When your Cleaners don’t go until 1 or 2 days after check out

Question

During slower months, sometimes you have a few days in between bookings and your cleaners can’t go until one or two days after checkout. Has anyone had any issues leaving their place unoccupied for one or two days after guest check out until the cleaners got there?

The possibilities are endless… Anything from guests leaving a bunch of lights on, to leaving the oven on, to leaving food out on the counter to rot and attract pests…

Just wondering how people deal with this situation where the guests check out and the cleaners can’t go over there for a couple of days?

Andrew Steffens · Answer

All cleaners must go on checkout day and I allow limited exceptions in peak season and weather / emergencies etc.  I need eyes on the house as close to checkout as possible and the cleaners are our first line of defense.

Michael Baum · Answer

So our cleaner sometimes gets out the day after check out. I mitigate any issues in my checkout instructions which say to put all trash in the outside cans.

This has worked for us for 7 years now.

Plus our neighbor keeps a good lookout on our place and lets me know if things are weird. Like windows open, lights on, door left open, that sort of thing.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

My cleaners will sometimes wait a day or two to clean, and it has not been a problem.  I ask guests to take out their trash before they leave, and run the dishwasher, so there are no dirty dishes, food or garbage left out. Lights are not a big deal, they're leaving in the morning so not many would be on.  I have a smart thermostat, so I will reset the temp on the app after a guest leaves, and check my smart lock app to make sure the door is locked (I have found guests forgot to lock it a few times).  I do wait to give the guest a review until the cleaner can go there.

John Underwood · Answer

I don't allow this. My cleaner's always clean on checkout day.

I don't want trash sitting there as my cleaner's take the trash.

Garrett Brown · Answer

I have three sets of cleaners and they get the offer to accept the job in order of my preference. I tell them that if they accept the cleaning, then they have to go in the day of. I have some light flexibility, especially if they rarely ask for changes, but I always make sure someone goes the day off to mitigate any damage or problems that may have arisen.

V.G Jason · Answer

Always the day of, I don't trust others to comply with all rules. My rules with PM are if the cleaners don't show up that day, then they got to. Not within 24 hours, but within that same actual day no later than 7 PM(check out is usually 11 or 12). I don't want something happening without my knowledge.

Fortunately, this rule has saved us a lot of trouble. There's been probably a dozen times the customers have just done something that needed to be attended to in a timely fashion-- not life or death-- but definitely problem some.

Denis Ponder · Answer

Agree with this.  Additionally, sometimes there are smells left behind that need to be remediated.  The sooner you get into the property, the better, to plan for these events.

I don't think it will be the end of the world if it has to happen next day, but that's certainly not optimal.  Sometimes, you need all the time you have available to address any issues or concerns.

Patricia Andriolo-Bull · Answer

I prefer the cleaners coming closer to the time of the next guest than immediately after the last guest leaves (normally this is only an issue during our slower season).  Dust accumulates quickly in SWFL and with the sun, you can easily see it.  I want the place in tip top shape for new guests.  That said, I'm in the area so if this is the case, I go myself just to check out the place and turn anything off so that I can also rate the guest on how they left the place.  If I weren't there, I would have a home watch person go over after someone leaves to check on it but then still clean it prior to next guest.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

I did my own cleaning and used to go right after check out. I once found a wedding cake on the kitchen counter with ants crawling over it.

Never missed a visit after that, even if I didn't have a guest coming in right away....

When your Cleaners don’t go until 1 or 2 days after check out

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