suspect of submitting fraudulent claims. As a reminder, we do not cover regular wear and tear and do not cover ALL damage. Some minor discoloration and surface scratches may develop over time in several areas, such as wood, glass, stainless steel, granite, etc.

• If the item was damaged and is repairable, we will reimburse the amount it costs to repair the item, not to exceed the bond limit.

• If the item is damaged, is not repairable, but still functions for the intended purpose, we will arbitrate the amount of the damage and reimburse the client accordingly.

• If the amount it costs to repair or replace an item exceeds the bond amount, we may honor a higher amount based on the situation.

• Under no circumstance will we issue the total replacement cost of an item that is slightly damaged but still serves the function it was built for? ALL surfaces in the house wear and tear over time, EVEN if the best procedures are used every single time a character is cleaned.

• Every damage claim will be compared against our documentation/pictures taken during the initial service consultation to see if it is new damage or already exists. Pre-existing damage claims will not be honored.

As a reminder, we do not cover regular wear and tear and do not cover ALL damage. Some minor discoloration and surface scratches may develop over time on several different areas, such as:

• wood floors

• tile floors

• window panes

• countertops

• stainless steel

• glass shower doors

• furniture

• picture frames

After several years in this business and servicing thousands of homes, I will tell you firsthand that 100% of every house we've been in has some surface scratches on every surface just mentioned. Whether or not they can be classified as wear and tear is a whole different discussion. Each case will be addressed on an individual basis.

NO. After many years in the business and experience with many different situations, we've compiled a list of items that not only will the service bond not cover, but neither will our company. To see a detailed explanation, please go HERE.

In addition, we require a walk-thru BEFORE any service is done to establish and document a baseline of the overall condition of areas prone to regular wear and tear. In addition, we need to protect ourselves from any fraudulent damage claims. We've often been notified of "damage" the cleaners caused, only to find out in our pictures that the alleged damage was already done BEFORE we started providing service.

Our service bond is limited to $250 per occurrence. If an item is broken or damaged, our staff should contact us within minutes of the event. However, if you come home and notice something damaged and we have not informed you yet, please get in touch with us right away at:

(805)914-4520

Items valued at $100 or under:

We will reimburse the item's fair market value within 5 - 7 business days.

Items valued at $300 or more:

Elegant Empire will make monthly payments at $50 until the balance has been paid in full at 0%.

Please read our Release of Liability Blog to be aware of some items or situations we will not be liable for.

Yes, as an LLC we are under the eye of a number of agencies so we follow all the necessary legal formalites to operate in our home city of Oxnard, as well as the rest of Ventura County. To add clarification to that, a Licensed business means that the business has a Business Tax Certificate from the City where the primary locations is in. It's really just a mechanism to track gross receipts from business and pay a certain amount based on those receipts. A Business License does not provide proof of competency in any service related industry, experience and time in business are better indicators of proficiency in any service sector.

Furthermore, www.elegantempire.co does not fall under the definition of either a janitorial-service company or a janitorial employer. It is each client's responsibility to check on the service providers current registration status with regards to The Property Service Workers Protection Act. We will not be held liable for any penalties imposed by the Division of Labor Standards for hiring a non-complying employee, contractor, or sub-contractor.

To add to this, most jobs are doen in-house by one of our associate LLC meember cleaners. Beacuse of that, we are exempt from The Property Service Workers Protection Act.

As with most service-based businesses, payments are due on the day of service, with very few exceptions. The only exceptions to this are services rendered to a business establishment or for vacation rental properties.

1. Due date for Residential cleaning service:

Payments are due on the day of service.

2. Due Date for Vacancy Cleaning Service: Payments are due in advance through our PayPal Business Merchant account. We will forward you an invoice for the estimated amount. This needs to be paid BEFORE the work is done. If it is not paid, we cannot provide you with service. If you do not have a PayPal account or wish to avoid paying through them, we only accept cash as an alternative payment method.

3. Due Date for Commercial & Office Cleaning services:

Payments are due on a net 30 basis. As an example, if cleaning is provided for the month of January we will invoice you for that month and it is due within a reasonable amount of time after that. By reasonable, we mean 7 – 10 days. Unfortunately, we are not in the business of making loans. So if you need more time to make payments, add a credit card to your PayPal account and then pay for services based on the terms of your credit card.

1. CHECK | Residential | Vacation rental | Commercial

We accept checks made out to Elegant Empire. Please leave check in an area visible to the cleaning crew on the day of service. We do NOT accept checks mailed, UNLESS it is the only method available.

2. CREDIT CARD | Residential | Vacation rental | Commercial

We also accept payments made through our business merchant account under PayPal. PayPal is a leader in third-party payment processing and it's very easy to use. If paying with PayPal, you will have one of two options:

Before your scheduled service day, we will email you a link to access and process the reservation payment. The invoice can be accessed and paid for from any device with internet access. If the invoice is not sent BEFORE the service day, it will be sent out either on the day the work is done or within 24 hours after.

3. We do not accept cash | Residential | Vacation rental | Commercial

Not only does our insurance does not cover lost cash. The chain of custody for cash handling is too complex and time-consuming; deposits, distribution, accounting.

Our staff will appreciate any tips for their services, regardless of how you tip them. If you need additional information on the ins and outs of how to tip staff, we have THIS great article dedicated to helping you decide.

Great question!

