Finding cleaners in local and remote markets

[Ali Mahdavi]

I'm sure this has been asked before in some sort or form, but I'm looking to purchase Airbnb's out of state. 

I live in LA and currently own 1 STR in Los Angeles and it's been very profitable.

I'm looking to expand into other markets since I want to visit and have options to travel to other parts of the US (or even world), but also it's way cheaper to buy anything outside of California (for the most part). I also own some LTR out of state (Ohio) but those are easier since PM manages most of it and I manage the PM. 

In terms of STR, I'm currently doing the cleaning since I'm looking to maximize income. I'm looking to find cleaners in my current market soon so your answers will help my current STR decision and future out of state ones.

1. What's the most important thing you look for in a cleaner? 

2. Any sources you recommend for finding qualified cleaners? 

3. Do you look to train someone or do you expect someone to be trained?

3. How do you structure paying your cleaners? Let's say for a 1/1 or 2/1. (per job, per hour, per bedroom/bathroom, salary, ...)

4. Anything you can share about your experience with finding local/remote cleaners?

I appreciate your response and thank you in advance!

Ali Mahdavi

[Collin Hays]

A little primer of the housekeeping world, at least in eastern TN:  

Managing cleaners (hiring and firing) consumes about 80 percent of our time.  The typical pattern is that they do good for a few cleanings, and then start falling off of the wagon.  We have someone that checks their work routinely, which helps.  But when you cease checking their work, you're toast.  Pretty much anything goes.  No matter what company you choose, and no matter how much you pay, at the bottom of the food chain, the actual cleaners are making minimum wage.  Someone else is usually skimming the profit.  

You might say "well I'm going to hire Sue to clean my cabin and pay her twice the market to do it right!"  Sounds good, except Sue figures out her niece, Gwenavere, will do it for half of that much, so Sue pays Gwenavere half of what you are paying her to do the job, and pockets the rest.

We call this "housekeeping pimps", and it is the rule rather than the exception.