Should You Charge Guests a Cleaning Fee at Your Vacation Rental?

When managing a vacation rental, one common question is whether to add a cleaning fee. In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of adding a cleaning fee, and we’ll also delve into our specific cleaning fee business model at Beach Please to give you a comprehensive understanding of how it can benefit both you and your guests.

Beach Please Cleaning Fee Model

At Beach Please, we have a specific business model with our cleaning crew. They are a collective of professional cleaners that we contract out the work to on behalf of the owners we work with. This ensures that there is always someone available (since they are a large group), and they are all professionally trained.

Coordinating cleanings, supervising them to ensure cleaning standards are met before every check-in, and paying the cleaning crew on the owner’s behalf are all part of the service we provide as property managers. This is covered by our 20% commission fee (of net income) and it is how we keep our monthly fixed property management fee low for our owners. We charge the guests a cleaning fee, which is lumped into the total amount received before any rental commission is calculated. On the owner’s expense report, you can easily see any cleaning expenses they had that month, and you can request an official invoice to use as a deductible expense. Cleaning prices vary based on size and other factors, and owners are responsible for providing cleaning products. There should also be a locked area inside your property where these supplies can be securely stored.

In addition to the checkout cleanings, the owner would be responsible for the costs of:

• Weekly Cleanings: Recommended for long-term reservations lasting 10 nights or more.
• Periodic Deep Cleanings: Every 2-3 months, as needed.
• Cleanings for Family and Friends: When the property is used by the owner’s personal guests.
• Refreshing Cleans: If the property is unoccupied for more than 4 days, it may need a “refreshing” clean.

Pros of Adding a Cleaning Fee

1. Help Cover Operating Costs: Adding a cleaning fee helps cover most of the costs of cleaning after guests leave, often referred to as a “check-out” or “turnover” cleaning. You can also charge guests an additional fixed pet cleaning fee, ensuring you’re not out of pocket for providing these extra features.
2. Professional Standards: A dedicated cleaning fee allows you to hire professional cleaners who maintain high standards, ensuring your property is spotless for every guest. This can lead to better reviews and repeat bookings.
3. Discourages Short Stays: If you prefer longer reservations, a cleaning fee can help. For instance, a $50 USD cleaning fee spread over a week-long stay feels more manageable than the same fee for a two-night booking. This can help filter out very short stays.

Cons of Adding a Cleaning Fee

1. Surprise Charges: Guests prefer to know the total cost upfront. An unexpected cleaning fee at checkout can deter some potential guests. To mitigate this, make sure the fee is clearly displayed during the booking process. Platforms like Airbnb recently launched their total price display feature, which shows the total upfront price guests pay, including all fees before taxes, helping to be more transparent.
2. Higher Expectations: Paying a cleaning fee can raise guests’ expectations. They might be more critical and less forgiving if they find any cleaning issues, which could lead to negative reviews. This is why it’s important to have a pre-check-in inspection (which we include as part of our services) to ensure cleaning standards are met.
3. Less Likely to Tip: Guests who pay a cleaning fee might feel less inclined to leave a tip for the cleaning crew. However, this can be offset by ensuring the cleaning team is fairly compensated through the fee itself.
4. Encourages Messiness: Some guests might think that paying a cleaning fee absolves them of any responsibility to tidy up, potentially leaving more work for the cleaning crew. Clear house rules can help mitigate this.