Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
What is your check out procedure for guests? (run dishwasher, take trash out, strip beds?)
Do you have a vacuum in each property or does cleaner bring their own? (I never thought of this until bed bugs were brought to my attention. One vacuum for 5 properties = 5 properties with bed bugs should there be a problem)
Any other housekeeping tips or tricks would be great to share!
Real Estate Investor · Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 142 posts · 79 votes
9y
We ask our guests to:
- Bag and take out trash to bins outside
- Load dishwasher and start before leaving
- Put all bath linens (towels, not sheets) in a pile in the bathtub. We don't ask them to strip the beds.
- Set thermostat back to certain set temperature
- Lock house and return the key to the lockbox (if needed)
Any more than that and I think you quickly run into the "Well why am I paying for housekeeping services then?" question. That said, most guests tend to straighten things up fairly well before they leave.
Shenandoah Valley, VA · Member since 2016 · 69 posts · 35 votes
9y
we ask that they do the dishes/run dishwasher, that's it. the rest is our job.
and we have a vacuum at each location. but you should ask your cleaners if they bring their own. they're cheap enough to have one at each property if needed.
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
Return all items to the original location. (i.e. beach chairs,bikes). Spare linens used on sofa beds etc. go in laundry area ...not closed up in the couch.
Investor · The worst town to live in, KS · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
I keep a vacuum and cleaning supplies in all 22 of my furnished houses. Whether or not they get used is up to the tenants. I tell them to take the trash out when it's full, most of them do that. My tenants are refinery contractors; welders, pipefitters, electricians, boilermakers, scaffold builders, etc. I do all the laundry myself and make the beds, so I know everything is clean. Other than that, I don't tell or request my renters to do anything else. A lady does all the rest of the cleaning in the house for me for free. She also lets me sleep with her.
Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 306 posts · 205 votes
9y
@Luke Carl we don't require our guests to do anything in particular since our cleaner takes care of everything. We have never had any issues so far. I've read of other owners requesting but not requiring certain things to make it easier. I agree with @Mark S. in that if you ask too much, they might wonder why they are paying a cleaning fee.