What kind of first impression does your professional space create? Do clients and contacts enter your office and view your business as a professional enterprise, or does your premises leave them feeling less than impressed?

Appearances matter, which means that how your offices and commercial spaces look can make a big difference to how your business is perceived. From landing your next account to maintaining long-term business relationships, a well-maintained office space can be the difference between a great reputation and losing out on custom.

Keeping your commercial space in great condition may sound straightforward, but as business owners know all too well, there are only so many hours in a day. With little time to devote to maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in your workspace, it’s easy to let things slide – but very difficult to notice when they do. When we work in the same environment everyday, it’s common to become acclimatised to your surroundings, which makes it difficult to spot when your standards slip.

To help you keep on top of office cleanliness and ensure that you always create a positive first impression, the team at The Abbey Cleaning Service have put together a quick rundown of the 3 most common “cleaning faux pas” visitors might notice in your professional space, so you can make sure that you don’t send your guests running…

1. Smell

Diffuser imageScent is one of our most powerful and memorable senses. Whether your visitors arrive after a lunchtime of microwaved Pot Noodles or first thing in the morning, your premises should always smell fresh.

This isn’t always easy with a busy space full of staff, but keeping on top of general cleaning, ensuring that any food preparation areas are cleaned promptly and regularly removing waste will help tackle the problem.

To add a pleasant aroma to your space, reed diffusers and other air freshening products may also be a good idea.

2. Clutter

Office clutter imageIs your professional space jammed with paper, paraphernalia and assorted junk?

This is one of the first things that your visitors are likely to notice, creating the impression that yours is a disorganised business.

Providing storage space for staff, setting up filing systems and providing plenty of bins and recycling points will all help tackle the clutter, while regular cleaning will ensure that mess doesn’t have the opportunity to build up.

3. Carpets

Carpet imageWhether they’re waiting for a meeting or watching a presentation, the state of your carpets is likely to receive your visitors’ attention if it’s not up to scratch.

From dirt to debris, a poorly maintained carpet can suggest unprofessionalism and a lack of attention to detail to your clients and contacts.

In high footfall areas, daily vacuuming is essential to maintain a professional appearance.

What do you first notice when you visit another business’s premises? Which cleaning tasks do you find it most difficult to keep up with? As Cardiff and South Wales’ go-to commercial cleaners, we know exactly what it takes to keep your offices and professional spaces in prime condition. To ensure you make the right first impression, enquire with our team today.

[Image credits – 1, 2, 3]