Post by John Reale

After more than a decade in the commercial cleaning industry, I'm still surprised by how often critical compliance and risk questions are overlooked when appointing a cleaning contractor. Price matters, but it's only one part of the equation. Before engaging a cleaning contractor, here are five questions every building manager and strata manager should at the very least be asking: 1. Do you hold a current Labour Hire Licence? If not, the risk doesn't sit solely with the contractor. As the host organisation, penalties for engaging an unlicensed provider can be significant. 2. Do you directly employ your cleaners, or subcontract the work? Many clients are unaware of the risks associated with sham contracting arrangements. Understanding who actually employs the cleaners is essential. 3. Are your staff paid in accordance with the Cleaning Services Award, including superannuation, allowances and other entitlements? If a quote seems substantially cheaper than the market, it's worth asking how that's possible. 4. How do you verify attendance and completed works? Ask for evidence, not assurances. GPS-verified attendance, audit trails and documented quality inspections provide accountability. 5. Can you provide references from similar buildings? Past performance is often the best indicator of future performance. The reality is that cleaning contracts carry compliance, reputational and operational risks that extend well beyond the monthly invoice. At Realcorp, we've built our operating model around direct employment, full Award compliance, GPS-verified attendance and a transparent quality assurance framework. If you're reviewing cleaning contractors, direct message me and I'll share our full Responsible Procurement Checklist. #CommercialCleaning #FacilitiesManagement #StrataManagement #PropertyManagement #BuildingManagement #Melbourne