Your cleaning team is the pillar of your vacation rental business. They guarantee your guests' satisfaction and your 5-star reviews. Here's how to build, manage and retain a high-performing team.
1. Recruiting the right people
Recruitment is the crucial first step:
- Prefer experience in vacation rental or hospitality
- Test on a real job before hiring
- Check availability and schedule flexibility
- Evaluate ability to work autonomously
- Ask for references from previous employers
💡 Good recruitment saves months of problems. Take time to properly evaluate each candidate, even if you're in a hurry.
2. Training to quality standards
Clear training ensures consistent quality:
- Create a detailed checklist per property type
- Do a guided walkthrough of the first cleaning together
- Take reference photos for each room
- Explain critical points (kitchen, bathroom)
- Define time allocated per property
💡 Reference photos are your best tool: they show exactly the expected state and avoid misunderstandings.
3. Communicating effectively
Communication is often the weak link:
- Use a centralized tool rather than WhatsApp
- Share schedules in real-time
- Notify changes immediately
- Create mobile-accessible instructions
- Avoid repetitive phone calls
💡 With a tool like Easyical, your team accesses their schedule via a simple code. No more messages for each new cleaning.
4. Managing schedules intelligently
A well-managed schedule means a calm team:
- Assign fixed properties to each person
- Group cleanings by geographic area
- Plan realistic travel time
- Anticipate high activity periods
- Allow swapping between members if needed
💡 Someone who knows a property well will be more efficient and more attentive to details. Stability creates quality.
5. Regular quality control
Quality control maintains standards:
- Do regular surprise visits
- Carefully read guest reviews
- Create a problem reporting system
- Give constructive feedback quickly
- Celebrate successes and good ratings
💡 An unhappy guest costs much more than regular quality control. Be proactive, not reactive.
6. Long-term retention
A stable team is a performing team:
- Offer fair and competitive compensation
- Pay quickly and without complications
- Respect schedules and warn of changes
- Offer bonuses during intense periods
- Treat your team as partners
💡 Turnover is expensive: recruitment, training, beginner mistakes... Investing in retention is profitable.
Conclusion
A well-managed cleaning team is your most valuable asset in vacation rental. They guarantee guest satisfaction, protect your reputation and free up time to grow your business. Invest in your collaborators, they'll pay you back tenfold.