As a host, you know that your guests expect that their accommodations are perfectly clean. That’s right — spotless. If it’s not, your reviews and ratings will suffer and, as a result, so will your bookings. Of course, you can always clean your property yourself, but that takes precious time that might be better spent in other ways. And not every host is able to keep up with the physical demand of cleaning, especially if you’re renting out an entire house.

Many hosts find that hiring a professional cleaning company is a practical and worthwhile option. Airbnb offers a comprehensive hosting program, which includes cleaning through a business called Luckey, so this might work for some. But if you decide to look around for a cleaning service yourself, do you know what to look for?

We’ll walk you through what you need to know and what questions to ask.

Online Reviews

Of course, there’s nothing better than a personal recommendation from a trusted source. Ask your friends or other hosts you know in the area if they know of a quality cleaning service. Ask them about the pros and cons and if they can introduce you to a company representative. But for every company you check into, you’ll want to look through their online reviews as well.

Make sure you visit a couple of different review sites. Remember that online reviews aren’t always a perfect picture, so treat them as a general guide rather than a definitive description. Make sure you read through both good and bad reviews for any common complaints.

Experience

How long has the company been in operation? Cleaning services operate in a very competitive environment. If a company has been around for a few years, it’s a good indicator that they likely offer good service. On the other hand, a new business might offer a comprehensive and competitive service at a good price. And if they are a franchise from a larger chain, that can mean they have corporate training and standards as well.