Maintaining the property yourself

Cleaning and maintaining the property yourself will only be a feasible option if you live locally. Be realistic about the distance between your own home and that of your holiday let, and consider how much spare time you have available. There is little point in trying to save a few pounds, if you are running yourself ragged doing, so and cutting corners with regard to the service you are providing.

In my opinion, it is not a good idea to try to clean and maintain the property if it is not within easy reach of your home. Think about how you would get to the property in the middle of winter when there is snow on the ground. You may well have numerous bookings at this time of year, but if you can’t get to the property to prepare it for guests, there is little point in trying to secure these bookings.

If you are intending to clean the property yourself, you should choose the changeover day to suit your own personal circumstances. There is no point in taking Saturday to Saturday booking if you are not available to clean the property and change the bedding on this day. However, bear in mind that the changeover day you choose must also appeal to holidaymakers. Wednesday may be a good day for you to clean the property, but is it realistic to expect guests to plan their holiday to start in the middle of the week? Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the most popular days for holiday let changeovers.

Being on hand to clean and maintain the property personally can have both advantages and disadvantages, and you must weigh each of these up before making your decision.

Advantages of maintaining the property yourself

• 1.You can be sure that the cleaning is done to a high standard.
• 2.You save the cost of employing a housekeeper.
• 3.You can be sure that the property is aired properly.
• 4.You are on hand to notice any damage, breakages or missing items.
• 5.You are on hand to give a personal welcome to your guests on their arrival.
• 6.You are available to sort out any problems personally.
• 7.You can assess the rate of wear and tear in the property.
• 8.You can keep a personal eye on your investment and decide whether improvements or cutbacks should be made.

Disadvantages of maintaining the property yourself

• 1.You will be tied to cleaning on changeover days when you have bookings.
• 2.You will have the problem of finding someone to stand in for you should you be ill or on holiday.
• 3.You may be upset at how some people leave your property, particularly if you have emotional ties to the house.
• 4.Cleaning a holiday let on a regular basis, in addition to working full time, can be exhausting and leave little time for leisure activities.
• 5.Often the time spent, and the money incurred travelling to the property, can outweigh any money saved by not employing a housekeeper.
• 6.You may be pestered by holidaymakers encroaching on your time for trivial things.

Regardless of whether you decide to clean the property yourself or employ a housekeeper to do it for you, the property must be spotless at all times. There is no excuse for guests to arrive at a dirty house. Rest assured that the will complain if they do not find the property to their satisfaction.

Employing the service of a housekeeper

If you choose to place your property in the hands of a reputable letting agency, they may well be able to assist you with the cleaning and maintenance of your property. Many large, established agencies operate their own cleaning and caretaking service and, although not compulsory, they can be invaluable for the odd clean, perhaps when you or your housekeeper are ill or away on holiday or if you have simply been let down.

Although agency cleaning and caretaking services are helpful in emergencies, it may not be advisable to employ them all the time as they are usually much more expensive than employing a personal cleaner or housekeeper. Depending on the size and location of your property, it is usually more cost-effective to take the time to source a personal housekeeper for the property yourself. Using the agency services will of course guarantee reliability, as they have many employees, but they can often cost twice as much as a personal housekeeper.

If you do not intend to clean the property yourself nor want the trouble of finding your own housekeeper, check that the agency you choose actually has a cleaning and caretaking service, as not all agencies offer this service.

Advantage of using an agency cleaning service

• 1.Reliable staff who are experienced in cleaning holiday lets.
• 2.No need to cater for employee holidays and illness, as the agency will have numerous cleaning staff on their books.
• 3.A high standard of cleanliness should be achieved.

Disadvantages of using an agency cleaning service

• 1.You will have little say as to the way your property is cleaned and prepared for guests, as most agencies will have their own policies and procedures which they will expect their staff to follow.
• 2.The service will be impersonal.
• 3.The service can prove very expensive if used regularly.
• 4.You may get different staff cleaning your property, making it hard to establish a good, regular routine.

In my experience the best method by far, if you are not able to clean the property yourself, is to employ the services of a personal housekeeper. Admittedly in the first instance you will incorporate a little more work in finding the right person but, when you have done this, the rewards will be worth the effort.

Firstly, you must decide what kind of staff your property will require. If you have a small yard or patio garden, there is little point in paying out for the services of a gardener. It, however, one of the features of your property is a large, well maintained garden, it is vital that you enlist the help of a gardener, if you are unable to do the gardening yourself. Lawns need mowing at least once a week, sometimes more in the summer months, if they are to remain looking good and to prevent them from turning into a jungle overnight.

When deciding who to employ to clean and maintain your property it is best to use the services of someone who is local. You will hopefully manage to find someone in the same village but, if not, make sure they live in close proximity to your property.

The best way of finding the right person is to advertise for the staff you require. If you are well known in the area where you have your property, and you have managed to make friends already, then you may be able to find a housekeeper simply by asking around. If, however, as in many cases, you do not know lots of people, you would be advised to place an advert in the local newspaper under the heading ‘situations vacant’ or perhaps put a card in the window of the local newsagents or post office. Newspaper adverts are usually the fastest way of generating interest and can reach a wide audience. Keep your advert short; this will save you money, as you will be charged for the lineage. Something along the lines of the following will suffice:

Never put the address of the property in the advert and do not give out too much information. There is no need to advertise how much you are offering to pay, as this can be negotiated if the right person is interested.

