We’ve decided to offer a complete cleaning service with our cottage rental this year. In the past, like most cottage rental owners, we have asked our renters to depart the property on the final day, leaving it in an ‘as found’ condition. In most cases, I am relatively happy with the way it’s left but I’ll always spend a couple of hours cleaning to meet my standards and making it ready for the next guests in my own way.
On our recent vacation in
So, for an experiment in 2008, I am including cleaning in my rental rate which will rise by $150 to cover the service. I’ll employ someone locally to come in for 3 or 4 hours and pay them $100, and provide them with a detailed checklist of tasks they will need to do. I expect it will be much easier to find someone willing to do a longer clean than a quick changeover check. I’ll also leave my guests a checklist so they know how they should leave the property, as I don’t want to find dirty dishes on counters and beds still made up.
I’d be interested in knowing if any other owners do this, or are intending to do so for next year.
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In New Zealand its common practice to charge the guest a “cleaning fee” per a visit – maybe NZ$50. They are still expected to leave it in a reasonable condition, do dishes etc. Also common is the requirement that you bring your own bedding (sheet, pillows, duvet) or pay an extra charge (less applicable to the more upmarket end of the market).
Cleaning the cottage,
I give renters the choice. They can clean it themselves or pay my housecleaning service to do it for them for about $120.. I always have housekeeping check the cottages on change over days and if they have to clean because the renters did not then I pay them out of the security deposit.. Just remember that everyone has a different idea of clean.. I have had some fanatastic renters who leave it spotless, just as they found it, but there are those who don’t!!