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Four Steps to Find and Manage Cleaners for Your Vacation Rental

October 12, 2023

Are you thinking of renting out your vacation home but don't have the time to manage and clean it in between guest stays? The solution to your problem is simple: hire cleaners!

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However, finding reliable and efficient cleaners can be a daunting task. A cleaner can make or break your vacation rental business. Here are four best practices to find and manage cleaners for your vacation rental, to ensure a successful partnership.

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1: Finding a Cleaner

The first step is to find a cleaner who matches your expectations. Some common ways of finding cleaners are by word of mouth, through online advertisements, or by hiring a cleaning company. You can start by reaching out to other vacation rental hosts in your area and asking if they have any recommendations for cleaners. You can also post a job listing on online platforms, such as Craigslist or cleaning services websites. Lastly, cleaning companies provide a hassle-free solution because they will have a team of cleaners who will be trained and equipped with the necessary tools and products.

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In our experience, outsourcing cleaning work to a company has the benefits of reduced management time, quality control, and consistent cleaning standards across all your rentals.

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2: Interviewing Cleaners

Once you have a few candidates, it's time to schedule a face-to-face or virtual interview with them. During the interview, ask for their experience and qualifications, availability, and rates. You can assess their character and whether their communication style is an ideal match for your own. As your cleaner becomes an important part of your vacation rental team, it’s important that you consider them as business partners. It’s also important to communicate your own expectations and requirements for the job, as well as an explanation of how you track your cleaning service performance.

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3: Signing a Contract

After you’ve selected a cleaner that you feel confident in, it’s time to sign a contract. The contract should outline all the important details that you have agreed on during the interview, such as the terms and pricing. It should also cover penalties for breaches or discipline, the duration of services, confidentiality, insurance and the payment terms, so that both parties are protected.

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4: Managing your Cleaners

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Managing a new resource like a cleaning crew can be daunting, but there are some simple best practices to follow that will help ease your mind about the quality of their cleaning and the impac they'll have on your vacation rental revenue.

Create a cleaning checklist and standards document that outlines your quality control standards, making sure to also communicate the order in which they should be completed.
Have your cleaners take pictures before and after each clean as evidence of successful service and “time stamp’ the sequence.
Provide your cleaners with a feedback form so they can report back after each cleaning and to be kept as an evidence trail.
Train your cleaner or hire a professional cleaning consulting company to teach your cleaners the basics of cleaning and human interaction.
Establish clear boundaries of the work environment, including secure locks, a local map of your rental units, and emergency contacts.

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Having a trustworthy and efficient cleaner is essential for running a successful vacation rental business. And don’t hesitate to invest in your cleaner’s training and development, like adopting cleaning industry training and methodologies, as it can lead to immediate improvements in the quality and standard of your service. We hope our guide helps make your pursuit of the perfect cleaner a little easier!

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