How to Choose a Commercial Maintenance Contractor: Questions to Ask

Choosing the right commercial maintenance and cleaning contractor isn’t just about price. The contractor you select is going to be working at height on your building, potentially across multiple services over many years — so it’s worth knowing what separates a reliable, safe provider from a risky one.

1. What’s Your Health and Safety Record and System?

Any contractor working at height on your property should be able to show you a documented health and safety system, not just tell you they’re “careful.” Ask about their incident history, their risk assessment process, and how they manage site-specific hazards. Given the obligations property owners carry under the Health and Safety at Work Act, this isn’t just due diligence — it’s part of managing your own risk.

2. Are Your Technicians Certified for the Work They’ll Be Doing?

Height access work requires specific certification — rope access, EWP licensing, confined space training — depending on the job. Ask which certifications their technicians hold and how those are kept current.

3. What Insurance Do You Carry?

Confirm the contractor carries appropriate liability and worker’s compensation insurance, and ask for evidence rather than just taking it on trust.

4. Can You Handle the Full Range of Access Methods?

A contractor limited to one access method (say, only EWP) may not be able to safely or efficiently service every part of your building. Providers who work across rope access, scaffolding, and EWP can recommend the right method for each job, rather than fitting your building to their equipment.

5. How Do You Manage Disruption to Tenants and Visitors?

Ask how the contractor plans and schedules work to minimise disruption — this might include working outside business hours, managing pedestrian safety below work areas, and communicating with building occupants ahead of time.

6. What Reporting and Communication Can I Expect?

For ongoing maintenance relationships, ask whether the contractor provides job tracking, photographic evidence of completed work, and clear invoicing — this matters more than it sounds, especially for multi-site property portfolios where transparency and accountability are important.

7. Do You Have Experience with Buildings Like Mine?

A contractor experienced with high-rise office towers may approach things differently from one experienced with industrial or retail properties. Ask about similar projects they’ve completed and, where possible, speak to references.

8. What’s Included (and Not Included) in the Quote?

Get clarity on exactly what’s covered — access setup, equipment, disposal of waste or debris, and any conditions that might trigger additional costs (like unexpectedly severe buildup or weather delays).

9. Are You a One-Stop Provider, or Will I Need Multiple Contractors?

If your building needs a mix of services — window cleaning, gutter maintenance, painting, repairs — using a single provider who can coordinate across all of them reduces the administrative burden and the number of different access setups (and associated costs and disruption) your building goes through.

Why This Matters

The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value, particularly when height access and safety are involved. A contractor cutting corners on training, certification, or safety systems creates risk that lands back on you as the property owner if something goes wrong.

Goleman’s Approach

Goleman has over 30 years of experience across commercial asset maintenance and height access, with certified technicians, a documented health and safety system that exceeds legislative requirements, and the full range of access methods under one roof. Get in touch for a free site assessment and a transparent quote.