Whether you run a short-term rental or own a vacation home, you want to give your guests the best possible stay. That means you need to be sure your property is clean and well-maintained.
Hiring a cleaning service can be a great way to save time and ensure your guests have an unforgettable experience. But you have to make sure you hire the right service!
Cost
A clean home not only makes your guests feel welcome and comfortable, but it also reflects well on your business. A clean vacation rental can increase the value of your listing and make it more attractive to potential guests, leading to more bookings.
Cleaning a rental property requires more than simply making the space spotless, however. You may need to clean the gutters, empty the trash bins, or power wash the driveway.
Depending on the size of your vacation rental, you may want to hire a cleaning service or set up an in-house team. Regardless of which option you choose, it’s essential to establish who will be cleaning your properties and ensure that they have the right skills to meet your standards.
Hiring a professional cleaner can save you time and money, as they have the expertise to provide a consistent, high-quality experience for your guests. It can also be helpful to have a contract in place that protects you and your property, as it allows you to clearly outline the level of service that you expect from your cleaning staff.
Another benefit of using a professional cleaning service is that you can schedule specific times for them to work on your vacation rental. This will help you keep your property fresh and tidy even in high turnover periods.
One important thing to note is that a professional cleaning service can charge significantly more than a DIY alternative. This is because they will have access to specialized equipment, including cleaning products and vacuums that you might not have in your home.
If you are a do-it-yourselfer, it is essential to have the proper supplies on hand at all times. Whether you are planning to do it yourself or use a professional cleaning service, having the proper products on hand will ensure that your vacation rental stays as clean as possible and will improve your guest reviews.
Using a cleaning checklist can help you keep track of all your tasks and stay organized, which will allow you to make sure that your vacation rental is always clean for guests. It will also make your life easier when you need to provide instructions to guests about what they should do before checking out of your vacation rental.
Time
When it comes to your vacation rental property, you want to make sure it’s clean and ready for guests. However, this can be a tricky task. Especially when your guests are coming to your vacation home on short notice, it can be difficult to know how much time you have to spend cleaning.
In order to give yourself an accurate estimate of how long it will take you to complete the vacation rental cleaning, you should consider several factors. One of the biggest is the size of your property. If you have a large home, it will be much more time-consuming to clean than if you were working with a smaller, more manageable space.
Another factor is how many bedrooms are in the property. The more bedrooms there are, the longer it will take to clean the entire property.
You’ll also want to consider how big your kitchen and bathroom are, as these areas need to be thoroughly cleaned between each guest. This means washing towels and linens, wiping down appliances, and getting into those nooks and crannies that you might not see when doing regular household cleaning.
Once you have a good idea of how much time it will take to complete the vacation rental cleaning, you can start preparing for the work. For example, you can make a list of all the cleaning tasks that need to be completed before your guests arrive. This list will help you save time by avoiding a lot of unnecessary steps.
A third step you can take to speed up the vacation rental cleaning process is hiring a cleaning service. There are a number of companies that specialize in cleaning Airbnb properties. Some of them offer automatic scheduling and connections with listing sites. Others, such as Maid This, even have a dedicated section for Airbnb cleaning on their website.
Whether you decide to hire a professional cleaning company or an independent cleaner, it’s important to have a clear contract in place. Having this written agreement will allow you to refer back to it in case of any issues. Having a well-drafted contract will also help you protect yourself from disputes and ensure that the vacation rental cleaning company you hire does a quality job.
Equipment
Keeping your short-term rental spotless before and after guests arrive is one of the most important things for vacation property owners. A dirty home can ruin your reputation as a host, stifle future bookings, and make it more difficult to earn 5-star reviews from travelers.
In order to keep your Airbnb spotless, you’ll need the right equipment to clean the space thoroughly. This can include a number of products, such as vacuum cleaners, disinfectants, and sanitizers.
A vacuum cleaner can help you get into corners and nooks that you may otherwise miss. You can also use it to clean windows, mirrors, and tiles.
If you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, make sure it’s durable and reliable. The last thing you want is a machine that breaks down after a few uses.
Other essential cleaning supplies for your short-term rental include a squeegee to remove streaks and excess water, plus wipes and cloths for disinfecting countertops and other surfaces. You’ll also need a few different kinds of scrubbing sponges to tackle tough stains and grease.
You’ll also need a variety of different toilet rolls, towels, and toiletries to maintain your guests’ cleanliness during their stay. This will save you time and money in the long run.
It’s also a good idea to leave a few items inside your short-term rental for your guests to use, such as a vacuum cleaner and mop. It’s a great way to save guests time and effort, especially if they’re staying for a longer period of time or have multiple people sharing the room.
Another essential item for your short-term rental is an antibacterial spray that can be used on appliances, such as stoves and coffeemakers. It’s important to wipe down these appliances after every use to prevent bacteria from building up and to avoid a bad reputation for your business.
To ensure you’re getting the most out of your vacation rental cleaning process, it’s a good idea to prepare a checklist that details all the different areas to be cleaned and the steps that will need to be taken to achieve a flawlessly clean home. Using this checklist every time you clean your short-term rental will ensure that it’s spotless before and after each guest arrives.
Safety
Whether you’re a host or a property manager, you know that a clean, well-maintained vacation rental home is a key part of providing an excellent guest experience. Not only does a spotless home encourage repeat bookings, it also helps to increase your rating and reviews.
Keeping your vacation rental clean is important for many reasons, including the health and safety of guests and staff. In fact, Covid-19 reports that travelers are now making vacation choices based on safety. This means short-term rentals need to show they can compete with hotels by training staff in certified cleaning and disinfection protocols, while minimizing other safety concerns such as noise, unauthorized access, theft, and injury due to a lack of safety devices or poorly maintained facilities.
To help ensure your short-term rental maintains the highest standards for safety, use a cleaning certification program like this one that adheres to guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Display the certificate prominently on your website or premise so guests can see your commitment to their health and safety.
Another way to keep your property and its surroundings safe is to have a thorough inspection conducted twice a year. This includes inspecting for loose steps, tripping hazards, slippery tubs, broken railings, and other safety issues. It also involves checking for safety devices such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
There are also a number of apps and services that offer professional cleaners to clean your property at a fraction of the cost. These include Handy, AirTasker, MaidThis, TurnoverBnB, and Properly.
These platforms provide affordable pricing, the ability to reschedule and even send messages to your cleaners through your smartphone. They’re also staffed by independent professionals who are screened and guaranteed to deliver top quality service.
Taking the time to create a contract before you begin working with a new cleaning company can make sure that you have all of the details covered and that there is no confusion. Having a good contract in place will also give you an opportunity to highlight any special requests and expectations that you have for your rental.
