How do you ensure a clean and safe environment for your guests?

[Paula]

Hello everyone 👋

First impressions count more than a thousand words. From the moment a guest enters a property, cleanliness plays a vital role in creating a successful and memorable experience.

Many hosts take different steps to ensure their space is spotless and safe, such as:

• Visiting the property before each check-in
  
• Requesting photos or videos from the cleaning team
  
• Using detailed cleaning checklists
  
• Scheduling deep cleans regularly
  

I’d love to hear from you: How do you ensure a clean and safe environment for your guests?

Share your experience in the comments, and let’s learn from one another.

Regards,

[Letty27]

This is a great idea!!! Sometimes I find myself repeating the same instructions over and over.  I will take time to make a list. Thank you for this idea.

[Paula]

I’m glad you found it useful, @Letty27! That’s exactly the spirit of the community, helping each other improve. 😊

Let us know when you implement this and how it goes.

[Paula]

This is a great suggestion, @Lee-And-Lisa2 thank you for sharing!

How many properties are you managing at the moment? I’m just wondering how feasible this approach is when hosting multiple properties. What’s your experience with that?

Regards,

[John8555]

Paula,

This is a great question and I look forward to an educated discussion regarding this topic from others that belong to this community. Among other things that we do, the following is very important to us: 

1) We required ID from those who are staying at the property, and as we live here on-site, we ensure that we greet guests upon arrival. We not only do this from a safety standard perspective (noting that the guests are who they are), but also from a customer service perspective. We ensure that guests are happy, have an easy transition in using the home and that they are aware of the location of all of the amenities that they may enjoy while staying with us and the hours of those amenities. We are also ensuring that they have everything that they need, and getting things for them (within reason) if they do not. This is everything from helping to celebrate special event (anniversaries, birthdays, etc.) and more! 

2) We have the cleaning teams take in and out photos. These help to ensure not only was the work done appropriately, but that we have a good record in case something breaks. Frankly, smaller items, we consider wear and tear (if a set of towels were to go missing). Bigger items, we will withhold a portion of the security deposit (things like a hole in the wall). In all of the stays with us, we have only one time needed to withhold a portion of a security deposit, and the person involved had integrity telling us of the issue, showing us and then we agreed on a path forward. We have been blessed to have amazing guests, many of which return every year. 

3) Deep cleans are performed regularly, and due to living in a coastal environment, many items that would normally be a "deep clean" in another geographic location, is our normal. 

4) In all homes, we have a booklet of not only great things to do here, important numbers, to call, but also the checkout listing of things to do. Our teams also have a listing of the tasks to be performed, and we allow adequate time between turns. This helps maintain order and to ensure things are not missed.  

5) All linens have 3 sets: one on the bed, one on the shelf, one in the waah is our phraseology for that one (I am fairly certain others came up with the wording, but it works).  I do realize (and we needed to at first as well), not everyone has a budget to start that way, especially with a lot of beds, but it is something to work towards.

6) We provide cleaning supplies, as well as other supplies for guest usage so that someone coming in from out of town isn't needing to go buy paper towels, dishwasher soap etc. Every home that we manage has a checklist of supplies. 

Those are a few things. Again, what a great question and I look forward to what others have to sy. 

[Paula]

Hello @John8555  Wow, this is a fantastic answer, thank you so much for sharing this in our community! 🙏

How long have you been hosting, and how many properties are you currently managing?

Also, you mentioned providing multiple sets of linens and fully stocking supplies, what have you found works best for keeping everything organized and ensuring a smooth turnover?

Looking forward to learning from your experience!

[John8555]

@Paula , 

Thank you for your kind words. We have had rental properties for over 15 years and have been here full time for over 3 years focusing on luxury beachfront and bayfront homes, as well as property management and weddings and events. This has been a great mixture of business and given the opportunity for us to come up with a variety of processes and procedures that work. Some lessons were easier to learn and others were not, as is life.  if there are things that we have learned that can benefit others in here, that is fantastic!  This is actually John's wife, Amanda, and we work together. 

The development that we have here on Follet's Island, Texas (Seahorse Estates) has 49 homesites, with 31 about to be built. We have 3 that are ready for sale (for occupancy by this summer) and the rest have owners. We are in a unique position here with all homes as waterfront with both beach and bay views, plus access to a wide variety of private amenities and private concierge services. We currently manage a portion of them, with more on the way. 

Things that work best for a quick turnover include having processes and procedures, as well as checklists and photos so that we know that there is no question on what needs to get done and how it is supposed to get done. Ex. Every home has a cleaning checklist on what is required from an overall clean and a deep clean. The team takes a photo prior to check-in (after cleaning sign-off) and then when they arrive. We also have a supplies checklist, so that the cleaning team can see that we have everything that we state that we supply and in sufficient amounts. We keep an on-site inventory of commonly utilized items. Additionally, we use only one color per size of sheet. All queens are one color, all kings another, etc. Most of our homes sleep 18 and above, so no-one wants / needs to take time  associating only one special color with one room, making it really hard for a new crew if someone is out, or just in general. This makes it easier to have a general inventory on hand so that if something happens and we need to throw out an item or it takes more time, we can just grab the next king or queen sheet. We are not looking for a custom item that is difficult to locate. When the owner is in town, if they have a unique item, new comforter, etc. we will of course put all of their things out for them, get the home ready and put the rental items up in the closet until the next rental. 

I think this is what you mean? If I missed the question, just let me know. We never stop learning and looking at what others are doing to see ways that we can improve as well. 

Have a great day!

[Paula]

Hello @John8555, Thanks for the detailed explanation. It’s very clear that you have a lot of experience in hosting. The color-coded linens and checklists are great ideas for keeping turnovers efficient. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with the community.

Please let me know if you’d be interested in participating in more conversations in the community and sharing your experience, as it can definitely help many hosts. 😊

Regards,

[Jenn24]

We pay to have a video inspection after every turn clean. Cuts into our earnings, but since we can't physically check every property before the next Guest arrives, it's the next best thing.

[Paula]

Hello @Jenn24,

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hadn’t heard of video inspections before, but it sounds very useful. Does the same cleaning company record this video, or is it done through a video call?

Regards,

[Lynda461]

I have a detailed checklist for every cleaning, and I clean & inspect the entire unit before every stay.  The entire unit is disinfected on all high-touch surfaces, including remote controls, light switches, door knobs, keypads, etc.  Deep cleaning and carpet cleaning is scheduled at regular intervals and I strive to use all natural cleaning solutions whenever possible.