A Northmark facility walkthrough is a free, on-site visit where we tour your building with you, record what needs to be cleaned or maintained, and then send a written scope and proposal. Most walkthroughs take 30 to 60 minutes for an office or clinic. You can book a time online or call (701) 561-6324. We serve Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead.
Why we quote from a walkthrough, not a phone call
Two buildings with the same square footage can need very different amounts of work. A 10,000-square-foot law office with two restrooms and mostly carpet is a different job from a 10,000-square-foot clinic with eight restrooms, exam rooms and hard floors throughout. Phone quotes based only on size tend to go one of two ways:
- Too high, because the vendor pads the price to cover what they could not see.
- Too low, which usually means a rushed crew, skipped tasks and a price increase a few months later.
A walkthrough lets us price the actual work, write a scope you can hold us to and avoid surprises for both sides. Our commercial cleaning cost guide explains the variables we look at.
What happens during the walkthrough
Before the visit
When you book, we ask a few questions so the visit is efficient:
- Building address and approximate size
- Type of facility and operating hours
- What prompted you to look for a provider: new building, vendor problems, growth or a lease change
- Whether you need cleaning, maintenance, aerial documentation or a combination
On site
We walk the building with you, or with whoever knows it best. Along the way we note:
- Space types and sizes: offices, open workspace, conference rooms, restrooms, breakrooms, lobbies, corridors, storage, production or warehouse areas.
- Surfaces: carpet, resilient tile, sealed concrete, ceramic tile, glass.
- Fixtures and touchpoints: restroom fixtures, sinks, partitions, high-touch hardware.
- Occupancy and traffic: how many people use the building and when.
- Access and security: keys or fobs, alarm system, restricted rooms, lock-up expectations. See our security and access control standards.
- Your priorities: what matters most to you, and what went wrong before.
For property maintenance we also note visible condition issues and recurring upkeep needs. For aerial inspection we discuss what you need documented, the site boundaries and any airspace considerations.
After the visit
You receive:
- A written scope listing each task by area and frequency
- A recommended service schedule with the reasoning behind it
- A proposal with pricing tied to the scope
- Our onboarding plan, including access setup, first-visit date and supervisor QA schedule
Our scope of work template shows the format, so you know what to expect and can compare it with other proposals.
How to prepare
You do not need to prepare much, but these help:
- A floor plan, if you have one
- Your current cleaning scope or contract, if you are switching providers
- A list of recurring complaints or problem areas
- Any vendor requirements: insurance limits, background check rules, badging
If you are comparing several companies, our list of questions to ask a janitorial company will help you get comparable answers from each one.
What it costs
The walkthrough is free and carries no obligation. If our proposal is not the right fit, you keep the scope document, which is useful for comparing other bids.
Who should attend
The most productive walkthroughs include someone who knows how the building is used day to day: an office manager, practice administrator, facilities lead or property manager. If security is a priority, the person who manages keys and alarm codes should join for the access discussion.
Walkthroughs for portfolios and multi-site buyers
If you manage several buildings, we can walk them in one trip or over a few scheduled visits. Each building still gets its own scope, but all of them use the same format, so you can compare pricing and service levels across the portfolio. Property managers often start with one or two representative buildings, review the proposals, then schedule the rest. See multi-site janitorial for how ongoing service works across sites.
Frequently asked questions
Is the facility walkthrough really free?
Yes. The walkthrough and written proposal are free and carry no obligation.
How long does a walkthrough take?
Most offices and clinics take 30 to 60 minutes. Larger buildings, warehouses and multi-site portfolios take longer.
How soon will we get a proposal?
We send the written scope and proposal promptly after the visit. Complex or multi-site proposals may take a little longer.
Can you start quickly if we need to switch vendors?
Often, yes. Once the scope and access setup are agreed, we schedule the first visit around your current vendor's notice period.
Published · Northmark Facility Services.