Regardless of your location or background as a vacation rental owner, there is one thing you have in common. A 5-star rating can promote bookings and lead to more referrals, and one of the best ways to improve your chances of giving this thumbs from your tenant is to keep your oasis clean. Whether you are currently renting an apartment in Scottsdale, or renting a Kansas City home with plans to manage more properties for other homeowners, or planning to buy an Albuquerque home for use as a vacation rental, there are important vacation rental cleaning tips to help you get more reviews for 5 star reviews.
To help take cleanliness to the next level, Redfin has contacted several successful property owners and compiled a list of seven vacation rental cleaning tips to help you with your cleanliness journey. Please see the details.
1. If you spend extra time cleaning, you will receive dividends
“Based on a survey conducted by short-term rental managers and vacation rental management companies across the US, if vacation rentals are very clean, well organized and invited upon arrival, 91% chance guests may leave a 5-star rating. However, if not, there is a 98% chance and the guests will rate stays below 4.5 stars.
Guests who leave a 5-star review will likely book again, share their experiences on social media, and introduce their property to friends and family.
This creates a flywheel effect that increases visibility in airbnb.
A 5-star rating leading to a 5-star rating leading to a 5-star rating leading to a 5-star rating leading to a 5-star rating leading to a referral Referrals leading to more listing views, and save viewlists (and 5-star ratings) saved by wishlists leads to a higher ranking.
Invest extra time in spot checking after each clean touch and add thoughtful touches like fluff pillows, fresh flowers and a welcoming basket to create a strong first impression. This simple effort will increase your chances of spinning your flywheel towards a higher ranking, more bookings and increased revenue. ” – Dusty Winans, Padearn owner, skilled SEO and lead generation agency for vacation rental properties.
2. Do a final check before handing over the property to your tenant
“It’s unrealistic to expect perfection from a cleaner, but that’s exactly what your guests are looking for. Don’t skip checklists, inspections, or photos. Even the best cleaners on the best days can do the ‘only’ job (still A+), with the other 1% of them being a trigger for the guests. ” – Grand Welcome, owner of Vacation Rental Property Management in Lake Geneva Airbumb.
3. Pay attention to the hard water mark
“One of the hardest areas to tackle vacation rentals is hard water. Here in northwest Montana, you need to consistently deal with spots from hard water in glass shower doors. What’s more, grout and tile discoloration is common from hard water. Attacking with vinegar and bleach works well.” – Colin Hamilton, co-owner of Glacier Country Airbnb Vacation Rental Property Management, according to Grand Welcome.
4. Get help from apps like Breezeway
“Prioritizing high-touch areas such as doorknobs, countertops, and light switches is important to maintain a fresh environment. However, I think it’s even more important to invest in quality control measures using apps like Breezeway. This provides a fully customizable and comprehensive checklist, requires photo documentation for specific tasks, and allows you to report maintenance issues directly, making it easy to overlook. This approach minimizes the chances of missing out on commonly forgotten areas, helps in thorough inspections, and improves the overall guest experience.” – Christian Lewis, Owner of New Braunfels Airbnb Vacation Rental Property Management.
5. Clean areas that are often overlooked
“In the short-term rental industry, consistent cleaning is important to maintain guest satisfaction and positive reviews. Regular cleaning practices and attention to detail help to ensure a welcoming and hygienic environment and increase guest trust and loyalty.
Often overlooked areas, such as light switches, remote controls, spaces behind and below furniture, and straightening the art of furniture and walls, can have a major impact on the perception of cleanliness guests. The well-maintained properties not only improve the guest experience, but also support higher occupancy and repeat bookings. ” – Lucie Tighe of Grand Welcome, owner of Tampa Airbnb Vacation Rental Rental Property Management.
6. Clean up the crumbs from the kitchen and leave space for fresh smelling
“Want to surprise your vacation rental guests? Bang on despicable high-five spots like doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, and other eager disinfectant sprays during your stay, don’t sleep in the kitchen drawers. The citrus scented purity spritz in the living area has signed a deal, charmingly fresh and ready to rave!” – Grand Welcome, owner of J Bright Law, Orlando Air Bunbu Vacation Rental Property Management.
7. Stage properties for the following tenant
“A simple yet impactful touch is to set the property on stage after cleaning. Fluff the pillows, arrange throws, and leave small welcome gifts. These small details enhance the guest experience and accentuate the rental.
Don’t underestimate the power of fresh fragrances. The subtle and clean scent throughout the property can make a big difference in how guests perceive the overall cleanliness and create a welcoming first impression. ” – Grand Welcome, Owner of David Hughes, Branson Airbnb Vacation Rental Property Management.
