I am new to HE. I have had my beachfront condo on Airbnb and VRBO for years. I take pride in every aspect of it and maintain a 5.0 score and superhost status. One of the main comments is how clean my place is. I prefer to use my own housekeeper as she is totally thorough and the guest needs to just take the trash out and she does the rest, which includes washing sheets etc. I charge $150 cleaning fee at the end. How do I ask for this and how does it work? I see others chatted about it but I don’t see a clear answer anywhere. Also I am not willing to let a guest take on the chore of housekeeping. I feel that my place needs to be sanitized and cleaned properly by a professional to ensure I maintain the expectations of future guests and also their safety.
Hello, you need to make your requirements clear in your listing description, with the cost. You can also ask your guests to confirm on the message you send on the site. Fees should only be paid though once the exchange has started, and not in advance. Preferably in cash.
Thank you
Certainly not in cash.
The best practice is to produce a bill at the name of your guest with the method of payement required by the cleaning company so your guest can do a bank transfer or paypal.
So everything is clear for both parties. The host, the cleaner and the guest.
Sorry Natalie but this is incorrect information. Please see this official HomeExchange FAQ for more information on cleaning fees and how/when they should be paid: https://help.homeexchange.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009466098-Can-hosts-ask-for-extra-fees
Please see this official HomeExchange FAQ for more information on cleaning fees and how/when they should be paid: https://help.homeexchange.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009466098-Can-hosts-ask-for-extra-fees
These fees must be clearly stated in the home description and discussed in the conversation between members, always before finalization of the exchange.
Members are to find a way to pay the cleaning fees upon the guest’s arrival at the home, either by cash or a transfer (i.e. PayPal). These fees should not be paid prior to arrival.
Cash has been fine with me. It goes directly to the Housekeeper anyway so I just have them leave it on the kitchen counter. It has not been a problem. My most recent booking the host asked for a Zelle payment which is also no problem.
However, I have a question for Home Exchange. What do you mean when you add in this line regarding how the payment should work etc.? What exactly does this mean? Is this Home Exchange suggesting to someone that they share the cost with their husband or wife or boyfriend or girlfriend? If yes, this is quite inappropriate to put in the instructions and should be remote. I think the people that are booking. These homes are grown adults. They don’t need to be told to split it with their family, husband, boyfriend, etc. This should be removed.
“We also recommend you to consider the option of splitting the fees between you and your partner.”
I understand what you mean Melissa.
I don’t say that it can be paid before arrival.
best pratices include a bill at the name of the client.
Cash without bill is not recommended in terms of transparency and compliance with the country’s tax obligations.
As it was not clearly written, i contacted HE which messaged me that if the client ask for the bill, the host has no right to refuse to give it.
No the suggestion here is that the host may wish to consider splitting the cost of the cleaning between the host and the guest. So between yourself and your exchange partner.