Cleaning fees

[John1080]

I know this has been talked to death! While reading through posts the other day, I saw they charge a larger fee, then if things are left relatively clean, they refund a portion of it after the guest has checked out.  I didn't think too much about it at the moment, but have been thinking about that the past few days.

Has anyone ever done or heard of such a thing? I imagine it could convince some guests to be clean and even do some of the cleaning themselves if it was known they could get part of the cleaning fee returned. Is there a downside to that? I have never refunded any money using the send money feature, so I don't know exactly how it works. 

[Linda108]

@John1080  I think it is a great idea but wonder if you might get some negative reaction if a guest thinks the place is tidied up or clean and you don't agree.  Might affect your reviews 😛

If you want to use the refund option on the reservation and you have been paid, which is what would be in your scenerio, then the refund will be deducted from your next payout.

[John1080]

@Linda108  Yes, I agree that could be one negative aspect of such a system. I would wonder if some potential guests might think of it as a scam and be turned off. 

My cleaning costs are usually $100-$120 per time, but once were as high as $180 - this was after a guest had been there two weeks. I currently charge a $50 cleaning fee, which is pretty standard in my area, and just factor the remaining cleaning into the nightly price.

[Lisa723]

I'd be hesitant for the reason @Linda108 mentions-- it seems like a minefield of misunderstanding and negotiation. But for small properties where cleaning is pretty basic it might work. It seems like a very specific list of what it means to clean would be required. (And as for having heard of it, yes, this used to be pretty standard for vacation homes to have a cleaning deposit-- and you would spend your last morning cleaning and doing laundry. Personally, not the way I want to end my vacation, I'd rather pay the fee!)

[Kelly149]

I have done this. 

My cleaning fee is $95, space is 1300sqft, takes up to 10 guests. The fee doesn’t really represent a true cleaning cost but is more of a multi-day discount. 

I don’t really mention it as a possibility so there aren’t expectations but just use it as a bonus for exceptionally good guests. 

The abb accounting gets a little weird so there is that to consider. 

Another alternative that I used recently was telling a guest that I would give them a “great returning guest” discount if they wanted to come again. 

[John1080]

@Lisa723 @Kelly149 Thank you for your input and all great points. I probably won't end up doing anything like that, but do find it kind of intriguing. 

[Syl11]

@John1080  I have booked many airbnb's and I usually prefer to book a place with a proper cleaning fee because I assume the place will be fairly clean. I do get rather concern if the place is dusty because of dust alergies and expect a dustfree environment. I don't mind paying for normal cleaning fees. After reading some posts that some hosts don't change covers or wash duvets etc, I am concern which places i would book with after reading so many posts in the forum. I am equally a guest as well as a host. I expect a really clean place to stay and that includes bedding, duvets, covers. I think stay with your norm. Cheers! 

[John1080]

@Syl11 Thanks for your input and yes, I wasn't planning to deviate from having my cleaning service come in and continue to do what they are doing, but at times it is higher and at times lower.

The point was to incentivize people to be tidy. I was thinking $150 fee, and if cleaning is $100 for that guest, I could refund $50.  Not sure how many people would go for that in any event, as I keep my price point a bit higher than the area average, to bring in a good gorup of people, which has worked so far with almost all my guests being professionals up to this point and all of them leaving the cabin pretty tidy and clean anyway. 

But I sense it would just be easier to factor in the fee to the daily rate as I have it now.

[Syl11]

@John1080  Your Idea could work and attract the group of people in your target market, although the cleaning time is excessive and can be unvalued as Kelly explained, people are tight when they see $ signs, then some high enders can be untidy also because they have personal cleaners themselves. LOL!!! Everyone to their own so there can never be answers. I have hosted really young professional guests who are much cleaner and tidier then older guests! 

[John1080]

@Syl11 Yeah, I've actually had no problems thus far and I guess as they say, if it ain't broke...