Choosing a cleaner or co-host
The person who turns over your property between guests has more influence on your reviews than almost anyone else.
Trial before you commit
Run a paid trial turnover — ideally one you can inspect yourself afterwards against your cleaning checklist — before relying on someone for a fully unsupervised turnaround.
Check reliability as much as skill
A cleaner who's excellent but unreliable on short notice is a bigger risk than one who's merely good but always shows up. Ask directly how they handle a same-day emergency call, and whether they have backup cover of their own.
Agree the standard in writing
Share your checklist, your photo-proof expectation, and your restock thresholds upfront rather than assuming a shared understanding of "clean." Revisit it after the first month once you've seen it in practice.
For a co-host specifically, define the boundaries clearly
- Can they adjust pricing, or only flag it to you?
- Can they approve refunds, and up to what amount?
- Who has final say on a guest dispute?
- How is their fee structured — flat, per turnover, or percentage of booking?
Watch for drift over time
Standards can slip gradually once trust is established. A periodic unannounced check, or simply reviewing guest feedback trends every couple of months, keeps a good working relationship honest without feeling like surveillance.