Our pricing is about average for a cleaning service company. We have an excellent article that reviews the recommended process when comparing one company to another with regard to rates. Here is a small section of the article about; to read more, here is a link to the page to review.

First, how much TIME is spent doing the work? Divide the total price by the fee, and you will get a "baseline" hourly rate that can be compared to another professional cleaning company. Second, determine the legal compliance level of the companies you are comparing. Is it an actual company or a contractor?

It is evident that along with a higher level of compliance comes a higher expense from the company, usually in the form of taxes and insurance costs. So as an example, a cleaner with no business license or insurance should be less than a licensed and bonded company. You are not getting the best deal if you find someone trying to charge as much as a company in an upper echelon.

We are located in the city of Oxnard, CA. Due to the nature of our business, we need to list our business address. Our company is based on a "mobile" model, and we have no reason to have clients show up at our door. Besides that, with dozens of LLC members, listing every address they have registered with the city makes no sense.

The only real reason to have a registered business address, even mobile, is to comply with city requirements and keep critical business and accounting documents safe.

Most service providers are available Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM to 3 PM.

We provide house cleaning services in the following cities. However, since the cleaning industry is very fluid and workloads rise and fall throughout the year, please contact us for availability. The same goes for office cleaning services. Although we have a large percentage of our office cleaning clients in Oxnard, we also offer this same service in other nearby cities.

• Oxnard

• Ventura

• Camarillo

• Port Hueneme

• Somis

• Saticoy

• Newbury Park

• Moorpark

Each service payment covers the fees necessary for the cleaning crew to complete the agreed-upon cleaning list during your initial consultation. The cleaner/s will arrive with all the equipment and supplies needed to complete the job.

During the consult, list all the items and areas that must be cleaned each visit. To get started, please read and complete our Online Form to request an in-person quote.

Remember that we can custom tailor a cleaning list for your specific needs, and it will vary depending on if you request a one-time cleaning or opt for regular, recurring service, as explained on our main regular cleaning service page.

We have a detailed explanation in our BLOG regarding how your service provider can access your house on the day of service with minimal problems.

Here is a summary:

This can be accomplished in a few ways, and it is up to the homeowner to select one.

1. Residential Cleaning

Homes with an electronic home access lock.

The homeowner can provide us with a code to access the home. In many cases, the unique code can be programmed to operate only during a specified time frame that can be synced with the time the service is reserved for. This code can also be changed when needed.

2. Residential or Commercial Cleaning

Lock-box.

We can provide a lock box that can be placed either on the door handle or in an area that can be reached from outside the house. An extra set of keys can be placed here for our staff to open and close the property. If this option is selected, the owner/manager of the property must put the set of keys on the day of service before we are scheduled to arrive.

3. Homeowner allows access.

If the homeowner lives nearby and has the time, they can allow access to each guest upon arrival. In this situation, the homeowner can leave a key inside the house for the guests to open and lock the door during the visit.

We've had the fewest issues with the lockbox option.

Yes, recurring service makes up most of our business. The most requested frequency is cleaning once every other week, followed by monthly, weekly, every three weeks, and different random frequencies. To learn more about our regular service, we highly recommend completing our Online Form to schedule an in-person walk-thru of your place and to provide an accurate service quote.

1. Residential | Commercial | Vacation rental

NO! Unlike many other companies, we do not require clients to sign up for long-term service contracts. We are confident in our ability to provide quality service at a competitive price. Because of that, we are sure you will keep us as your service provider as long as we maintain a consistent quality artistry. All our service agreements are on a service-to-service basis.

2. Commercial Cleaning that requires workman's compensation

Please be aware that the minimum contract amount we are willing to enter with a business that requires this insurance is $20,000 per contract, with a minimum of 6 months or a maximum of 1 year.

Most people will agree that selecting a well-qualified and trustworthy service company is paramount. Meeting one of our reps will give you a good feel for the type of business we operate. Not only that, but we can provide a much better quote after seeing your place and reviewing all the specifics of what will and won't need to get cleaned. At the same time, we can answer any other questions that may not be listed here. In addition, you can select the option for green cleaning or standard service. If you need clarification on what green cleaning signifies, please review our green cleaning page for additional information.

The MAIN differences are pricing and service flexibility.

PRICING

If you go to other service providers and request a bid for a service such as house cleaning, you will see a vast difference between the low and higher prices. Often, service providers will keep the amount they charge per hour private. The main reason is that they will attempt to close a service agreement at the highest possible per-job cost and then adjust their allotted time to do the cleaning to maximize profits.

More often than not, some cleaners will only accept a job for what they are worth. On the other hand, some uninformed clients may sign up for a service that costs much more than the average without any explanation. So, we compile pricing data from a few reliable sources and base the listed rates on that. This keeps the service provider and client from getting ripped off.

Our pricing is simple and easy to understand, as listed in our rates for residential and commercial services page.

CUSTOM-TAILORED SERVICE LISTS

Furthermore, unlike many large companies that use cookie-cutter lists with little to no flexibility to accommodate many clients' service needs, we will make the extra effort to custom-tailor a cleaning list for each client.

Wide-array of Cleaning Experience

To better understand why Elegant Empire is a top choice for your cleaning needs, our in-depth article covers why people choose us more often than not over our competitors. Besides having experience since 2011, we cover a full spectrum of cleaning services for your living and workspace. To see a complete list of benefits, please read more here.