Does anyone here use Merry Maids to help with housecleaning?

[No Vested Interest]

6. The best choice is to get a recommendation frm a friend, neighbor, church group.

Recommendations are necessary to insure that it is someone you want having access to your home.
If an independent, you should make sure they are individual contractor, i.e., paying necessary taxes and social security, etc., in order to relieve yourself of responsibility in that area.
My ladies are independent contractors who advertise their services on Craig's List; because English is not their first language, my daughter takes the calls & explains their services to would be clients; in return she gets a free cleaning every 4-6 weeks.

Yes, it is customary that the first cleaning is a "deep" cleaning and more costly, after which they revert to regular service and a lower price.
I've never used Merry Maids.
Good luck.