I’m looking for opinions on quilts vs. duvets for vacation r...
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I’m looking for opinions on quilts vs. duvets for vacation rentals. I manage 47 homes, some with up to 14 bedrooms. Currently...
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Hello. We are in an area of the Catskills where there is nowhere for guests to deposit their garbage. They are required to take it home.
Now we know many don't want to do that. We don't live nearby so we can't come and take it away. What do others do? Do you pay a service to come take the garbage away?
Thank you!
If you don't live nearby then you must have a cleaning company that preps for next guest. Can you ask them to adjust their fee to include and then that is the cleaning fee of the unit. Seems a better answer then expecting guest to do, guest doesn't do and you have to solve long distance.
Yes, that is a good idea. I will look into that.
Also- We have to get a better washer/dryer so the cleaners can do that for us and we don't have to come back.
Do you have your cleaners do the wash for each new guest visit?
When I had outside cleaners.
I listed everything I needed done including laundry, vacuuming trash etc.
I don't like to actively manage people's hours just not my style.
I would determine in my head average time to clean, usually about 3 or 4 hours.. Then I would determine what I thought was a fair hourly rate. I take in pluses to the cleaning company steady work and such.
I also take into consideration I am hiring someone with cleaning skills but because I am not present I want someone who has some management skills also making sure work is done when needed, if there is something I need to handle I am informed, things like that and I determine an hourly rate.
Then when I am talking to the cleansers, like I say I am a brain picker, so I present my list but ask for any input of things I didn't think of.
Then I will discuss my thoughts of length of time to do list.
When wee are both in agreement, then I ask my cleaner to give me a set price per turnover.. My idea of price is just something in my head that I use to review if their proposed price is in the range..Too low is not always a bargain sometimes it is because expectations don't match, too high I review am I thinking too low or do two other companies price where I am thinking.
As to putting in a washer and dryer in the unit, yes that is a big plus but again don't try and solve the problem before you discus with who is actually doing the work.
In Hawaii, an island, so things like installing aa big appliance attaching to city water is not always a matter of just go buy a washer. A cabin in the woods probably requieres some thought s and funds. Usually we found the cleaners could take the linens home wash them and make the beds next day We had o pay extra and could not offer same day turn arounds but some owners put in laundry some never did
Thank you, Marie. I see what you mean and would like to have a manger handle things. Will look into it and also look into costs of washer/dryer. It has to be all worth it!
What I did with the one's in Hawaii we consider far haha, is sort of aaaaa readiness manager, but I did the business management. So I contract with 1 company to take care of laundry, trash, and cleaning, and then I only have to manage 1 company performance.
I handled the customer aspects. They didn't deal with my customers. It is just recognizing if you can't randomly check then you probably want to hire someone who has a cleaning reputation not someone who is just trying too earn extra money and thinks cleaning is easy.
@Susan5889 We do not have trash service either. Guests are asked to secure their trash in the containers we provide and then our yard maintenance handyman removes the trash after each and every guest departure. We pay him for his time and mileage to the dump ($25).
Thank you, Lorna. I like your idea but we have to look into getting trash containers that are BEAR proof! Otherwise, I may look into having the cleaners handle the trash and pay them extra. I really appreciate your help.
@Susan5889 I would think a combination of getting bear proof containers....beause you don't want smouldering trash inside the house for any amount of time or outside trash that will attract animals and pests.....and then paying either the cleaners or someone else to remove the trash after each guest.
Hi @Susan5889 ,
As others have said I'd ask your cleaning people to remove the garbage. If I stayed for a week I would not be happy if I had to take all the garbage with me.
Regarding the sheets question, I have my cleaner was the sheets each time, we have two sets for each bed.
Hi @Susan5889 , Experienced Hosts Lorna, Marie,Mark and Jonathan have shared valid pointers for consideration. Did you happen to buy trash containers and hire a yard maintenance handyman as Lorna suggested? Based on the comments from other Hosts, how are you thinking of solving this issue further?
Well, we are going to look for a cleaner who takes away garbage. If we can't find one, we will look into paying someone to do it after the guests leave. It's just another expense but we will have to do it if need be. Trash containers are usually not bear-proof. Bears rip into car trunks to get food so I don't see that as an option. I'm sure it makes sense in a less rural area. I am so grateful for all these suggestions in the community.
Thanks so much @Susan5889 for coming back and updating us! I'll tag the Hosts who have supported in this topic, so that they can notice your thank you note and also note how you're thinking to progress with the situation and if they had any follow-up recommendations. Thank you @Mark116 @Jonathan2534 @Marie8425 @Lorna170 for sharing your support for Susan! 🌻