Insured, Bonded and Background-Checked: What Each One Means
Three phrases on almost every cleaning company website, and they protect you against very different things. Here is what each one covers, which matters most, and how to check it in five minutes.
Sherlock Holmes Cleaning · Hiring guide
Three promises, three different risks
Almost every cleaning company says it is insured, bonded and background-checked. The words get listed together as if they were one thing, but each one answers a different question: who pays if something is damaged, who pays if someone is hurt, and who is actually walking into your house.
Knowing the difference matters most on Cape Cod, where a lot of homes are cleaned while the owner is off-Cape and a crew has a key or a door code. Here is what each term means in plain language, and the quick checks that separate a real answer from a line on a website.
Insured: two kinds that matter
General liability insurance pays for damage a company causes to your property or injury it causes to someone else. A crew knocks over a lamp, a floor machine scratches a hardwood floor, a cleaning product stains a countertop: this is the policy that responds.
Workers compensation covers the cleaners themselves if they are hurt on the job. In Massachusetts, employers are required to carry it for their employees. It matters to you because, without it, an injury on your property can turn into a claim that lands on your own homeowner policy. A company that says it is insured but has no workers comp is only insured halfway.
Bonded and background-checked, explained
These two are about trust rather than accidents, and they are often misunderstood.
Bonded
A janitorial bond pays you back if an employee steals from you. It usually requires proof of the theft, sometimes a conviction, and it pays only up to the bond amount. Useful, but narrower than most people assume.
Background-checked
The company has screened its staff before sending them into homes. In Massachusetts that typically includes a criminal record check through the state CORI system. Ask what is checked and how often, not just whether.
Employees, not strangers
Some companies send subcontractors who change from week to week. Insurance and checks mean more when the company knows exactly who is coming, and the same faces return.
How to check, in five minutes
You do not have to take any of this on trust. A good company will answer these without hesitation.
Ask for
- A certificate of insurance for general liability, with current dates
- Proof of workers compensation coverage
- The bond amount, if the company says it is bonded
- What the background check includes and who it covers
- Whether the same crew comes each visit
Watch out for
- Insurance that expired or covers a different business name
- Vague answers like we are fully covered with nothing in writing
- Crews who change every visit with no names given
- Cash-only pricing with no written agreement
- Pressure to book before you have seen any of the above
What this means for your home
Seasonal homes and key access
If your house is cleaned while you are away, the company is holding your key or code and working without anyone watching. That is exactly when liability coverage, a known crew and clear records matter most. Ask how keys and codes are stored and who has access to them.
Rentals and turnover
For a short-term rental, damage during a turnover is a business problem as well as a household one. Make sure the cleaning company carries liability coverage that fits the work, and keep its certificate on file with your other rental paperwork.
Our approach
Our crews are insured and background-checked, and we think every company you consider, including us, should be able to show you the paperwork before the first visit. If anything on this list is missing from a quote, ask about it. It is a fair question, and the answer tells you a lot.
A tip on the certificate. Ask for the certificate of insurance to be sent directly from the insurance agent, with you named as the certificate holder. It takes the agent a few minutes, and it confirms the policy is real and current on the day it is issued.
We clean homes in Falmouth, Chatham and Orleans, and in every other town on the Cape. Learn more about our team, see our house cleaning service, or read the 7 questions to ask before hiring a cleaning company.
Insurance and background checks: common questions
What is the difference between insured and bonded?
Insurance covers accidental damage and injuries. A bond covers theft by an employee, usually only with proof and only up to the bond amount. They protect against different risks.
Do cleaning companies in Massachusetts need workers comp?
Massachusetts requires employers to carry workers compensation for their employees. Ask for proof, because an uninsured injury on your property can become a claim against your own policy.
What is a CORI check?
CORI is the Massachusetts criminal record system. Employers can request records through the state to screen staff before they work in homes and businesses.
Should I ask for a certificate of insurance?
Yes. It is a one-page document showing the policy, the coverage and the dates. Asking for it to come directly from the agent is the simplest way to confirm it is current.
Does my homeowner insurance cover a cleaner who gets hurt?
It might, depending on your policy, and that is exactly the situation you want to avoid. A cleaning company with its own workers compensation keeps that claim off your policy.
Questions before you book?
Tell us about your home and your town. We will reply with a written price and answer any question on this list, with no pressure and no obligation.
The Sherlock Holmes Cleaning team
Everything here comes from the crews doing the work, not from a copywriter. We started by cleaning and disinfecting businesses during the pandemic, then reinvested in carpet, upholstery, power washing and restoration equipment. Today we clean houses, seasonal rentals and businesses from Bourne to Provincetown, with insured, background-checked crews and a written price before anyone starts.
Nine services, one crew, the whole Cape
Keep reading
September 7, 2026
Why Cape Cod Windows Get Hazy: Salt Spray Explained
September 10, 2026
Closing Up a Seasonal Home: What to Clean Before You Leave
September 21, 2026