Cleaning calendars

[Elizabeth2613]

I am a new host. I am trying to communicate to my cleaner the windows she has to clean. She can’t use Google calendars. I am thinking about using iCal and sending her the schedule . May also write the cleaning tile windows  on a paper calendar. How do you communicate with your cleaner? How do you make sure cleaner  has been there and cleaned if you are remote? I have a local friend who will come to inspect. I am thinking about putting in a Schlage Yale lock so I can check who has been in and out remotely.

[Mayor9]

Do you use property management software (PMS) like Guesty, Hostway, Hospitable, etc? They are perfect tools you can use to communicate with your cleaners as simple as sending an automatic SMS message reminder to them on cleaning days. You can as well connect your Schlage lock with it so door codes are automatically generated before a guest checks in without you moving an inch.

Feel free to reach out to me so I can suggest the perfect software that will work for you and your cleaning team.

[Emiliano268]

Excuse me, im soriful islam..i need to talk with you.. Will you send me text by whats app please.? **

**[Phone number hidden due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines]

[Lorna170]

@Elizabeth2613  I send my housekeeper an email with the departure dates of the guests.  If your cleaner prefers text, send a text.   No need to overthink it.

As to whether or not your cleaner has been in, have her send you a text when she is finished.  Or, as you stated, have a co-host check behind her.

[Earl169]

The lock idea is a good one.  I have a Kwikset keypad lock linked to my smartphone.  I have my name, a trusted next-door neighbor's name and all incoming guests names in there.  I give each one a separate code so I can tell who went in/out and how the door was unlocked and locked.  It will tell you if it was manually locked or if it locked automatically.  It also shows whether it was opened via the keypad or manually from inside.  I love it!  No more guessing.

[Hugo633]

I use a property management app to manage my calendars which links to the platform that I use to schedule cleaners.  It makes the entire process seamless and automatic. 

[Greystone0]

HI @Elizabeth2613 ,

Good question and good answers. Here's how we handle:

- we are just one property  and the owner - hosts. Our cleaner is a local woman who specializes in short term rental cleans and has been doing this for at least a decade.

- we email a list of upcoming clean schedules - in our case we give a schedule about  three months in advance. We include: check out date & time (we often share late check out and this is reflected in the email info), and occupancy info (this allows her to map her time a little better). We include a 'clean by' date and time (sometimes it's same day, next day, a few days)

- this is an ongoing email chain as it is updated regularly by us, as reservations come in, or change or cancel in some cases.

- if she doesn't acknowledge receipt of the updated schedule with a simpler email "received, or noted, or whatever", I will re-send just to make sure all is well. 

- we have exterior cameras and we can see when guests or folks from our team are coming and going. We text updates to our cleaner, like "guest has left" or guest is past check out time and is leaving shortly, or whatever. If we expect her to be onsite by a certain time but isn't we would reach out. This hasn't actually happened but for obvious reasons is to be avoided and thus we pay attention.

- if you don't have cameras that help you see who is coming and going your idea to use a lock to tell you is a good one. In our case we use our cameras to help us with many things as a remote homeowner: heat tank refill, snow removal, downed branches, lawn work, etc.

Wishing you much success!