It is probably a good idea to place the advert in the local paper a couple of times in order to generate enough interest. Make a list of the people who reply to your advert and set a date, at the holiday property, to conduct your interviews. I cannot stress how important it is to carry out interviews before employing anyone. It may be a bind having to travel to the property and perhaps giving up a day or two of your time to conduct your interviews, particularly if you have quite a distance to travel. However, remember that not only are you trusting this person with the keys to your property, you are also placing the responsibility of keeping your guests happy firmly on their shoulders. Quite often people can sound ideal over the telephone but when you meet them in person they are simply not what you expected. The person you choose as your housekeeper not only has to be a brilliant cleaner with high personal standards, they must also be fit and able to clean a house from top to bottom and to a high standard in a limited. number of hours. In addition to being a competent cleaner, they must also be pleasant, polite and approachable as they will probably be the person greeting your guests.

When making a list of the people you are looking to interview, try to ask a few questions while they are on the telephone so that neither you nor they are wasting each other’s time. Inform them of your changeover days, so that they can immediately tell you if this is acceptable to them. Even if you state this in your advertisement, people may still apply in the hope of changing your mind or because they intend to fit the cleaning around existing commitments. This is not a good idea. Avoid at all costs employing someone who already cleans a property on the same day as you are intending to do your own changeovers. An experienced housekeeper would not contemplate cleaning two properties on the same day, as they know only too well how much work is involved. If you are expecting to employ someone from 10am until 3pm, it will be impossible for them to be at two properties on the same day. If your changeover day is Saturday and the person answering the advertisement already works on that day, there is little point making an appointment to meet them.

If possible, ask potential housekeepers to bring along a reference and a CV to the interview. Make your appointments with a gap of approximately 30 minutes between. Some people may turn up late, even though this is not how to make a good impression. You will be surprised how quickly the 30 minutes passes, particularly if you have a lot of questions to ask. Avoid showing everyone you interview around your property. Instead, tell each potential housekeeper that you are interviewing several people and, should you choose to employ them, you will request that they return at a later time or date so that you can show them the ropes and explain in detail what is expected of them.

Have a list of questions prepared to ask the people you are interviewing, such as:

• 1.Have they any cleaning experience? If they haven’t, make sure they are aware of what will be expected of them. Running around in an apron brandishing a feather duster does not constitute a thorough clean of a holiday home!
• 2.Are they already working and, if so, where and when do they work?
• 3.Have they any references? If so, contact them before making your decision.
• 4.Have they got any holidays booked in the near future? (Although this should not deter you from employing someone you think is suitable, you can at least be prepared to find cover for the dates they are away.)
• 5.When is the earliest date they can start, should they be offered the position?

You will invariable be asked how much you are willing to pay, but avoid employing anyone who asks this question immediately, even before the job has been outlined. Holiday let cleans can sometimes be seen as ‘easy money’. Prospective employees may assume that, because the owner may live some distance away, they will not be on hand to check the work, and they will therefore be able to get away with the bare minimum. This is simply not the case as, even if you cannot see a housekeeper’s shabby work, guests certainly will and a dirty property will not be tolerated. It is often not enough to clean a property well – it has simply to be cleaned to perfection!

The number of housekeepers you have to choose from will, of course, depend on the number of replies your advertisement attracts. You may be, as I was, inundated with replies, in which case you will be spoilt for choice, or you may have only one or two replies, in which case you may feel you are picking the best from a bad bunch. Never feel pressurised into employing someone just because there is no other choice. If you do not feel that the person is right for the job, avoid making a mistake. Place another advert in the paper and, in the meantime, consider using the services of your agency or clean the property yourself. Delaying a decision of who to employ as your housekeeper may cause you a little inconvenience and expense but, in the long run, it will be better than employing someone who is simply not up to the job, as you will then have the added problem of having to dispense with their services, re-advertise and conduct more interviews.

If you have plenty of choice, try to select about 10 to 15 hopefuls to interview. Be honest and inform any other candidates that you have been inundated with replies and that you have sufficient people to interview. It is a good idea to take their details and tell them that, should the people you are initially interviewing not be suitable, you will telephone them to discuss the position further. If the worst comes to the worst and you do not find anyone suitable, you then have the added bonus of being able to go back to the other candidates, rather than having to re-advertise.

You may think that a cleaner does not have to be a mastermind and that the job is menial. However, thinking along these lines could seriously damage your holiday let business. Your housekeeper is the single most important person. They are the key to the success of your property and whether or not your guests return. It will be their responsibility to impress your guests, to ensure that the property is welcoming and spotless on their arrival and that any problems are dealt with professionally and efficiently.

