These days, Airbnb competition is fierce, with short-lets springing up in their thousands across the country, alongside rising guest expectations. And when it comes to Airbnb hosting, a non-negotiable is the cleanliness of your property, especially in the aftermath of the recent pandemic.
Cleaning is arguably the most time-consuming yet vital part of Airbnb hosting. With turnaround times as short as 24-48 hours, Airbnb hosts require a streamlined cleaning process, particularly if they host more than one Airbnb at a time.
From communications with cleaners, supplying a steady stream of cleaning supplies, and scheduling quality cleaners to clean the property on demand, cleaning your Airbnb can easily become a full-time job.
If you struggle to find dependable and quality cleaners, worry about cleaning supplies and waste valuable time on scheduling (and rescheduling) cleaners, then this post is for you!
As you may have guessed, to make Airbnb hosting a success, the cleaning process requires automation so you can achieve guest satisfaction and launch a successful hosting business.
Without further ado, here are the top 5 ways to automate your Airbnb hosting:
- Hire a professional Airbnb cleaning service
While this service may eat into profits, it certainly solves all of the issues associated with Airbnb cleaning. A professional Airbnb cleaning service will have plenty of experience dealing with high turnarounds and fussy guests and save you time and stress. Bespoke cleaning services will also vet their cleaners, giving you extra peace of mind, and often provide high-quality linens and towels (be prepared to pay more for these add-ons!)
- Schedule deep cleans
Despite your best efforts and short time frames between bookings, your Airbnb will require a deeper clean every 3-6 months. This way, areas of the property that aren't covered by a regular clean get some much-needed TLC. From removing pesky limescale and grime, reaching those nooks and crannies overlooked during a regular clean, and giving some attention to build-up on items such as the oven, deep cleans are essential. Plus, they allow you to relax, safe, knowing that you are less likely to receive a negative review regarding cleanliness. Deep cleaning also benefits from a more leisurely inspection of the property, which may pick up any previously overlooked maintenance issues.
- Share your booking calendar with your cleaner.
Whether you hire a single cleaner or a company, it's extremely useful to share your Calendar with them to prevent mistakes and save time. Airbnb has an option to add your cleaner as a Co-Host so that they have full visibility of bookings. To do this, head to Settings, then Listings, select the listing you wish to edit, then click Co-hosts to add your cleaner/s. If you use the same cleaner for all your properties, simply repeat the process for each listing.
Keep in mind that it's important to vet your cleaners before adding them as Co-hosts, as they will have the ability to message guests, manage reservations and update your Calendar and pricing.
If you advertise your Airbnb on multiple channels, there is an option to import your other calendars into your Airbnb calendar. Firstly, head to Airbnb and click Host, then Calendar. Then select Availability Settings, then Sync Calendars, and Import Calendar. Copy your other Calendar's URL into the box. Finally, name your Calendar and click Import. You can do this for HomeAway, VRBO, and other letting platforms.
- Keep an Inventory
Yawn, more admin! But on the plus side, keeping an inventory of your cleaning products reduces the chance you'll be caught out without essential supplies. If you use a cleaning service, ask your cleaner to notify you when products are running low so you can replace them in time to avoid compromising on cleanliness. The more experienced you become at Airbnb hosting, the less you will have to rely on an inventory, and you'll get the hang of how often supplies need replacing.
- Automate cleaning reminders
Unfortunately, Airbnb bookings aren't always set in stone. Guests' plans change; they may cancel their booking or change their dates; rendering your cleaning schedule completely haywire! Updating your cleaners on any schedule change can be incredibly time-consuming, so it's best to automate this process via a messaging automation tool. Sharing your booking calendar with cleaners will also help keep staff up-to-date on any booking alterations.
Go the full monty…
Of course, there is more to Airbnb hosting than cleaning. Why not consider hosting with Pass the Keys for an end-to-end property management service that uses local, reliable cleaners to provide quality Airbnb cleaning services?
Find out more about our services here.