Cleaning

[Brady14]

I am struggling wtih the logitiscs of turning over the apratment (i.e. changing the sheets, doing a light cleaning).  I work a full-time job and I can't find anyone affodable (i.e. <$40) to turnover the apartment after quest check out.  On average I don't get home from work until after 7PM each day. I don't want to get neagtive reviews because the sheets aren't clean when new guest check in with back to back reservations.  This is currently holding me back from hosting on Airbnb.  What do other people who work full-time do? I can't charge the guest the $60 cleaning fee because that is excessive in my area and the rates in my area are only around $85 a night on average so I can't affod a $60 cleaning. 

[Ria16]

I'm new to Air and I am generally too scared to do back to back 🙂 I  used to block the day before my guests arrive and then block the day after they left which enabled me to get most things done in time. I'm hoping to quicken the pace but it seems to take around 3 to 4 hours to get everything the way I like it. I work shifts,  I like the way you can organize the days you want to host. 

[Kelly149]

@Brady14 Yes, you can block days between reservations bc you should certainly never put someone in to used sheets. 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Brady14

I would suggest you block 1 day before and after bookings so you don't have same day check outs/ check ins, at least until you are able to find a way to handle same day turnovers. Especially if you have recently started hosting, take it slow and give yourself time to adjust to being a host 🙂 Good luck!

[Brady14]

I am not talking about putting someone in used sheets. I am talking about allowing the next guest to check in anytime after 12:30PM and when I get home at 7:30 cleaning the room and changing the sheets.  I don't think I will be able to break even if I have to block off a day after each quest stays especially if I don't get any long term guest (i.e. longer than 4 days).

[Mark26]

Let me ask you a question.

Why would you go into business if the best you could hope for is to break even?  If the numbers don't work, why would you even think about doing it?  Would you agree to taking on a second job working for someone else if your only guarantee was that you would have a lot of work to do, with tasks that you were obligated to perform consistently, without fail, whether they were convenient or not, understanding that you might get paid a few dollars, but you might not get paid anything at all?

No one is obligated to become an AirBnB Host.  If it doesn't make financial sense, it doesn't make any sense at all. 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Brady14

Although I sympathize with your situation, if I were the guest I don't think I'd be open to the option of waiting till 7:30pm for the host to come and start cleaning and changing sheets - and I assume it would take you at least 1 hour to change the sheets and clean up. You could limit your check-in time to say 9~11 pm? Or if you can't break even without long-term guests, why not have a min nights stay of 3 or 4 nights? I personally don't see the value of a host breaking their back to host 1~2 night stays if they are not financially beneficial.

Of course, it's all up to the host to decide what they want to charge, and how they want to set min nights and other conditions etc. but I think these things need to the well thought out before one starts hosting. Personally?? I'd rather have an empty guest room and no hosting income rather than making less than what my time is worth or losing money or barely breaking even while hosting guests. 

Regardless of how easy the Airbnb ads make it seem, in reality hosting is a huge responsibility and hard work. Good luck! 

[Linda108]

Are you a co-host, @Brady14?  Or did you snooze your listing?  I do not see a listing on your profile.   As to your issue, it is expected that the listing is totally ready to accept a guest at the time of the check in, not later when you get home.  I agree allowing a day before and after is the best way to manage a full time job and this business so your head doesn't explode with the stress 😛 !!  However, it appears your market draws single night or double night bookings, so you would lose a lot of booked days if you did that.  

Finding a cleaning person is probably the best idea, but you might have to pay a higher rate than $40 per room.

[Ange2]

@Brady14   You could set a minimum stay of 3-4 days (or more)  and block a day or two inbetween. I set a minimum because I would be  losing money if I accepted shorter stays.