Things to look for when interviewing potential housekeepers

• 1.Friendliness Your housekeeper must be friendly, polite and approachable.
• 2.Professional and efficient If you are employing the services of a housekeeper, it is probably true to say that you will not be on hand to oversee the cleaning yourself, in which case the person you employ must be able to work under their own initiative. They must be reliable and helpful.
• 3.Experienced You may not need a degree to clean a house. However, your do need to be experienced in cleaning. There is a need for routine, speed and efficiency. There will be a limited number of hours available to clean a property on changeover days and your housekeeper must be able to clean the entire house, thoroughly, during this time. The property may have a stained carpet or broken appliance and it is vital that the person you employ knows how to deal with these extra tasks or potential disasters without panicking.
• 4.Smart appearance The person you employ should appear smart and well turned out. Interviews are primarily for this reason and therefore potential candidates should have made an effort. I am not suggesting that they turn up for an interview in a suit, high heels and carrying a briefcase containing their references, but I would expect to see someone who has pride in their appearance and above all looks clean.

Setting the wages you are offering to potential housekeeper can sometimes be difficult, particularly if you live some distance from the property and are unaware of the going rate for the area. Where some people may think that £10 per hour is fantastic, others may baulk at the suggestion. If there are other holiday lets in your area, try to find out how much they are paying their housekeepers. Enquire how much local cleaners are being paid (bear in mind that there is usually more responsibility involved for a holiday let housekeeper working under their own initiative than, say, a pub cleaner, and you must ensure you wages reflect this). It is also a good idea to enquire how much holiday let agencies in the area would charge for their cleaning services. Some agencies may charge as much as £80 per changeover for their caretaking service, depending on the size of the property, when it may be possible to employ a housekeeper for half that coast.

When you have conducted your interviews, you will hopefully have whittled your choice down to three potential employees. Never set your heart on one person and completely disregard the rest. Bear in mind that a potential candidate may well turn down the job, even if it is offered to them. They may not like the work it entails, the hours or the pay. Try to be flexible and negotiate wherever possible to secure the right person for the job, without compromising too much on what you actually need.

If possible, try to contact the person who is your first choice of housekeeper the same day and ask if they could call on you again so that you can show them around the property and go through the exact requirements of the job. At this second interview, reiterate what the job entails and confirm the wages you are prepared to pay. Try not to give too many instructions all at once or baffle your new housekeeper with wages you are prepared to pay. Try not to give Instead, make a list of the important things they will need to know from day one and, if at all possible, put these in writing so that they can read them at leisure. Suggest that they return to the property on their own, prior to the first changeover, to familiarise themself with the layout of the property and how things work.

This is when you have to be sure that you have taken on the right person for the job and that you have ensured wherever possible, that they are trustworthy, as you will now be handing over a set of keys to this relative stranger and be expecting them to work under their own initiative and to a high standard. It is important, particularly in the first few weeks of employing a housekeeper, that you ensure that they are doing the job to your satisfaction. The only way you can guarantee this is to visit the property regularly until you are satisfied with their work. Remember that, although you do not want to appear ruthless and demanding. you are paying or a service and you have every right to expect a decent standard. If you are not happy with the way your housekeeper is doing their job, then tell them. Avoid being aggressive, but let it be known that you have some reservations and that you would like some changes to be made.

Advantages of employing a personal housekeeper

• 1.You will build up a good relationship with the person working for you.
• 2.You will be able to specify your requirements and know that these will be adhered to, as the same person will be cleaning your property every week.
• 3.You will probably feel happier leaving the property in the hands of someone you know and trust.
• 4.You will be able to employ a regular housekeeper at a more reasonable rate of pay than using an agency housekeeping service on a long-term basis.

Disadvantages of employing a housekeeper

• 1.You may have misjudged the person you interviewed and they may not turn out to be suitable for the job.
• 2.They may not listen to your requests.
• 3.They may start off well but later become less enthusiastic and let standards slip.

If you advertise and interview for a housekeeper, you should be able to choose the right person for the job. It is important that the person you employ not only knows how to clean to a very high standard, but that they must also be someone who guests will feel able to approach and, most importantly, someone who you can relate to. You need to know that if something is not up to standard, you will be able to tell them and that you can expect them to make the necessary changes.

If you choose well, you should end up with a housekeeper who will hopefully remain in your employment for many years and provide you with a high standard of housekeeping. With the right housekeeper there should be very few disadvantages. However, you should think about:

• 1.How you will clean your property if your housekeeper is ill.
• 2.How you will clean your property if your housekeeper is away on holiday.
• 3.How you will deal with any problems, with regard to the service they are providing you with, should they arise.

Employing the services of a gardener

If your property has a decent-sized garden or if the garden area is a major feature of the property, it is paramount that you employ the services of a gardener, unless you are personally on hand to maintain the garden yourself. Do not underestimate the time needed to maintain a garden to a decent standard. Even a small patio with planted tubs will incur time to sweep, weed and water. A large garden, with flowerbeds and lawns, can be very time-consuming. Guests will be unimpressed if they turn up at a property which it has been stated in the advert has a large family garden, and this turns out to be an overgrown wilderness with garden chairs buried under six feet of grass.

If you live near to your property and the garden is of a manageable size, you may consider taking on the work yourself. However, if you are also intending to do the cleaning of the property, make sure that you have sufficient time between changeovers to carry out all the work to a high standard. If you haven’t, consider delegating some of the jobs. Personally I would prefer to employ a gardener as, once established, a garden will only need to kept tidy and the lawns cut. There should be no major decisions to be made. The house, on the other hand, needs to be immaculate, and personal touches can make all the difference. If you are considering doing some of the work yourself, either to cut down on costs or simply because you have the time and inclination to do so, then I would advise you to take on the housekeeping duties yourself and leave the gardening to a gardener or handyman. Depending on the size of the garden you may get away with employing a gardener for just a couple of hours a week, whereas cleaning an entire house and doing the laundry will take much longer.

