Choosing Cleaning Products for Vacation Rentals
A housekeeper’s world is a dangerous world! There are all sorts of nasty microbes that need to be eradicated from the property as it is cleaned. Having the most effective cleaning products is imperative to the effectiveness and speed of the cleaning professional. When choosing cleaning products
NO RINSING REQUIRED
The products should only need to be wiped off the surface. A product that needs to be rinsed off before the surface is dried takes extra housekeeper time
DWELL TIME
The product should be doing all the “heavy lifting” so to speak. As the product is sitting on the surface, it should be breaking down the soap scum, hard water deposits, and oils. There should be very little elbow grease required from the cleaning professional.
DEADLY TO MICROBES
Not all cleaning products kill all microbes or kill them quickly. Some products can take up to 10 minutes to kill Staph, which is unacceptable! When evaluating a product, ask for a list of microbes the product kills and how long it takes to kill them. The product should kill the microbes in a short dwell time, if not instantly.
SUSTAINABLE
The product must be sustainable. Many natural cleaners are not effective at killing microbes and breaking down soap scum and body oils.
How to Choose a Holiday Let Cleaner
Why investing in cleaning is so important
We don’t think it’ll shock you to read that the cleanliness and tidiness of your holiday rental can be the difference between a great review and a complaint. Some of the most common negative reviews of holiday home and Airbnb rentals are due to the guest’s dissatisfaction with the standard of cleaning.
reasons to outsource your Airbnb cleaning
Although you could clean the property yourself, have complete control over everything, cut down on management costs and increase your profit, but what you save in money you pay for in time. Time which you could be spent more productively growing and managing your holiday rental business or with family.
How to find the right cleaning service
If you don’t want to handle the cleaning yourself or you don’t live near your holiday let, it’s essential to have a trusted housekeeper to keep your holiday rental sparkling and spotless. You want to source a professional cleaning partner to use for the long-term.
What makes a good cleaner…
They should be experienced in short-term rental turnovers and provide a higher level of service than typical house cleaning. Guests expect the highest level of cleanliness and attention to detail – the equivalent of a 5* hotel.
They check supplies are restocked, everything is working and that any leftover food is removed from the refrigerator and cupboards.
They spot missing items and damage so you’ll know who is responsible and can take swift action.
They have a good eye for detail and follow a checklist to ensure that the property is staged consistently – e.g. setting up the welcome hamper with a welcoming note and leaving certain lights on for arrivals.
They are proactive at spotting maintenance problems or if items require a deep clean.
They understand the letting business and can adapt swiftly at short notice e.g. prepare for a last-minute booking or guests may want an early check-in/late check-out.
They are on hand in emergencies e.g. the guests lock themselves out or leave behind the child’s favourite teddy.
They have backup cleaners on standby for an unexpected illness and holidays who will provide the same attention to detail.
They are fully insured.
How much do Airbnb holiday let cleaners charge?
Obviously hiring a professional cleaner is going to be more expensive than cleaning yourself, but paying for a premium service tends to be worth it. The cost of cleaning services will depend on a few different factors. Your location might be an aspect which influences the cost, but undoubtedly one thing which will help dictate pricing is your property size. It can take 3-4 hours to clean a 2-bed property and can expect to pay per hour (or even more) to receive the excellent standards of service you need.
HOUSE CLEANING AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HAVE ALWAYS DONE
Cleanliness has always been a top priority. We take pride in welcoming each guest with a clean and safe home away from home. TVR is a longstanding member of the Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals Association (VRHP), and our team is committed to following the best practices and proven cleaning protocols at all times for the safety of our guests and our employees
SANITIZATION AND DISINFECTION
Our Housekeeping Team members have been properly trained to clean our vacation rentals. We provide ongoing training on the proper use of approved chemicals and cleaning materials. We thoroughly research all products and chemicals to ensure that we clean our properties to the highest standard. Before guest arrival, our team will sanitize and disinfect all areas, including bathrooms and “high-touch” points in the property
high-touch points in your property include, but are not limited to:
Light switches, outlets, lamp and fan pull-chains and switches
Cabinet pulls and knobs
Controls for large appliance and electronics (washer and dryer, dishwasher, stove)
Temperature controls
Bureau drawer knobs or pulls
Remote controls
Stair railings and outdoor porch railings
The disinfectants and sanitizers our housekeeping team uses can help contain and prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, per the EPA/CDC/OSHA. Linens and towels are laundered offsite at our linen facility; soiled linens are treated as if they are contaminated. Our trained housekeeping staff uses the best hygiene practices at all times. With the combinations of these best practices, our employees, clients, and guests should be safe from the spread of coronavirus
VACATION RENTALS CLEANING
COMMUNICATION
support by e-mail, phone, and text. Owner’s ability to book and manage appointments online. Visual inspection for any damages and reporting all abnormalities to the owners immediately, with photos. Connection to a network of reputable providers via Berkshire Hathaway Home Benefits Program to arrange for any emergency repairs or service.
SERVICE
Highly-trained expert cleaners, with many years of experience in five-star hotels and private maid companies. Impeccable cleaning. Monitoring and replenishing supplies, minor repairs. Complimentary axillary services such as laundry, appliances cleaning, patio sweeping, etc.
AVAILABILITY
Last-minute availability and flexible scheduling. Superb Maids is specifically structured to accommodate last-minute vacation rentals’ cleaning requests. Reputation for utmost reliability and customer-centric approach. The same staff is assigned to each property
Ways to Increase Vacation Rental Bookings and Profits
VACATION RENTAL MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT, EXPLAINED
If you’ve recently forayed into the world of vacation rentals, you’re likely riding a wave of excitement–and revenue. In 2019, the vacation rental market in the US saw revenues of more than $17.5B, marking an increase of nearly 3% from the previous year. By 2023, revenue could grow to nearly $19.5B. Homeowners are increasingly seeing the benefits of vacation rentals and making money in the industry, and there are more than 660,000 U.S. vacation home listings on Airbnb alone.
Guests are continuing to move away from hotels and into vacation rentals, too. After years of wondering, many reports suggest this year—2020—could be the year when vacation rental bookings actually overtake hotel bookings. We’re also seeing an enormous shift in how guests are finding vacation rentals, by eschewing sites like HomeAway and Airbnb and choosing to book directly with the property manager. It’s a great time to be a part of it all.
But this meteoric growth is a double-edged sword. More vacation rentals means more competition, and if you can’t keep up with the amenities, offerings, and experiences guests are looking for, you can expect your piece of the pie to crumble. This is especially true as online travel agencies continue to grow and change. As of June 2019, Mariott and Airbnb have both released new luxury vacation rental wings of their business (We’re honored that Airbnb’s new platform, Airbnb Luxe, chose seven of our homes to participate, and that Marriott also chose to list our homes on the Homes and Villas vacation rental segment), suggesting the travel trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Be straightforward and accurate in your description
Guests value trust and transparency. If there’s construction across the street from your home, don’t gloss over this. You’ll only pay for it later when a guest leaves a review with incendiary words and phrases like “deceitful” and “they didn’t tell me about …”
Keep your description updated
Don’t take a set-it-and-forget-it approach to your home’s listing. It should be a living piece of copy that you update regularly