Hiring a Airbnb Cleaning Company: What to Look For

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. 

Personal Contact

You are asking a cleaning company to work for you on your property. You don’t want to deal with a faceless company, so it is important to establish a personal relationship with someone at the company who knows you and what you need. Make sure you have a number to call that’s not automated. Your contact should deal with inevitable problems and urgent requests quickly and efficiently.

Insurance

Accidents happen, and insurance is fundamentally important for any business you hire. Most accidents by cleaning services are usually trivial, like a broken ornament. But if something more serious happens, like a cleaner slipping and getting hurt in your home, you don’t want to find yourself liable for compensation.

Of course, it is your responsibility to ensure that your property is as safe as it can be, but the cleaning company should carry its own comprehensive insurance policy which covers any damage that its employees may cause and cover its own employees in case of an accident. A reputable cleaning service will be happy to show you a copy of its insurance policy. 

Flexibility

In a perfect world, one set of guests depart, leaving your property in good condition and giving you a good review. Your cleaning company moves in and readies the property for the next arrival. The new visitors arrive on time and find everything spotless. Hopefully, this is how things will go most of the time, but things don’t always go exactly to plan.

If one set of guests is leaving on a Friday and the next set is arriving on the following Monday, you’d need your cleaning service to work over the weekend. Find a cleaning company that offers flexibility, and make sure you ask about their policy for same-day cleaning. 

Cleaning Staff

You have to be able to trust the people who are going to work on your property. Does the cleaning service run background checks on its staff? Does the service have full confidence in its people? How long have the cleaners worked for the company? If you find that some of the cleaning staff have worked for the same company for a long time, it’s a good sign that it’s a stable company, that these cleaners are good at their job, and that they are valued for the hard work they do to make your place sparkle.

Cleaning Supplies

Does the cleaning service bring all the materials and equipment it needs, or do you have to provide some or all of the supplies? A good service will come equipped with everything from sprays to stepladders. Another question you should ask is about the materials they use. Make sure the service’s cleaning products comply with regulations. You might prefer that they use eco-friendly brands, so be sure to ask if this is important to you.

Pricing

A cleaning service is an investment, so you’ll want to know whether the amount they’ve quoted you is the final figure or if there’ll be any hidden charges. Do they charge extra for cancellations or rescheduling? Does the company charge extra for working on the weekend or on public holidays? Remember that you can always include cleaning fees in your rental prices to offset the cost. 

Conclusion

If you can find a cleaning service that meets your needs and responds quickly and efficiently to unusual circumstances, then you’ve found a partner to help you develop a successful business. Your ratings and reviews will reflect the quality of the company you pick. If you establish a good relationship with your cleaning company, then working with a reliable, trustworthy, and professional service can bring you peace of mind.