If you have a small garden, try to make things easier for yourself by avoiding the temptation to fill lots of tubs with plants. Although these can be very pleasing to the eye they also create a lot of work and, if not watered regularly, will quickly die off in the summer months. There are plants that need little watering which can be very attractive and you should consider these varieties if possible. Paved areas and patios should be kept weed-free and garden furniture should always be in a good, clean state of repair.

Consider providing a barbecue or chiminea for your guests’ enjoyment. They can be purchased relatively cheaply and they will enhance the facilities on offer.

Changeovers and cleaning

You will by now have probably already decided on which day of the week to have your ‘changeover’. This is the day that a holiday starts and finishes; the day when guests arrive and leave. You should think carefully about the day you choose for your changeover. Consider:

• 1.Which day is convenient for you to travel to the property? If you work full time and choose Friday as your changeover day, it will be difficult for you to get to the property to check on the housekeeping service or carry out any routine maintenance, as guests may have already settled in before you arrive.
• 2.Which is the preferred day for holiday-makers? Saturday seems to be the most popular changeover day by far. Choosing a different day may alienate potential holidaymakers.
• 3.Saturday changeovers make weekend bookings difficult. Friday changeovers may be a better option if you are intending to let you property for weekends on a regular basis.
• 4.Which day is the best for the staff you are intending to employ? Your preferred housekeeper may already work during the week and therefore a Saturday or Sunday may be the only days she is available. Try not to compromise too much on the most suitable day for changeovers. Always bear in mind that your guests’ preferences are what will secure maximum bookings and this find a housekeeper who is willing to fit around the most suitable changeover day for your property and guests.

Whichever day you choose as your changeover day, and whether you choose to clean the property yourself or employ the services of a housekeeper, one thing is paramount – the property must be spotless. Guests are more likely to notice the cleanliness of a property, or lack of it, than anything else. If you have advertised the property as it is and have not overelaborated on its location and facilities, then guests will pretty much be getting what they expect. The cleanliness of the property is therefore the one thing that can make or break a holiday.

Dirty fridges, sticky food cupboards, cobwebs, hairs in the plugholes and mirrors with smudges are a complete put-off. People renting a holiday property expect high standards of cleanliness and it is up to you and your housekeeper to make sure that you do not disappoint. If you can’t be on hand to inspect the property after every clean, you should at least make sure that your housekeeper knows exactly what you expect from them. Guests will be quick to complain if a property falls below their expectation of cleanliness.

There may be times when the property looks as if no one has stayed in it, as some guests will clean up after themselves; however, a thorough clean should still be done and skimping on the cleaning routine should be avoided at all costs. You may get a booking for two people in a property which sleeps six and in the case you would expect that most of the beds have not been slept in. However don’t be fooled, as this is not always the case. Two people can still use several beds if they have a mind to and can create just as much mess as a family of six. Check all the beds and if you are in any doubt as to whether they have been slept in, play it safe and change them all.

Never underestimate the importance of having a cleaning routine for your holiday cottage. If you employ an experienced housekeeper they will probably have their own routine for cleaning and it is best to let them stick to this providing, when you check the property, it meets with your satisfaction. If, however, you are intending to clean the property yourself, it is a good idea to sit down with a note pad and work out a suitable system that you could use every week on changeover days. By planning, in advance, the jobs that will need doing and the things that are likely to need checking, you will be efficient and avoid the risk of forgetting something important. Your routine will get better with time. Experience is invaluable and like anything, practise makes perfect. The more changeovers you do, the quicker and easier they will become. You will learn which methods work effectively and which system suits you.

It is probably true to say that, if you are thinking of renting out a holiday property, you will already have your own home. If this is the case, you should be familiar with cleaning a house. You will probably already have a routine of your own and many ideas of how you will tackle cleaning your holiday property. However, one very important thing to remember with your holiday let is that you have a very limited timescale to work to. If you are cleaning your own property you probably won’t have a deadline to work to, and if you don’t get time to do something it is not a big deal as you can postpone it until later. With a holiday let, however, this is not the case. You cannot put off cleaning the over because you have run out of time! The maximum amount of time between changeovers is usually five hours. Guests may well be requested to leave by 10am and new arrivals will be informed that the property will be already for them at 3pm. In this time you will have to completely blitz the property. New guests arriving should see no trace of the people who have just left, and the house must be aired, spotless clean and welcoming. This is a lot to achieve in just five hours.

The method you choose for cleaning your property will, of course, depend on the layout. My own particular property is spread over three floors, with bedrooms on the top and ground floors and the living space on the first floor. I would always recommend that you start cleaning from the top of the house and work your way down. With a more conventional property, this will mean starting with the bedrooms and family bathroom and ending with the living room and kitchen. Bungalows, o course, are all on the same level, unless they have dormers, but once again I would recommend starting with the bedrooms. One of the first jobs I would recommend you do is to strip off the beds. This will allow them to air while you carry out the other initial tasks before making them up with clean sheets.

