Good questions Collin! They are so VERY critical to your success - build a strong relationship with who you hire - they'll do you favors if you take care of them. I learned over the years the following and you can certainly formulate questions from these:
1. I need to be able to host same day reservations, which means I need availability every day of the week for my next guest.
2. Since I live remotely, I would like to send you "consumable" items to restock and I need you to let me know when things are running low
3. I need soaps and other disposable items refilled and/or replaced
4. You're my eyes when it comes to damage and I need you to send me photos so I can file claims - and don't hesitate to send them even if you think it's "nothing major"
5. I originally had my cleaners do the wash and wait for it, but now they take it to a laundry service for cleaning, which means I have LOTS of towels and sheets. Helps to control costs if you're paying by the hour, more importantly keeps them happy.
6. I need you to bring your own cleaning supplies, mop and a bucket, though I will supply a vacuum and broom as I don't have a place to store them for you.
7. I need my places to be spotless every single time and cannot afford to have them left unfinished because I run the risk of a bad review which could affect how often I have you clean
8. I will notify you how many sets of bed and pool/spa towels I need you to leave for the next guest
That's about it off the top of my head. Know that you will be a potential BIG client of your cleaning crew as it is unlikely their regular clients will have them clean as often as you will have them clean your STR.
Did I say build a strong relationship and they are critical? Just reiterating the importance.
I also use an app called Turnoverbnb (I don't use their cleaners tho) as it is free and allows me to automatically schedule cleanings and your crew will have their own mobile access to the app as well. I use the notes section of this APP to notify them of how many towels to leave.
Hope that gets you started.
Mike
Good questions Collin! They are so VERY critical to your success - build a strong relationship with who you hire - they'll do you favors if you take care of them. I learned over the years the following and you can certainly formulate questions from these:
1. I need to be able to host same day reservations, which means I need availability every day of the week for my next guest.
2. Since I live remotely, I would like to send you "consumable" items to restock and I need you to let me know when things are running low
3. I need soaps and other disposable items refilled and/or replaced
4. You're my eyes when it comes to damage and I need you to send me photos so I can file claims - and don't hesitate to send them even if you think it's "nothing major"
5. I originally had my cleaners do the wash and wait for it, but now they take it to a laundry service for cleaning, which means I have LOTS of towels and sheets. Helps to control costs if you're paying by the hour, more importantly keeps them happy.
6. I need you to bring your own cleaning supplies, mop and a bucket, though I will supply a vacuum and broom as I don't have a place to store them for you.
7. I need my places to be spotless every single time and cannot afford to have them left unfinished because I run the risk of a bad review which could affect how often I have you clean
8. I will notify you how many sets of bed and pool/spa towels I need you to leave for the next guest
That's about it off the top of my head. Know that you will be a potential BIG client of your cleaning crew as it is unlikely their regular clients will have them clean as often as you will have them clean your STR.
Did I say build a strong relationship and they are critical? Just reiterating the importance.
I also use an app called Turnoverbnb (I don't use their cleaners tho) as it is free and allows me to automatically schedule cleanings and your crew will have their own mobile access to the app as well. I use the notes section of this APP to notify them of how many towels to leave.
Hope that gets you started.
Mike
@Collin S. They have to understand they are not just cleaning a house. Your VRBO has to look similar to a hotel in that everything has to be neat, in its place. The beds can't be thrown together they have to be perfect and inviting.
And everything @Michael Greenberg said!
I'd ask them if they know how to fix normal things that are going to malfunction in a rental property. This list includes but is not limited to:
Reprogramming a remote for cable/hdtv.
Flipping a tripped breaker and finding the cause.
Changing the agitator dogs in a washing machine.
Replace a belt in a vacuum cleaner.
Change the flapper and fill valve in a toilet.
Replace a seat on a toilet.
Put a bed frame back together.
Changer filters on a CH/A unit.
Clean evaporator coils on a CH/A unit and refrigerator.
Unclog a sink, toilet or shower.
Replace washing machine water supply lines and/or hose gaskets.
Change P-trap under a sink.
Change wax ring under a toilet.
Adjust a screen door locking and closing mechanism.
Know how to change a ballast in a light fixture.
Know how to put a sliding door back on track.
Know how to reboot a modem and operate a security camera.
Know how to change door locks and deadbolts.
Know how to re-caulk a tub and shower surround.
Know how to change a CH/A wall thermostat.
Know how to remove a broken light bulb base from a socket.
Know how to replace a defective water shut off valve.
That's just the things right off the top of my head. Most every item needed in the above list can be bought at Wal Mart.
