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An Honest Look: Residential vs Airbnb
Pro's, the Con's and so much more
Logan Robison
September 03, 2024
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An Honest Look: Residential vs Airbnb
Remember the thrill of landing that first residential cleaning gig? Now, imagine doubling that feeling with every new Airbnb client. Here’s why I made the switch—and why you might want to, too.
After about 10 months of doing residential, I made the transition to exclusively cleaning Airbnb properties and haven’t looked back. This edition breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly of both residential and Airbnb.
From my perspective, Airbnb cleaning has all the positives of residential cleaning plus some additional features that make it attractive for many. But, just like any business, there are definite downsides that can’t be overlooked. Here’s an honest review of Airbnb cleaning vs residential cleaning.
Residential Cleaning vs Airbnb:
Consistency: Predictability can be nice
With residential, you’ll be cleaning the same house at the same time every other week (sometimes every 4 weeks). This consistency is one of the very best things about residential cleaning. It’s guaranteed money.
Airbnb cleans, however, are all over the place. And we mean it. Your schedule might look like it was thrown in a blender—but that’s what makes it exciting! Customer’s travel plans vary greatly and could be cleaning the same property on Monday this week and Friday the next with no rhyme or rhythm. It all depends on when the guests’ timeline.
Customer interactions: Introvert vs Extrovert
If getting to know your clients is your thing, then residential is for you as they are often in the home while you’re cleaning. You will know them and their house better than anyone else.
If you prefer to avoid all human interaction, you’ll love Airbnb cleaning. The guests have already left and if you’re in luck, the host lives several miles away and isn’t planning to stop in and make small talk with you. Just put in your headphones and get going 👊
Product of the day
The first time I used Fabuloso, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. If you want customers to immediately know the property was cleaned, use Fabuloso to mop the floor on your way out of each property. The scent instantly communicate “this cleaner knows their stuff”
One-time Cleans: Cash cow and Rare Gems
Residential deep cleans and move-out cleans are quite the money makers. We’re grateful for all the tenants who are moving out and only then realize that they have been living in absolute filth and need a professional cleaner. It’s always a hefty payday for the cleaners!
These are less common in Airbnb though we still do a deep clean at each of our properties every 4 - 6 months and after each long-term stay. One-time cleans with Airbnbs are rare and they are almost always a disaster. If someone is calling you for a one-time clean for their Airbnb, you know there was a party that went down and their regular cleaner said “no way” 😲
Limited surprises: Known Risks vs Wild Cards
With residential cleaning, if you clean the same houses each week, it’s very unlikely that you get many surprises. Often, people have the same habits and same level of cleanliness. This is not the case for Airbnb.
At an Airbnb you can have the nicest property in the world get absolutely wrecked by a group of spring breakers. You truly never know what you’re going to find when you walk into a property. That’s what makes this job so exciting.
Frequency: Feast and/or famine
Residential cleaning frequency is pretty much laid out for you. A typical customer has the cleaners come once every other week and sometimes just once a month. This puts a cap on how much you can earn at each property
With Airbnb, if that property is really popular, you could (realistically) clean it 3 - 5 per month depending on how long each stay is and how many days go by in between guests. This means that each property you clean as an Airbnb is potentially worth way more than a typical residential property.
On average, each of our Airbnbs are cleaned 3.5x per month
Complexity: Simple vs Challenging
Residential is fairly simple and straightforward and not too complex. If there are special requests or accommodations, the owner will be sure you let you know ahead of time.
Airbnb on the other hand, is a little more involved. From the cleaning to the staging to the linens, restocking, and trash runs, Airbnbs are a lot to handle. And don’t forget that someone is checking in 4 hours from now so you’d better get it all done fast!
Flexibility: Who owns the schedule
With residential, you have the flexibility to schedule your client on the day that works best with your calendar and their’s. If the client or you need to move your calendar around a bit, it’s typically not a big deal.
This is not the case with Airbnb. Since many hosts allow last-minute bookings, it’s best practice to clean the Airbnb on the day of check-out. Not doing this would require the host to block the calendar or pray that no one books. With Airbnb, your cleaning schedule is wholly dependent on the guests’ timeframe and is relatively inflexible.
Competition: Market Saturation or New Territory
Every town you visit in the U.S. has an established residential cleaning franchise so getting a foothold and building something of true value is difficult
Airbnb is not this way. In fact, I don’t know a single Airbnb cleaning company that has expanded past their own town. This means you’re only battling local competition and have an opportunity to make your mark.
Well, what did you think? What did I miss? If this has intrigued you to start an Airbnb cleaning business register for our course! It’s $49 and is worth probably 5x that amount purely based on the marketing knowledge alone.
Whatever you choose to do, Airbnb cleaning can be a great way for you to diversify your income, build new skills, and grow your cleaning empire!
Until next time,
Logan
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