Before we look at a tired and tested method for cleaning a holiday property, it is important to go through the kind of cleaning equipment you will need. Always make sure that you have a good supply of cleaning agents, dusters, cloths, etc. at the property and, even if you are cleaning the house yourself, leave the equipment in a locked cupboard at the actual holiday house. If you to keep loading and unloading your car with the necessary equipment, you run the risk of forgetting something important and wasting precious time.

Your equipment should be kept in a cupboard with a lock to avoid the risk of small children being able to reach it. Invest in some robust, stacking, plastic crates to keep all your equipment handy and accessible. Most hardware stores and supermarkets stock these types of boxes in a variety of colours and sizes. You may like to colour co-ordinate your boxes to make it easier or you to find things. For example, all kitchen cleaning equipment is in a red box. Similarly, if you purchase larger coloured crates for bedding and towels, you can put all the hand towels in one crate and the bath towels in another. By doing this with your sifting through piles of bedding looking for the correct sheets for the correct bed. Anything that will save time is worth considering.

Keep a box of essentials with you at all time as you go from one room to the next. This will save you having to go backwards and forwards for cleaning materials. Use a robust crate to carry your essential items such as cloths, duster, furniture polish, rubber gloves, bathroom cleaner, disinfectant, toilet cleaner, kitchen cleaner, etc. or, better still, have two upstairs and the other containing the equipment you will need to clean downstairs. You can replenish your stocks as necessary from the larger boxes you have in your cupboard. Try to keep a good stock of equipment for cleaning, so that you do not have to waste valuable time on the day of the changeover going to the shops to buy things you have run out of. Also, village shops will be more expensive and it will be better or you purchase your equipment when you go to the supermarket. Bank holidays, Easter and Christmas may also make it difficult for purchasing equipment at the last minute should you run out.

The following is a list of equipment you should always have in stock at your property to use or replace on changeover days:

Dusters	Disinfectant
Dishcloths	Carpet cleaners
Floor cloths	Spare light bulbs
Furniture polish	Toilet rolls
Bathroom cleaners	Bin liners
Shower cleaner	Air fresheners
Kitchen cleaner	Tablets of soap
Mirror/glass/window cleaner

Dishwater tablets and cleaner or washing-up liquid

Disposable bags or sanitary items and nappies in areas with septic tanks

Soap powder and fabric conditioner

Screwdriver (to tighten up items such as toilet seats which invariably work loose over a period of time)

Replacement food items such as tea, coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, etc.

Spare batteries for remote controls, smoke alarms etc.

There may well be other items that you may wish to keep at your property, items which you yourself prefer to use. There is a huge amount o cleaning products on the market today and everyone will have their own preferences as to which products they prefer to use. Buy what you consider works well and does the job.

When changeover day arrives, make sure that you get to the property promptly, but not early. If guests are requested to leave by 10am, do not start banging on the door at 9am insisting that they leave. Some guests like to leave early on the last day to avoid traffic in the busy months and because they are aware that the property has to be cleaned and the towels and linen changed in time for the new arrivals. However, there will always be the odd guest who likes to linger. They may even hang around purposefully to let you know how their holiday has been. Pleasant as this may be, it may also eat into the precious time you have to clean the property and you must be diplomatic but firm when getting them to leave. Ideally, when you arrive at the property your guests will already have started their journey home, leaving the house empty for you to begin your cleaning.

The first jobs to tackle are:

• 1.Open all the windows in the house to eliminate any left-over odours. The house should be free of all cooking, tobacco and dog smells, and the best way to do this is to allow fresh air into the property. Air fresheners are ideal as a last resort, but they only mask odours and their chemicals linger.
• 2.Strip off all the beds that have been slept in. If the number of guests staying is less than the number the property can accommodate, make sure that you check the other beds. If there is any sign that they make have been slept in, strip these off as well. Put all the dirty laundry in bin liners to take home.
• 3.Check the oven for spills and burnt offerings. If it is very dirty, spray on the oven cleaner and leave it to work while you tackle the other jobs.
• 4.Check the carpets and upholstery for spills or marks and if these are major, tackle them as soon as possible in order that they have time to dry out before any new guests arrive.

Now the hard work begins! Starting from the top of the house, work your way around the bedrooms.

Bedrooms

Cleaning the bedrooms:

• 1.Turn the mattresses on each bed regularly. Turn them both side over side and top to bottom.
• 2.Beside rugs should be removed and shook outside.
• 3.Check the mattress protectors and pillow protectors. If these are stained, change them.
• 4.Check under the bed for any left items and sweep or vacuum while the beds are stripped off.
• 5.Polish all furniture, checking the wardrobes and chests of drawers as you go for any items left behind.
• 6.Dust picture frames and skirting boards.
• 7.Clean the inside of the window and the sill.
• 8.Make up the beds with fresh sheets and duvets.
• 9.Switch on the lights and lamps to check that bulbs do not need changing.
• 10.Make sure the alarm clock isn’t switched on.
• 11.Draw the curtains to check that they are hanging correctly and have not come off the rail.
• 12.Wipe paintwork around light switches and door handles.
• 13.Finally, vacuum the entire room and replace any rugs.
• 14.Leave a bath towel and hand towel on each bed, along with a small tablet of soap, individual shampoo, bath foam, etc.
• 15.Arrange any personal items such as cotton wool balls and tissues on the dressing table.