Wow
That's an amazing list!
I have a cleaning lady that I'm not 100% pleased with, but that I'm keeping on as back up. When I am looking for another cleaning crew, I'm struggling because I don't feel like I can charge more than $50 for cleaning. My current cleaning lady believes that's only a half hour of work because she is trying to cram as many cleanings into a day as possible.
Apart from Michael's list, I know that I'm looking to have someone who will be paid through Venmo. I hate writing checks.
I think the laundry is an issue I'd like to solve as well. I don't think that sending out for a laundry service is an economical solution, but I'd love to have enough Airbnb properties that I can feel comfortable asking my cleaning lady to come back to finish switching the laundry. I've also considered finding someone (like a college kid) who's not a professional cleaner so that his/her time is more flexible. I would have loved to make $50 bucks to do my homework while waiting for the laundry to dry.
I would also like my crew to monitor things that don't need to be cleaned every turnover but monthly or quarterly. I had a checklist when I was cleaning that had Daily, Monthly, and Quarterly tasks. Again, I think I need someone with a more flexible schedule.
Wow! This is great information. @Michael Greenberg, did your cleaner use the Turnoverbnb app before you hired them? If not, was it an easy sell to get them to try it?
@Collin S. No, I discovered TurnoverBnb and took a look at a couple of others, but I just wanted something simple and straight forward. Yes, they had no issue with it whatsoever, it makes their life simpler too. I as emailing schedules and texting a lot before - this is a total streamline for them.
@Tyler Harnett I don't know your market, but I charge a lot more than that for cleaning in my market. Venmo is a good suggestion, I just pay my team monthly via ACH - so not too dissimilar. I'm fortunate enough that the the owner of my cleaning crews niece runs a laundromat, that's a sweet deal and she just charges $8 a load which equates to 1 wash per cleaning, a no brainier. I college/high school kid is another good option. Another good comment, and my cleaners do this as well, items that need detailing ever X number of days/weeks/months. Baseboards, ceiling fans, etc....
One other comment - if you have carpet, tear it out and put in tile or pwood (laminate hardwoods). You'll save yourself a lot of $ over time in just having carpet cleaners come and remove the stains and "tracks" guests leave with their suitcases.
I attempted to have "deep cleanings" done right befire I started and 1 year in and wish I had asked the cleaners (different folks each time) how they define "deep clean." Or specified how I define "deep clean." Both ended up being no deeper than a weekly cleaning.
As someone who is really into cleanliness and who also stays in AirBnBs i can say that most cleaners dont do a good job.
The spaces need to be CLEAN. No dust, no figerprints, no mold basically white glove clean.
Very few people know how to truly clean.
I would start by asking their process - how and what do they clean. This should give you an idea. Most folks will fail. Then i would ask for references. I would want to look at the comments of spaces they clean.
Fwiw most of the spaces i have stayed at were subpar on cleaning. Which leads me to beleive most cleaners need education.
@Matt B. None of those things are handyman's jobs. My wife is my house cleaner, and she can do those things. She also graduated college with a 4.0.
Handyman things are replacing roof shingles, adding a natural gas line to a room for a heater, adding water supply and sewer lines for a new location for 2 washing machines. Running a water supply line for an ice maker or dishwasher. Replacing motor or capacitor in a CH/A unit. Replacing a thermocouple, sensor, switch, motor, blower or other items in dryer or washing machine. I do this.
There are some things that are left for professionals. Replacing a fuse box with a breaker box (has to be licensed by the city), running a sewer snake through a cleanout hole (I don't want anyones feces on my body, not even my own), crawling under a house to fix plumbing (I'm claustrophobic and have panic attacks), dealing with intruders you catch on security cameras (I call the police and meet them there). Finding an overdosed person and try to revive them (I call EMS). These are things I do not do.
@Collin S. a word about Venmo... you'll probably have to issue your cleaning service/housekeeper a 1099 at the end of the year. Especially if you have multiple properties, it might be a good idea to use Quickbooks and pay them via bill pay so you can accurately track all of the expenses and not have to scroll through your venmo feed at the end of the year and spend hours tallying up the charges.
As far as what to ask, I've found effective communication is by far the most important part (for me) of a cleaning service. The bigger the company, the more layers of people you have to go through to get to the person actually cleaning your home. I would ask if you have someone to call/text or if email is the only option.
Obtain proof of insurance from the company or if you're hiring someone off craigslist make sure your insurance covers your liability if they sue you.
I've got some more specific guidelines for how I hire if you shoot me a PM I can go into more detail.