Aidan Bar-Lev-Wise
Do you need to be home for window cleaning? It's best to be home for a few minutes at the start and end, when we walk through the job with you. If you can't be, tell us when you book: exterior windows can often be cleaned while you're out, as long as the crew can reach the windows and an outdoor tap. For interior windows, someone has to let the crew in.
These are two of the questions our team hears most, along with "are you insured?" This guide answers all three, and shows how to check a window cleaner's insurance and WorkSafeBC registration before you book.
Do You Need to Be Home for Window Cleaning?
It's best to be home for the walkthroughs at the start and end of the job. If you can't be, exterior window cleaning can often go ahead while you're out, as long as the crew can get to every window and to water. Interior window cleaning needs you, or someone you trust, at home.
Exterior windows: how to get ready if you'll be out
For an exterior clean, our crew works from the outside of your home. If you won't be there, a little preparation helps the day go smoothly:
- Water access. We clean with a water-fed pole, so we need an outdoor tap. Let us know where it is when you book.
- A way into the yard. Leave gates unlocked, or share how to get in when you book.
- Pets inside. Dogs and cats are safer indoors while the crew moves around the yard.
- A clear path to the windows. Patio furniture, bikes or planters right under a window are easier to move before the crew arrives.
Interior windows: someone has to be there
Interior windows are cleaned by squeegee and microfibre, with the frames wiped down, and that means our technicians are inside your home. You, or someone you trust, needs to be there to let the crew in and point out anything that needs extra care.
The two walkthroughs
Every window cleaning starts and ends with a walkthrough with you. The first one checks the glass and frames for existing damage and sets expectations. The last one reviews the finished work.
So it's best to be home for those two walkthroughs. If you can't be, let us know when you book. We take before and after photos on every job, so you can see exactly what was done either way.
Are Window Cleaners Insured? What to Ask For in BC
A professional window cleaner in BC should carry liability insurance and be registered with WorkSafeBC. They cover different things, so ask about both.
Liability insurance: damage to your property
Liability insurance is the cover for damage to your property during the job, like a cracked pane or a scuffed frame. Ask how much coverage the company carries and whether they can show proof. WashTech carries $2 million in liability insurance.
WorkSafeBC registration: the crew and the premiums
WorkSafeBC is BC's workplace injury insurance. "Every worker in B.C. is automatically covered for any work-related injury, illness, or disease" (WorkSafeBC, 2026). WorkSafeBC collects the premiums that pay for that coverage from employers and registered businesses.
That's where it matters to you as the customer. WorkSafeBC recommends making sure a business you hire is registered and making its payments, and warns that if it isn't, "as a customer you could be held responsible for its premiums" (WorkSafeBC, 2026). That's why a check before you book is worth a few minutes.
How to Check a Window Cleaner's WorkSafeBC Clearance Letter
You check a company's WorkSafeBC status with a clearance letter. WorkSafeBC puts it simply: "You can check the registration and payment status of a business by getting a clearance letter from us" (WorkSafeBC, 2026).
Here's how it works:
- Ask for the company's WorkSafeBC account number, or note its exact legal or trade name.
- Use WorkSafeBC's online clearance letter application. Most types of clearance letters can be accessed online there, searched by account number or name (WorkSafeBC, 2026).
- Read the status. "Active and in good standing" means the company is registered and up to date with its payments. "Active and delinquent" means it owes premiums, and you could be held responsible for premiums related to your contract (WorkSafeBC, 2021).
- On a bigger job, it's worth checking again before the final payment. WorkSafeBC notes that a good standing clearance "is valid only until the date of the firm's last payment," unless the firm has advance clearance (WorkSafeBC, 2021). For businesses hiring subcontractors, WorkSafeBC's routine is a clearance letter before and after the work (WorkSafeBC, 2026).
A clearance letter tells you about registration and payment status. It says nothing about the quality of the work, so it sits alongside reviews and a clear quote when you choose a company.
Strata Councils and Property Managers: What to Keep on File
For a strata or managed building, keep the cleaning company's proof of liability insurance and a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter on file before work starts. A council or owner may ask for both, and having them ready makes the job easier to approve.
When you book, ask for:
- Proof of liability insurance
- The company's WorkSafeBC account number, or a clearance letter
- Before and after photos, so the council or owner can see what was done
- A clear scope: which windows, inside or outside, and whether frames and screens are included
We provide compliance documentation for strata councils and property managers. Our page on window cleaning for strata buildings covers how we work on multi-unit properties.
Three More Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
A clear quote answers these before the crew arrives:
- How long will it take? It depends on the size of the home and whether it's inside, outside or both, and most jobs are quick. Your quote tells you what to expect.
- What's included? Our exterior clean covers the glass and frames. Screens are cleaned when you ask for them, and anything stuck to the glass, like paint or silicone, is a separate service.
- What will it cost? Ask for a written quote with the full scope, so you're comparing the same work between companies.
How We Handle It at WashTech
Our team keeps the visit clear and straightforward. We walk through the job with you at the start and end, and take before and after photos on every job.
WashTech is WorkSafeBC compliant and carries $2 million in liability insurance, and we're trusted by homeowners and property managers across Greater Vancouver. Learn more about our window cleaning service, or read how we handle the same question for gutter cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't be home for the walkthrough?
Let us know when you book. The before and after photos we take on every job show you exactly what was done.
Do I need to move furniture for interior window cleaning?
It helps to clear small items right in front of the windows, like plants and photos. Anything else near the windows can be checked with the crew at the first walkthrough.
Should my dog be inside during an exterior clean?
Yes, please keep pets inside or away from the work area. The crew moves around the yard with poles and hoses, and it's safer for everyone.
Can you provide insurance and WorkSafeBC documentation?
Yes, for strata councils and property managers we provide compliance documentation for your records. Anyone can also check our WorkSafeBC status with a clearance letter, as explained above.
Do I need to be home for gutter cleaning too?
It works the same way. Gutter cleaning also starts and ends with a walkthrough, so it's best to be home for those, and we take before and after photos either way.
Key Takeaways
- It's best to be home for the walkthroughs at the start and end; the before and after photos cover you if you can't be.
- Exterior windows can often be cleaned while you're out, as long as the crew can reach the windows and an outdoor tap.
- Interior window cleaning needs someone home to let the crew in.
- In BC, ask for both liability insurance and WorkSafeBC registration.
- A WorkSafeBC clearance letter confirms a company's registration and payment status; on a bigger job, it's worth checking again before the final payment.
If you'd like a clear and straightforward quote for your windows, contact WashTech and we'll get back to you quickly.