All bedrooms should be cleaned methodically in this way. I would recommend that, in a traditionally laid-out property, you should tackle the bedrooms first, followed by the bathrooms, to avoid having to continually change your cleaning equipment from duster and polish to cloth, mop and disinfectant.

Bathrooms

Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are generally the areas where dirt and grime will accumulate. You can avoid the build-up of water marks and scum by leaving a bathroom cleaner and cloth for your guests to use themselves. Most people will use products that have been provided to help to keep the property clean.

Cleaning the bathrooms and shower rooms:

• 1.Spray the bath and shower area with a suitable cleaner and wipe around. Treat any stubborn stains more vigorously.
• 2.Remove any hair from the plug holes in both the bath and hand basin.
• 3.Wipe down all tiles.
• 4.Clean mirrors.
• 5.Clear out cabinets and wipe down with a suitable solution.
• 6.Clean the toilet. Make sure that you clean both inside and outside the pan and under the seat. Wipe the handle and hinges and pour in a generous amount of toilet cleaner.
• 7.Clean the wash basin and taps and wipe dry.
• 8.Clean the inside of the window and the sill.
• 9.Dispose of any left-over soap, shampoo and bubble bath.
• 10.Empty the bin and replace with a clean liner.
• 11.Remove dirty bath and pedestal mats and replace with clean ones.
• 12.Check light bulb and replace if necessary.
• 13.Draw curtains or pull blinds to check for splashes, and wipe where necessary.
• 14.Replace the toilet roll with a full one.
• 15.Leave an adequate supply of bags for sanitary items and disposable nappies.
• 16.Wipe around shaving adapter plug and door handle.
• 17.Mop the floor with a fresh-smelling disinfectant solution if tiled or linoleum, or vacuum thoroughly if carpeted.

Hall, stairs and landing

Cleaning the hall, stairs and landing is relatively straightforward. Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove fluff and debris. Check light bulbs and replace if necessary. Clean windows and sills and remove any dead files and cobwebs. Wipe down handrails and around light witches to eliminate grubby finger marks.

Once the bedrooms have been tackled, you can get to work on the kitchen and living areas.

Kitchen

Cleaning the kitchen:

• 1.Tackle the oven first. If it has been left in a particularly bad state, you should have already added the cleaner so that it can have been working on the grease while you have been busy cleaning the bedrooms and bathrooms. Wipe the oven out and make sure the grill pan and shelves are clean.
• 2.Wipe down the hob, making sure you remove any stains.
• 3.Remove all dirty tea towels and oven gloves.
• 4.Dispose of the dishcloth.
• 5.Empty all the food cupboards, the fridge and the freezer, and dispose of left-over food. Never leave any food for the next guests, even if it is well within its sell-by date.
• 6.Empty crumbs from the toaster.
• 7.Wipe out the food cupboards and concentrate on any sticky surfaces or split substances.
• 8.Wipe out the fridge and freezer and leave the door open for them to air for as long as possible.
• 9.Empty the bin, wipe down with a disinfectant solution and replace with a fresh liner.
• 10.Remove all appliances from the work surfaces and wipe these thoroughly with a suitable spray or cream cleaner.
• 11.Re-arrange the appliances such as the toaster and kettle.
• 12.Clean the window and the skill.
• 13.Wipe out the microwave and leave the door open for it to air for as long as possible.
• 14.Check cupboards containing crockery and glasses for crumbs and breakages, and replace items as necessary.
• 15.Wipe out the cutlery drawer. This is one area where crumbs invariably gather. Check the cutlery has been washed satisfactorily.
• 16.Put any items that need another wash into the dishwasher and switch on, or hand wash them in the sink.
• 17.Check the curtains or blind for splashes and wipe where necessary.
• 18.Empty the kettle.
• 19.Clean the sink and taps and wipe over tiles areas.
• 20.If new guests are arriving that day, place an unopened, fresh pint of milk in the fridge.
• 21.Arrange a welcome tray containing teabags, coffee. sugar and biscuits.
• 22.If you provide a grocery pack, place this in the cupboard.
• 23.Arrange a small vase of fresh flowers on the windowsill or table.
• 24.Check light bulbs and change if necessary.
• 25.Wipe around door handles and light switches.
• 26.Mop the floor with a fresh-smelling disinfectant solution.
• 27.Leave two clean tea towels, oven gloves and two disposable dishcloths for guests to use. I would recommend the use of disposable dishcloths. They can be thrown away and are much more hygienic than fabric dishcloths, which attract and hold germs and bacteria.
• 28.It is always a good idea to leave a small selection of cleaning materials under the sink. Dishwasher tablets and an anti-bacterial work surface cleaner will be beneficial.
• 29.Empty the dishwasher and replace the items in the cupboard.
• 30.Close the doors on the white goods you have left open, once they have aired.

Utility room

Cleaning the utility room:

• 1.Make sure the soap powder dispenser of the washing machine is clean and void of any left-over powder that has turned to sludge.
• 2.Check that previous occupants have not left any clothing in either the washing machine or the tumble dryer.
• 3.Wipe down the front of both appliances.
• 4.Clean the filter in the tumble dryer.
• 5.Wipe the sink and taps.
• 6.Check the light bulbs and change if necessary.
• 7.Wipe around the light switch and door handles.
• 8.Mop or vacuum the floor.

