For many of us domestically challenged folks, the prospect of hiring household help seems like the ultimate luxury. And while you might be surprised to find out that a one-time visit from a professional maid service can actually be affordable, running on average about $50 (sometimes less if you can land yourself a special for first-time customers), some of us just can't bring ourselves to pick up the phone and hire someone to clean our houses. After all, that's something we can do ourselves, right? A root canal might seem like a more pleasant alternative to scrubbing your bathroom and cleaning the kids' bedrooms, and you may put those chores off for weeks as if they're the plague, but still you avoid paying someone else to do the job for you.

For a growing number of time-pressed Americans, however, hiring a professional maid service is something we're quite happy to do. Since our time is so limited between work and home responsibilities, performing household chores is hardly how we want to spend the few free hours left over at the end of the day.

But how do you hire a service in which you can be confident? You don't want to hire a so-called professional cleaning service only to discover upon their departure that your microwave still contains traces of last week's reheated lasagna or that your kitchen floors haven't been swept.

1. Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations. If you don't know of anyone off-hand who has recently used a maid service, open the Yellow Pages, and as you begin calling various companies, ask each one for a list of their recent references. You'll want to obtain at least three estimates before you choose a service, and make sure that you've called at least one of their references first.

2. Determine exactly which tasks you need a professional cleaning service to perform. If it's easy for you to take care of the more general chores, and you really need someone to assume responsibility for the more laborious tasks like window-washing, dusting, bathrooms and kitchen, make sure you communicate those preferences to your prospective cleaning service. You could save yourself a considerable amount of money in the process.

3. As you begin to speak with companies, ask them to come to your home for an on-premises interview. This will ensure that the service is able to determine the magnitude of the job, and it gives them the opportunity to decline if they feel it's beyond their present capabilities. In addition, if they determine the price to clean your home is higher than they originally expected, they can communicate the price to you and avoid surprises later. Before you speak with any companies, draw up a list of the chores you need performed in your home. Ask the service representative to review the list, and inform you of any chore they cannot clean for you. Before the representative leaves, make sure you have a firm estimate in writing.

4. Ask how long the cleaning service has been in business. Obviously, a company with a long history of service in your community is one worth interviewing. In addition, you'll need to figure out how often you'll need the company's services. The company will probably offer you their services on a more frequent basis than you (and your budget) need. With some simple maintenance, you can keep your house in presentable condition until the service's next visit to your home. And finally, obtain in writing the specific chores the service will perform, the schedule for their visits, and the price for each visit.

   Speak with the company about what kinds of supplies they'll need to clean your home. You may have many of those supplies in your home already, which will save you money. If the maid service needs to purchase new supplies to clean your home, you're going to see the cost later -- and in some cases, it could be higher than you'd ordinarily pay for simple cleaning solutions, scrub brushes and the like. Make sure your written agreement with your cleaning service contains a clause requiring the service to obtain your permission before purchasing any new cleaning supplies. Another reason you need to ask which supplies the company will use is that some companies will tell you they provide all cleaning supplies ... but that only means a dust rag and an all-purpose cleaning solution. If you want them to use a greater variety of products and/or more concentrated products, it's possible you may need to purchase them yourself.

5. Ask the company if they've reviewed the resident statuses of their employees. According to Merry Maids, a Boca Raton, Florida-based professional cleaning service, if you find a company whose price seems too low to be true, it's possible that the company has neglected to pay Social Security and income taxes for its employees. And are the employees genuine employees of the company? Or are they merely subcontractors? Subcontractors usually aren't covered under the company's insurance.

6. Before you hire a company to clean your home, ask for proof of liability insurance, the dollar amount of the company's insurance, and the expiration date of their coverage. Why do you need to ask for the dollar amount? If you own anything with a value that exceeds the company's total coverage, and something happens to that item due to an accident, negligence or other unforeseen circumstances, you might find yourself without recourse. Because renter's and homeowner's insurance policies typically do not contain clauses about cleaning company employees, the company's liability insurance is likely to be your only defense.

7. To protect yourself in the event that any of your possessions are damaged or missing after cleaning service employees depart your home, ask for proof of bonding in writing before you hire a company, and ask for a photocopy for your records. Without that document, there's not much you can do if you discover that any of your possessions have been damaged or are missing after a cleaning service has left your home.

8. Always treat individuals who come into your home with respect and dignity. That will make you a better consumer, one more likely to get the best possible results.

Hiring a professional to clean your home can be a worthwhile expense, provided you know exactly what you're getting for the price -- and that the employees perform services that live up to your expectations. Determining what your expectations are up front, and then agreeing on those terms in writing before the job begins, is the best way to guarantee that you spend your money wisely.