I’m brand new to HE and have just finalised our first exchange for GPs in our second home. We requested a cleaning fee that they have agreed to. My question is, when should I ask them to pay the cleaning fee and how is this normally transacted? To be honest the whole process of confirmation seems too easy (we exchanged 2 emails, they were pushing for the confirmation and now it’s done) and am now wondering what I have missed or did I need to ask other questions before confirming. Please share you ‘must ask’ questions before confirming an exchange so that I feel more prepared, before this exchange.
If there’s a cleaning fee, you could talk about what they will do. For example, not leave dish in dishwasher, take trash out, get bed linen of beds. Be sure they know what they do need to do.
To get the money, mostly, it’s put in an envelope and left in the home. You cant ask for any money in advance.
If the guests have good reviews, then it might be just fine that they are coming. For a next time, think of things that you find important in guests and make sure your guests are like that.
Welcome to HomeExchange and to our Forum The cleaning fee if you request one must be stated on your listing and discussed before finalising - which is sounds like you’ve already done. Payment for cleaning fees cannot be made in advance of their stay, but they can leave the money for you at the end of the stay or whilst they are there. If there are any questions you wish to ask them before they visit then please do feel free to contact them. You can do this via the messaging system on the platform or some move over to Whatsapp. Have you put together a house guide for them and discussed arrival/departure etc?
Yes, i mentioned the cleaning fee on my swap page and we have agreed to it. I will ask them to leave it at the end of their stay as you suggested. What would happen if they didn’t leave it? Is there anything I can do?
I have lot’s of information about the house to share including videos so I feel organised in this aspect.
I wonder if there’s anything else I should be asking them such as IDs or any other confirmation details?
Finally, it seems that you have experience of this so what would you say are the most important things you always ask a guest before you agree to an exchange?
@Tyra This is not a rental, so there’s no need for you to ask for their ID. In 25 years of home exchanges, I’ve never asked for it, nor has anyone ever asked me. If you ever have a problem—which is rare—you simply talk to them first, and if it doesn’t get resolved, you can report it to the HE team; they have your guest’s personal information.
As for what to ask your guest before finalizing an exchange, that really depends on what’s important for you to know about them or their home. Everyone’s expectations are different, so there aren’t any set questions. For example, I like to know what public transport is available, how often it runs, and how much it costs. Someone else might want to know about good, reasonably priced restaurants in the area. Another person with a baby might ask if you can lend them a stroller or if there’s a highchair in the dining room, and so on.
The cleaning fee if you request one must be stated on your listing and discussed before finalising - which is sounds like you’ve already done. Payment for cleaning fees cannot be made in advance of their stay, but they can leave the money for you at the end of the stay or whilst they are there. If there are any questions you wish to ask them before they visit then please do feel free to contact them. You can do this via the messaging system on the platform or some move over to Whatsapp. Have you put together a house guide for them and discussed arrival/departure etc?