A Sobering Reminder: Respect for Cleaners—and Safety at Every Job

We at The CoBuilders were deeply saddened to learn about the tragic death of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez de Velásquez, a 32-year-old house cleaner and mother of four, who was fatally shot in Whitestown, Indiana.

Her story is heartbreaking, and it resonates across our industry: cleaning professionals are hardworking, dedicated people who serve with pride and deserve safety, dignity and respect.

While the investigation continues, this incident shines a harsh light on risk factors for cleaning professionals and highlights two critical truths:

1. Every cleaner and home-services worker deserves safe, clear processes and protocols that protect them.
2. Clients, hosts and homeowners have a duty of respect—both to the person cleaning their space and to the process of allowing their work to be done with dignity.

At The CoBuilders, these principles are not optional. They are foundational.

Our Commitment to Cleaner Safety at The CoBuilders

In light of this tragedy and as part of our ongoing mission, we reaffirm our key safety practices and proudly share a few of our robust protections:

• Clear job-address verification: Before any cleaner is dispatched, we cross-check the address, match job details with the client, and support cleaners with a live map link so they can verify arrival at the correct property.

• Check-in/out technology: Cleaners check in via our app when they arrive, and check out when the job is complete. This ensures both sides (cleaner and client) know when the service begins and ends.

• Photo documentation for complicated jobs: In higher-risk scenarios (large properties, odd hours, unfamiliar job sites) we provide the cleaner with map of the location and specific sites locations to be cleaned.

• Client–cleaner communication guidelines: We prompt clients and cleaners upfront to confirm arrival, verify the property and acknowledge the job scope—ensuring mutual clarity.

• Pre-assignment orientation & training: Cleaners receive training on entering unfamiliar spaces, verifying access, avoiding assumptions, and what to do if something doesn’t match (locked doors, no one home, unclear instructions).

These steps do not eliminate all risk—but they are built to reduce it significantly. And we want every homeowner and client to know: these protocols are active because we value our workforce and their safety.

Respect Goes Both Ways

Cleaners are more than “help.” They are skilled professionals who care for homes, maintain high standards, manage sensitive spaces and often juggle personal responsibilities at home.

They deserve courtesy and respect.

As part of our client agreement, we require that all clients affirm:

• Respectful treatment: Cleaners should be greeted as professionals and treated with dignity.
• Clear instructions: The job address, access method (key, code, lockbox), time, expectations and special notes must be clearly communicated.
• Home readiness: If entry is required, make sure the cleaner has full access and knows where to park / where to enter safely.
• Emergency clarity: If something is odd (mismatched address, suspicious occupant, locked door) the cleaner is empowered to pause the service and contact both our support line and the client before proceeding further.

Clients violating respectful-treatment standards or ignoring communication protocols may face scheduling suspension or service termination. We stand firm: the safety and dignity of our cleaners is non-negotiable.

What We Can All Learn

From Maria’s case of accidentally arriving at the wrong house, several lessons are crystal clear:

• Address accuracy matters. A single digit or unit mismatch can turn serious.
• Entry clarity matters. Cleaners arriving before anyone meets them should have the correct access.
• Communication matters. Clients and hosts should confirm: “Yes, this is the right time, the right address, the right key/code.”
• Respect matters. Any service worker entering a private home should do so safely, respectfully and with full situational awareness.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Maria’s family and to every cleaning professional who shows up day after day doing important, often invisible work.

How You Can Help Us Keep Cleaners Safe

If you are booking a cleaning service—whether through The CoBuilders or another provider—here are simple things you can do:

• Double-check your job address, unit number, and parking instructions.
• Ask your cleaner: “Do you have everything you need to enter safely today?”
• Offer a friendly greeting at arrival. Time them in/out.
• Avoid leaving cleaners to “figure it out” alone—if the door is locked, someone should meet them or provide real-time access instructions.
• Treat cleaners with appreciation. A little recognition goes a long way.

The CoBuilders Pledge

We promise to continue investing in technology, training and respectful-service standards that elevate home-cleaning work. We want every service to feel safe—every cleaner to feel valued—and every client to feel confident.

We stand for:

• Safe jobs
• Clear communication
• Respectful treatment
• Quality outcomes

We do not stand for mistakes in address verification, unsafe entry practices, ambiguous job details, or any scenario that puts a human at risk.

In memory of Maria and in honor of all hardworking cleaners across America: thank you for showing up, making homes brighter, and treating every space with care.

You matter. Your safety matters.

And so does the dignity of the work you do.

If you are a homeowner or client reading this: please treat the person cleaning your home with the respect and preparation they deserve.

👉 For safe, professional, and humane cleaning services across the country, visit www.thecobuilders.com and let us help you protect your home—and the people who make it shine.

— The CoBuilders Team

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