When it comes to vacation rentals, one of the top complaints that many guests have is about cleanliness. The cleanliness of your vacation rental property can single-handedly determine whether or not your guests have a positive experience and whether they come back on their next vacation!
Luckily for you, this problem is easily avoidable. All you need is a high-quality, detailed housekeeping company to ensure that each and every one of your guests has an incredible experience staying in your vacation rental.
What Makes Vacation Rental Cleaning Different?
When a high-quality vacation rental cleaning team comes in, they will go above and beyond typical house cleaning services. The following are just some of the tasks that they will take on:
- Washing linens used by guests.
- Sanitizing all the surfaces in between guests.
- Ensuring that the next guest has a sufficient supply of necessities, such as toilet paper or cleaning products.
- Checking the property for damage or missing items.
- Ensuring all the amenities and items on the property are in working order.
Ultimately, housekeeping in a vacation rental is about more than just cleaning, it involves preparing the property for the next guest in order to provide them with an excellent customer experience.
Can’t I Just Do It Myself?
First, you need to decide if you want to hire a house cleaning service for your vacation rental, or if you want to do the work yourself.
While doing the cleaning yourself is a great way to save money and increase your income with your vacation rental, it can also be a lot of hard work that requires endless amounts of time and energy.
If you live locally and are prepared to treat owning and managing a vacation rental as a full-time job, then this is a good option for you.
However, if you would rather avoid committing to deep cleaning your property multiple times a week on a quick turnaround all while preparing for your next guest, then it may be a good idea to hire a housekeeping service.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Cleaning Service?
Hiring a cleaning service is an excellent alternative to handling these tasks all on your own. Having a trusted cleaner to regularly go to your property in between guests and take care of all the jobs that need to be done provides a huge relief for you as a vacation rental owner.
Additionally, a skilled vacation rental cleaner can help you spot problems on the property that might otherwise go unnoticed. If they see a missing or damaged item after a guest has checked out, you will know immediately and can take care of the problem.
How Much Do Vacation Rental Cleaning Services Cost?
Cleaning fees for a vacation rental will vary depending on the size and location of the property. For example, a studio apartment in Nashville may cost you $25, whereas a 5 bedroom home in Park City may cost $250.
Generally, you should expect a higher cost for vacation rental cleaning than you would for typical house cleaning.
To help with this cost, you can charge your guests a cleaning fee and mention it when you market your rental property. Fortunately, many guests already expect this fee to be present in the price of the rental, as it is standard practice. Just make sure that this fee is not excessively high, as you still want to remain competitive in the market.
How Do I Find a Reputable Cleaning Service for My Vacation Rental?
If you’re struggling to find a reliable cleaning service, ask around! Other property owners in your area may have excellent suggestions for different companies to hire.
Additionally, you can try searching online listings, ads and local newspapers. When possible, always look for a cleaning company that is licensed, insured and bonded for your own protection and peace of mind.
Before deciding to hire a company, make sure to ask them for references, and call their former clients to gain insight into their reputation as a business.
What Questions Should I Ask a Housekeeper Before Hiring Them?
The following are some important questions to ask housekeepers before deciding whether or not to hire them for your vacation rental.
Do You Have Experience Cleaning Vacation Rentals?
Vacation rentals require more intensive work and detail than typical house cleaning does, so it is important that whoever you hire for your property understands this.
How Much Do You Charge for Scheduled Cleaning vs a Quick Turnaround?
The base rate of what you can expect to pay will be their fee for scheduled cleanings. It’s also important to know whether the company charges an extra fee for quick turnarounds or emergency cleanings.
How Many Cleaners Do You Have on Staff?
It’s best for a cleaning company to have more than one worker available. This means that the company is more likely to be able to help out should you need last-minute cleaning services.
What Services beyond Cleaning Are You Willing to Provide?
You will need to confirm that the company is willing to provide more than just your typical dusting and vacuuming services. Make sure to list all the extra services you expect them to do for your vacation rental.
Are You Willing to Do Periodic Deep Cleaning of the Property?
Ideally, the company you hire will be willing to do a semi-regular deep clean of your property. This includes things like washing curtains, flipping mattresses, and cleaning all kitchen appliances. This should happen twice a year to ensure that the rental remains in top condition.
Get Help from a Vacation Rental Property Management Company
Once you find an excellent housekeeper for your vacation rental, you’ll be able to make a great first impression on new guests and increase your rebooking rates for returning ones. If you have any other questions when it comes to hiring a housekeeper for your rental, contact our team at Advensory Vacation Rental Management today!