Your guide to hiring cleaners!

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Since September, we’ve added 17 new properties. Our hair has been on fire for the past 6 weeks 🔥

In this newsletter, I break down what what we did to make this happen, how we’re changing our current business to accommodate, and what our plan is for the future (spoiler alert, we’re going to grow even more. Pedal to the metal!)

But first, what happened:

Since mid to late summer, we’ve had several properties that we would consider warm leads. We had given them quotes and shared all the details of our business. We were simply awaiting their decision.

Well, it just so happened that everyone wanted to get started with us right at the beginning of football season (shocker). We’re 45 minutes away from an SEC school with a fairly decent football program (sometimes 😁 )

So football season means a large uptick in bookings. For instance, on Sunday (5 days ago) we had 36 cleans. You all know the feeling, you’re looking at the calendar wondering how in the world you’re going to get them all done.

The key is HIRING - the topic of today’s newsletter

To get 36 cleans done in one day, you need a lot of people. On average, each clean take 3.5 hours since the properties we clean are all fairly large. This means 1 cleaner can really only do a max of 2 cleans per day (if they are working solo and doing the full checklist).

By that logic, I needed at least 18 cleaners on that day. And I needed them all to show up and do a good job!

My process for hiring 👇️ 

Step 1: Post a job on Indeed

It’s a fairly simple job posting but here is a screenshot if you’re curious

One of the questions in the application process is “Do you have any current Airbnb cleaning clients or have you cleaned for a professional cleaning company before?” If the answer is “no” or it’s left unanswered, it’s typically an immediate “no” from me.

I will make an exception if they have other relevant experience or seem like they would be a good fit based on other criteria.

One of our newest cleaners has never cleaned professionally before but she used to be the office manager at a dental office. I know managing a dental office takes attention to detail, precision, etc. So I gave her a shot and so far, she’s been great!

Step 2: Scheduling the interview

I use this step as a test. You can tell a lot about a person by how they follow simple tasks.

If they look like a good fit, I will send them a calendly link and ask them to set up a 15-minute call for us. If they respond with “Thanks, I’m available on these days at these times” I know they aren’t a good fit. Why? They didn’t follow simple instructions.

Clicking on a link to schedule a time with Calendly is the first part of the interview. If they can’t follow basic instructions for scheduling an interview, I know they won’t follow instructions when it comes to the cleaning.

Step 3: The interview

It’s a quick 15 minutes to meet (via video) to see if they are a good fit. If they show up in the first place, I know they are already well ahead of the pack. P.S. you’d be shocked how many people schedule an interview and then don’t show up.

If they are professional, have good cleaning experience, and seem like they’d be an asset to the team, we move to the next step

Step 4: Checking references

It’s quick and easy. Just a quick text to their references with this message: “Hi Susan, my name is Logan and I own an Airbnb cleaning company in (your city). Jane Doe has applied to clean for us and listed you as a reference. Would you recommend Jane for this position?”

As long as they respond positively, it’s onto step 5

Step 5: Schedule a first clean (training clean)

We assign our new higher with a more experienced cleaner for their first job. We do this so they learn what our expectations are right off the bat. Assuming this clean goes well, we move them to the 2nd clean and the 3rd.

To schedule them, we add them to Breezeway and we’re off!

Step 6: Fully onboarded

After they’ve completed 3 cleans, we sit down with them for an official onboarding call. Here, we will get proof of their insurance, sign an independent contractor agreement, etc. If they make it past 3 cleans with good marks, we know they are likely a great fit!

A quick note on quality, professionalism, etc. There are SO many good cleaners out there. Don’t settle for someone who does a poor job, cancels last minute, or is unprofessional in other ways. Fire fast, trust me.

Until next time,

Logan

Get the goods 🧼 

Want more knowledge to build your cleaning empire? The below are some of the best pieces of information to grow your business, perfect your clean, and become an expert in the field.

• Complete Airbnb cleaning checklist

• Airbnb cleaning business course

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