What does professional housekeeping mean for holiday apartments and hotels?

You may be wondering what actually distinguishes professional housekeeping from traditional cleaning. We've heard this question many times from some of our customers.

Our explanation was then:

When we talk about cleaning, we're talking purely about tidying up. However, housekeeping encompasses much more: In short-term rentals, it includes all the tasks the owner has specified for a well-maintained and operational vacation rental.

This includes:

>Cleaning and disinfection (i.e. tidying up and cleaning)

>Inventories and inspections (missing items, functionality of light bulbs, electrical appliances, and much more)

>Maintenance if necessary (change light bulbs, inform caretaker or owner about necessary repairs)

>Replenishment of consumables (toilet paper, cutlery, welcome kits or similar)

>Preparing for the next guests (making beds, laying out towels, and similar things)

>Organization of the entire cleaning process

Professional housekeeping goes far beyond mere cleaning. It involves independently and proactively handling all pending tasks, ensuring you don't have to worry about anything. In the next sections, we'll show you the benefits this can bring you and how you can develop a professional cleaning concept for vacation apartments.

The advantages of professional housekeeping for short-term rentals:

Many of our rental clients respond similarly to our definition of professional housekeeping: "That sounds great, but surely that costs more than a cleaning lady."

Yes, professional housekeeping costs more than a simple cleaning service. But in the end, it's worth it.

If you look at vacation rental reviews, you'll certainly notice that cleanliness plays a significant role in almost every review—both positive and negative comments. Guests often praise the cleanliness of the property in positive reviews. But complaints about dirt, mold, or broken amenities are also common, affecting the potential.

Cleanliness is a must – avoid negative reviews.

Bad reviews that criticize the cleanliness or condition of the property deter new guests. While some guests accept minor shortcomings, poor cleanliness is rarely tolerated. Many hosts place great importance on cleaning, but this is often not enough to maintain the desired standard. The consequences? Hosts must offer lower prices, accept vacancies, and deal with complaints.

Even when switching to professional housekeeping, success is often lacking at first—it takes time to gather new, positive reviews. Therefore, it's a good idea to set high standards from the start, especially if you're not on-site and are doing the cleaning yourself.

Cleanliness – often a subjective matter, even for many service providers!

In short-term rentals, cleanliness standards can be interpreted differently, and your guests' expectations don't always match those of your cleaning staff. Without direct final inspection, you're often dependent on staff to meet standards. Often, guests are the first to see the final result. If you're dissatisfied, you have few options for correction—and first impressions count!

To ensure that your accommodation is always immaculately clean, you have several options: You can do the cleaning yourself, carry out final checks and follow-up work by being present regularly – or you can outsource it to professional housekeeping.

Competitive advantage through professional housekeeping in holiday homes.

A high standard of cleanliness offers you real advantages. Satisfied guests are happy to return, leave positive reviews, and recommend you to others. This enhances your reputation as a host and increases demand, ultimately allowing you to raise your prices. This can generate more revenue, especially during peak season, and help you grow your business in the long term.

Most guests read recent reviews to get an idea of a property's current condition. A consistent standard builds trust, helps reduce vacancy, and differentiates them from competitors.

Is professional housekeeping worth the investment?

Professional housekeeping is a worthwhile investment. We like to compare it to our office management services: There, too, we don't simply perform tasks according to a set pattern; we think ahead and strive for optimization to achieve the best possible outcome.

Professional housekeeping also works with foresight, not just the bare minimum. This ensures that your guests more than enjoy their stay.

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