Critique my listing

[Stephen1994]

I currently charge $30 for cleanup. I am considering raising this to $50. Does anyone have advice about cleanup policy? 

[Karen114]

Hi @Stephen1994 !  I am going to assume the cleanup you are referring to is for the cleaning after the guest leaves and you are doing this yourself?

If you are doing it yourself and for such a nominal amount of money, I would work it into your nightly rate. An example would be if your average stay is 3 nights, you would add $10 per night to your nightly rate. 

Have you peeped other like and kind  listings in  your area to see what they are charging?  This is a great way to see if what you are charging is on par with others in your area.  Something tells me that you are not charging enough, despite doing it yourself.  I would start by investigating your competitors. 

[Marie8425]

@Stephen1994 

$50 for 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms is reasonable.

I suggest some minor fixes since excellent reviews but areas mentioned unexpected situations encountered.  Not addressing when previous Guests do in reviews will lower future conversions.  Appears you intend to mislead.

Fill out your Host Profile nobody wants the invisible Host.

Even if you don't enter if you or the Guest could freely enter the other's space then not apartment  it is an Ensuite.  Present in the right category.

I assume No Heat in Oregon is an error.

Take photos of how 4 dine table or island?

On Amenities especially kitchen check off every appliance you have available.

Retake your photos.  You can do yourself but your mindset should be a visual walk through to the potential Guest who has never seen.

Show a room in a user friendly idea inviting.  Here is the living room imagine your group of four just unwinding maybe tv, maybe the work station to answer some emails.

[Elegant-Homes-Retreat0 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Stephen1994, great question — and it’s smart that you’re thinking carefully about how your cleaning fee impacts both your guests and your business.

I agree with @Marie8425 — $50 for cleaning a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom space is very reasonable, especially if you're putting in the effort to present a clean, comfortable stay. Also, her tips on updating your host profile, clarifying the space type (Ensuite vs. Apartment), and improving photos are spot-on. A well-documented and visually welcoming listing can go a long way in building trust.

@Karen114 also made a great point about building the cleaning cost into your nightly rate if you’re doing the cleaning yourself. For shorter stays, guests are often put off by high cleaning fees, so averaging it out across the stay — or adjusting based on average booking length — can make your pricing more competitive.

One more tip: if you decide to raise the cleaning fee, be sure to clearly communicate what that includes (e.g., deep cleaning between guests, sanitizing, laundering linens). Guests are more understanding when they see real value behind the fee.

Keep tweaking and testing — you’re on the right track!

[Rebecca]

Hi @Stephen1994 👋

Welcome to the Community Center and congratulations on your first post! This is a great question and you've already had some fab replies from some of our hosts! 

If you don't mind me asking, I wondered what the reason would be, behind the increase?