All Forum Posts by: Calvin Baughman

A clear and open conversation with a "back-up" cleaner would help keep everyone comfortable with where they are on your team. Especially if you already have a primary, the secondary cleaner should be understanding of vacation and sick time that they would be on call for.

Yes, I'm convinced that's the best option. I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings or undervalue their work. I think every cleaner (primary or backup) is important in order to keep the property running smoothly.

0 Votes

Quote from @Lisa Beard:

I only invest in areas where tourism and STR's are the norm. This allows me to choose larger cleaning and maintenance companies who I know have the staff and ability to cover all turns. I do have one cleaner who is an individual, but she has friends who clean that have been able to step in before.

Yeah, I'm not that big yet haha. But I'll get there!

I can't complain though. I met my cleaners through a cleaning app and they're still very committed, but sometimes I wish they had a crew! That's entirely on me, as I could have opted for cleaners with a team, but I chose all independent cleaners.

0 Votes

Quote from @Rosston Smith:

1) Yes you need to have at least one backup to your main cleaner. Or your main cleaner will need to have enough staff to rotate in as needed.

2) You can let them know you'll schedule them more as your grow and as needs require. Be honest about how often they can expect business from you, and as they perform better you'll have more opportunities.

You can use apps like Turno. Those make it easiest to find like-mind cleaners for the STR space.

1) Yes, even if my cleaner has a team, I feel safer if I have my own backup options in case things go wrong.

2) Honesty is always the best policy, right? That works with cleaners, guests, partners, everything... I think that's a good plan!

I get all my cleaners from Turno, I like the fact they have background checks and 24/7 customer support! I don't know, it seems like the obvious choice to me.

0 Votes

Quote from @Michael Baum:

Our cleaner has a team as well, but I do have some options just in case.

The best of both worlds. I'm thinking of not hiring new independent cleaners from now on, but I don't feel comfortable not having anyone as an alternative.

0 Votes

Quote from @Andrew Steffens:

We are larger now so have in house cleaners as well as 4 vendors so it is easy to fix bumps in the road but...

When we were smaller we always had backups. We also let them know they were backup and let the primary know we had backups. Honesty is the best policy and that system worked well for us!

Honesty is always the best policy. Sometimes cleaners aspire to professional growth, and we feel responsible for that. But the truth is that we have to respect the size of our business and make our needs clear so that they can measure up to their expectations.

1 Vote

Quote from @Lauren Kormylo:

My cleaner has a crew, so has built-in backups. If my cleaner was a solo worker, I definitely would have backups, and life would be more stressful.

That's the beauty of a cleaning crew haha!

1 Vote

Quote from @John Underwood:

We have always had very reliable cleaners so never needed backups.

My wife has filled in a couple of times when our cleaners were sick or on vacation.

Yes, that's the kind of situation I was referring to. My cleaners are also very reliable, but you never know what's coming, unforeseen events could happen.
One cleaner lost her mother on the day of a deep clean, another broke her leg and was unable to work for some time. In these cases, I'm glad that I've been able to get other professionals quickly on my cleaning app, and I try to keep them on my radar whenever I have additional services.

0 Votes

Quote from @Mark Miles:

Quote from @Calvin Baughman:

I was wondering if most Airbnb hosts have a plan B in case their cleaner goes missing at the last minute. I have 3 cleaners assigned to the same property, so there's no danger of anything unpleasant happening.

Another question I have is: how do you deal with these cleaners? Do they know they're backup cleaners or do they think it's just a one-off service? Do they feel uncomfortable knowing that they are not your first choice for cleaning the property?

And finally, where do you find these professionals with availability?

Yes I always have backup cleaners and I tell them they’re auditioning to be my primary cleaners at the next property i buy. I work in the backup cleaners once every couple months to maintain the relationship. They’re cool with it and they like the extra money once every couple months

I think this is an excellent way of dealing with the situation. It's honest and makes it clear that they won't be your primary cleaners any time soon, unless you buy a new property. That way, they don't let their expectations rise.

1 Vote

Quote from @Kerry Baird:

I don’t have backup cleaners, because my main cleaner hired a team and she’s done very well at my properties. I use Turno to find her, and also to pay her. I have identified other cleaners on Turno, but I haven’t used them, so I am not sure what they think or feel about being my backup.

I also use Turno to find cleaners, I think that's a very complete platform and easy to manage my teams, but I try not to keep to many cleaners on the same project, because I don't want them to feel unappreciated.

0 Votes

And finally, where do you find these professionals with availability?

1 Vote

All Forum Posts by: Calvin Baughman

Calvin Baughman has started 5 posts and replied 73 times.

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?

Post: Do you have backup cleaners?