To clean or not to clean!

[Sheryl194]

We have been hosts for two years now and things have worked out well.  Thank goodness!  We have also done the cleaning between guests, and this is starting to wear on us the hosts.   The guests have been happy with the cleanliness. I do not know of anyone to do the cleaning that I trust and must admit I have control issues.  I wondered if most people use a cleaning service or an individual that they can trust is going to do a good job.   We are located in Atlantic City but do not live in the area.  Just wondered ...   Thanks for any input.  

[Joelle43]

Hello @Sheryl194 

Your post made me smile because I too have trust and control issues I think😊 so like you I do the cleaning myself but have a 5 day minimum during the summer months so it's manageable and the rest of the time it's a 3 day minimum and am not fully booked year round anyway.

I've also put in a promotion for a week stay to encourage guests to stay longer and avoid that twice weekly clean.

I think cleanliness is the #1 factor that can make or break the success of a listing and guests frequently comment on it in their review so I'm not likely to change my operandi any time soon😁

All the best
Joëlle

[Sheryl194]

Hello Joelle,

I appreciate your response and understanding of the control thing 🙂.   I have made the schedule easier for me to turnover the property.  I am not fully booked year round either, so it has been working.  Although I always have Advil nearby.🙂  Take care and thanks again.

[Greystone0]

Hi Sheryl,

Yes, cleaning is of utmost importance as you noted and keeping control of the quality is key.

Here's how we handle:

- we have a very reliable team member who has been working in the short term rental cleaning business for at least a decade. 

- I, host/owner, also do every third or fourth full clean or turnover. We use our home as well and we are in the space anyway. I go thru every nook and cranny for cleaning and re-organize everything as by that time everything is a bit off and it is too much for the cleaning crew to keep all the spaces in exact order.

- you could consider a combo approach as well. This will alllow you to maintain your level and give you insight as to where your team member might need support.  In my case, we are a very busy rental and there is always something that needs extra attention that wouldn't necessarily be part of a regular turnover that we address. For example, a baking sheet or stovetop pot that needs a thorough scrub, a spot on the carpet that needs to be addressed, an outdoor area that needs extra attention, and on and on.

- finding a reliable person will take a bit of sleuthing. You can use facebook groups, ask local real estate agents, ask neighbors, ask other hosts in your area for recommendations. You can hire a local person to do the main cleaning and you can do the detail work or some version that works for the both of you.

Wishing you much success!

[Sheryl194]

@Greystone0 Thank you!! I appreciate the different approaches.  I believe the combo approach would work for me.  You are right about the little things like backing sheets and pots.  Those are the things I usually scan for.  Take care and thanks again. 

[Farah148]

@Sheryl194 I second @Greystone0 combo suggestion. I have a bit of OCD. So, after my cleaner leaves, I still spend about 30 minutes doing extra checks/cleaning, especially checking for hair on bedding/in shower, and dust on baseboard/moldings. I’ve used several good cleaners, and no one is as thorough as I am at finding hair on bedding and shower. HTH.

[Shumin1]

Hi @Sheryl194,

It’s great to hear that hosting has been going well for you! Cleaning between guests can definitely become overwhelming, especially when you want to ensure everything meets your standards. Many hosts face a similar challenge when deciding between hiring a cleaning service or finding a trusted individual cleaner.

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Wishing you the best with your hosting journey in Atlantic City! Hope you find a great solution that works for you. 😊

Best,

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