Decide the type of clean, not just the floor area
A maintenance clean (2–3 hours for a two-room flat) means dust, vacuuming, floors and the bathroom. A deep clean adds the inside of cupboards, the windows and degreasing the kitchen, and takes two to three times longer. Post-renovation cleaning is the hardest of all: cement dust in every corner, paint marks, adhesive on the tiles. If you ask for “cleaning, two-room flat” without naming the type, the quote you get will be for the light version — and you find out the difference when it is too late.
Ask who brings the products and the equipment
Most providers arrive with their own detergents, but not all of them. The vacuum, the mop and a step ladder for windows matter just as much. Ask explicitly in the chat before booking: if the answer is “you provide them”, add 150–300 MDL of consumables you buy yourself. For post-renovation work, ask separately whether they have a professional vacuum — a household one clogs with cement dust in ten minutes.
Read what the reviews say, not just the star count
A 4.9 rating from three reviews tells you less than a 4.6 from forty. Read the negative comments: “arrived 20 minutes late” is a different matter from “left the bathroom unwashed and walked out”. Look for jobs similar to yours in the reviews — someone excellent at weekly upkeep is not necessarily the right person for a post-builders clean.
Ask for the estimate in hours, not just a total
A quote of “400 MDL for the whole flat” tells you nothing until you know how many hours it covers. If the provider estimates 3 hours at 50 MDL/hour and the work takes 5, who pays the difference? Settle that beforehand. The right formula is hourly rate × estimated duration, with an agreed margin for the case where the flat is dirtier than the photos suggested.
Be wary of prices far below the market
With a starting rate of 50 MDL/hour in Chișinău, an offer of 25 MDL/hour means one of three things: the person has no experience and the time estimate will balloon, they have no equipment, or the price is bait and the sum grows on site. A price 10–15% under the average is normal negotiation. Half price is a warning sign.