The bathrooms, kitchen and utility room must stand up to close scrutiny. These will be the rooms that most guests will look at closely to judge the cleanliness of the whole house and it is therefore vital that you go the extra mile and make sure that they are completely spotless.

Dining room

This should be relatively easy to clean, providing there are no food spills to tackle. If possible, try to avoid using carpet in high-traffic areas such as halls and dining rooms, as these are the places where carpets become shabby the quickest.

Cleaning the dining room:

• 1.Tackle any spills on carpets or upholstered chairs with a good-quality cleaner.
• 2.Polish sideboards, cupboards and the dining table. Make sure that you tackle any left-over food particles on the table and eliminate any traces of previous guests.
• 3.Clean windows and sills.
• 4.Draw curtains to check they are still hung well.
• 5.Check light bulbs and replace if necessary.
• 6.Dust picture frames and skirting boards.
• 7.Arrange fresh flowers in a vase and place in the centre of the table.
• 8.Thoroughly vacuum the carpet.
• 9.Wipe around door handles and light switches.

Living room

Try to keep knick-knacks to a minimum. You must find a happy medium when decorating and accessorising your holiday property. Too few vases and ornaments will look cold and unwelcoming, too many will be a nightmare to clean and result in breakages. Avoid cramming shelves with lots of clutter, as these are particularly awkward and time-consuming to dust if you have to remove dozens of items first.

Cleaning the living room:

• 1.Remove all cushions from sofas and armchairs. You may find an assortment of things that have slipped down between the cushions, such as loose change, sweet wrappers or even the remote control for the television. Remove any objects you find and using the attachments on your vacuum cleaner, give the sofa and chairs a thorough clean, removing fluff, hair and crumbs. When you have finished, plump up the cushions and set them back in place.
• 2.Polish all shelves and surfaces.
• 3.Dust picture frames and skirting boards.
• 4.Wipe over the television set and any games consoles to remove dust and finger marks.
• 5.Take rugs outside and give them a good shake.
• 6.Clean any windows and sills. Pay particular attention to patio doors as these can attract dogs and young children, who will leave behind a variety of smudges and sticky finger marks.
• 7.If your property has an open fire, clean this thoroughly and fill the basket with wood and the scuttle with coal for the next guests.
• 8.Check all light bulbs and change if necessary.
• 9.Wipe around light switches and door handles.
• 10.Arrange fresh flowers in a vase.
• 11.Vacuum the carpet thoroughly, moving furniture where necessary.
• 12.Check the remote controls, etc. and replace batteries where necessary.

Conservatory

Cleaning the conservatory

• 1.Remove cushions from cane furniture and shake well.
• 2.Using the attachments from your vacuum cleaner, remove any dust and food particles before replacing the cushions.
• 3.Wipe down any tables and surfaces.
• 4.Clean windows where necessary.
• 5.Mop the floor with a solution of fresh-smelling disinfectant.
• 6.Check light bulbs and replace if necessary.
• 7.Wipe around light switches and door handles.

There is no room in the house that can be spared a thorough clean. Each room has its own unique purpose and the standard of cleanliness must be high in each one. Although it is probably true to say that most guests will spend the majority of their time in the living room, this is by no means the only room you should really concentrate on. Who would relish cooking in an oven caked in grease or sleeping in a bed with grubby sheets? Every room has its own check points and potential pitfalls to look out for.

Additional jobs to tackle

There are a number of other jobs you will need to do at every changeover, but some of these will depend on the facilities you provide and the guests you are willing to accommodate. For example:

• 1.If you agree to allow smokers in your property, make sure you empty and wash every ashtray and leave them in easily accessible places.
• 2.If you allow dogs in your property, wash and dry pet bowl and place them on a clean mat in the area of the house where you would like them to be fed. If you have a conservatory or porch, this is an ideal place to leave the bowls and hopefully your guests will take the hint. It is also a good idea, as I have mentioned before, to leave a couple of clean, old towels for guests to use to dry off their dogs when they have been out walking. It is much easier for you to wash a couple of towels than to scrub floors and carpets to try to eliminate muddy paw prints.
• 3.Regardless of the type of property you have or who you are willing to accommodate, you must always check your smoke alarms before the arrival of new guests. Make sure you test every alarm and replace batteries as and when necessary. It is a good idea to make a note of when you have changed batteries, in order that you can make sure that your alarms are in good working order at all times.

Some jobs around the house will need doing less frequently. You may be well advised to make a note of these jobs and write next to them the frequency at which they should be done and the date they were last carried out. There may be some weeks when you have no bookings and this would be an ideal time to carry out the less frequent jobs, as you will have more time to spend. However, do not neglect these tasks if you are lucky enough to have endless bookings. Tackle one or two every week, note down what you have done, and see which jobs still need to be done. This way everything will get done in its turn, without things being neglected or duplicated. Some of the less frequent jobs may be:

