Cleaning Fee for Slow Season and Short Stays

[Dan C.]

I have a great housekeeper that consistently gets mentioned in reviews for cleanliness and has a backup team in place. Only problem is she charges more than others are charging for their cleaning fees.

I've shopped other cleaners just out of curiosity and most are around $175 and she is at $200.

It's the off season now in my market (ski town) and to compete, my rates need to be around $100/night. Charging a $200 cleaning fee on a 2 night stay (or 1 night!) takes me out of contention with a lot of properties.

Are most owners absorbing part of the cleaner's cost to remain competitive during down-rate periods? Or are you negotiating lower cleaning fees during short stays? Or is the cleaning fee just what it is and you don't worry about it?