• 1.Cleaning the windows. Although any marks on either the inside or outside should be removed at every changeover, a thorough clean of the windows may only need doing once a month. This will depend on the location of our property. Houses on a busy road or near to the coast may need their windows cleaning more often due to traffic pollution or sea salt. Consider employing a window cleaner to give your windows a good clean once a month, particularly if your property has a lot of large or difficult-to-reach windows.
• 2.Dusting the tops of cupboards and wardrobes. Although it is probably fair to say that dust will accumulate in these places on a weekly basis, you will not have the time to clean them after every changeover. Be honest, do you clean the top of the cupboards and wardrobes in your own home every week? It is highly unlikely that guests will climb up to look at the top of your wardrobes, so this is a job that can be tackled when the time allows. However, bear in mind that guests may put an empty suitcase or holdall on top of a wardrobe so that it is out of the way during their stay. If you fail to clean regularly, they will notice when they remove their case!
• 3.If you have a character cottage that is heavily laden with old beams, though they may look beautiful they will invariably provide you with extra work. It is not necessary to dust all the beams at every changeover, although you would be well advised to inspect them and remove any visible cobwebs.
• 4.Removing books from shelves and dusting behind them. If you only have a few books, this will not be difficult. However, if you have a large collection of books it may be better to tackle this take a little and often, perhaps cleaning several shelves each week.
• 5.Touching up paintwork.
• 6.Removing large items of furniture or appliances to vacuum or mop behind. Fridges and washing machines should be pulled out periodically and cleaned behind. So too should chests of drawers and beds.

You may get away with dusting banisters and picture frames less often, but by using a feather duster with a long handle this is by no means a difficult job and can be done quite easily on each changeover day.

Another point you should consider is how you will go about cleaning a property if it has been booked for two weeks rather than one. It will still be necessary for the bed linen and towels to be changed on a weekly basis. If you employ the services of an agency to market your holiday let for you, you will have no say in how this is done as they will have their own policies. However, if you are cleaning the property yourself or if you employ a personal housekeeper, you would be advised to ask the guests for their own preference on whether or not they require the property to be cleaned midway through their stay. There are pros and cons either way.

Advantages for cleaning midway through a two-week stay

• 1.It sets a good example and may well impress your guests who are not expecting this kind of service.
• 2.It will make it easier to clean the property at the end of the stay if some of the dust and dirt is removed after the first week.
• 3.It is a good opportunity to find out what your guests think about your property and whether they are enjoying their holiday. Granted, this may be when guests who have an axe to grind will take the opportunity to complain, but at least this will give you the chance to put things right and hopefully smooth over any problems.
• 4.You will be able to take the dirty laundry home with you to wash and iron in time for the next changeover.

Disadvantages for cleaning midway through a two-week stay

• 1.It may be uncomfortable being in the house when the guests are out. You will be around their personal belongings, some of which may be valuable. It is advisable either to arrange for a time to clean when the guests are in, or failing this take someone with you.
• 2.Not all guests will thank you for invading their privacy and they may even suspect you are checking up on them.
• 3.It will be difficult to carry out a thorough clean as you will be cleaning around guests’ possessions.
• 4.You may not like what you see. Although you will be unable to do a thorough check of the property, particularly if the guests are present, you may well notice damage or a situation that you are not happy with. You need to be able to deal with this kind of situation effectively and amicably.
• 5.If guests prefer to change their own bedding, you will have to arrange a suitable time with them to collect the dirty laundry. Failing that, you will have double the wash load the following week.

I would advise you to ask your guests, on their arrival, which method they prefer. In my experience, guests have been pleasantly surprised at the offer of a clean midway through the stay and are happy for someone to change the beds and run round with the vacuum cleaner for them after all, they are on holiday. However, at the other end of the spectrum, some people go away on holiday to be left alone. They may feel they have to tidy up before you arrive or they may simply value their privacy when away on holiday. Respect your guests’ wishes. If they request you to come and clean, ask them for a suitable time. Do not barge in at 9am and expect everyone to be up and dressed! If They wish to change the beds themselves, leave them with sufficient bed linen and towels, wish them a pleasant stay and be prepared for a heavy clean on their departure.

If you do employ the services of a housekeeper, I would always recommend that you pay them for two changeovers during a two-week booking, regardless of whether or not guests have requested that they come in and change the beds and clean around for them. The housekeeper may not have to spend time at the property on both weekends, but rest assured they will most definitely earn their money when, the following week, they have twice the amount of dirt and grime to clean and double the laundry to do!

Inspections

If you do not carry out the cleaning of your holiday property yourself, it is paramount that you visit regularly to ensure that whoever you have trusted with the housekeeping is maintaining a good standard and working to your own requirements.

If you have decided to place the cleaning of your property in the hands of a letting agency, do not take it for granted that everything will be perfect. Whoever is looking after your property for you needs to know that you are on hand and that you are available when needed. If you don’t take an interest in your own property, why should you expect anyone else to? I am not saying that without you constantly checking up on them, every housekeeper you employ will be lazy and slapdash. However, I am saying that it is in your own interests to keep a close eye on things and make sure the person you employ is working to your own expectations and high standards.

When you first employ a new housekeeper, try to visit the property on changeover days every week for the first three or four weeks. They will feel happier knowing you are there to offer help and assistance and you will feel happier knowing that the job is being done properly. As time goes by and you feel confident about your new employee, you will be able to leave a bigger gap between your visits. It is always a good idea to call at the property unannounced occasionally during the changeover clean. If your housekeeper is doing their job well they will have no objections to you doing this, and if they are not then you will be on hand to sort it out immediately.