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baja829
Nomad
Posts: 167
Registered: 2-24-2006
Location: South Campos, San Felipe, BN
Member Is Offline
Mood: BAJA HAPPY
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Shari, we have a beach front rental, South of San Felipe. It's a fairly new, extremely clean, fully furnished, "just bring your food & clothes"
1 bedroom apartment with palapa & large sleeping deck. Rental is $85 per night with a ----$30 cleaning fee---, regardless of number of
persons or number of nights. I've had no problem renting it this way, nor complaints about the fee and many of our guests are regulars.
Many others charge a fee and not a deposit. Not one person has ever broken or trashed anything. Most just don't clean kitchen on last day - stove
dishes, food in frig. etc., and of course, it's not expected. As someone said, it must be cleaned whether someone stays a day or a month.
Incidentally, $30 doesn't cover the cost of cleaning if I have someone else do it -- that runs about $45+ in our area. If I do it, and sometimes I
do on a quick turnaround, there's still sheets, blankets, lots of towels etc. to wash and dry (water is trucked in and $25 for each load -- generator
runs for washing machine and dryer, as we are all solar.
I started out without the fee, but when I started renting it 2 and 3 times a week, it became more costly. I didn't think it fair to raise the rates
for everyone, so I started the fee. You just need to work out what is best for your situation. We only have 1 rental unit, it's not like checking
into a hotel or condo, where they have service staff. Good luck in your "new business" and expect to meet lots of great and interesting people, but
most of all, have fun!
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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shari
NO cleaning fee for vacationers...that IS greed
only "LOW END" "NO class" places charge for little items like cleaning
make the vacationer feel comfortable...and
you have obviously done that in the past....
rentals are a BUSUINESS and you MUST build in normal wear and tear and minor damage AND cleaning into the price.
renters DO NOT treat rentals like they would their own property (no matter what thet tell you) and you need to expect some damage and CLEANING...
major damage can be charged as needed
raise the price!!!
it's ALL about the BUSINESS!!!
cleaning deposits are taked in the USA on month to month rentals...
make sure the deposit is not EXACTLY the same as the rent so the renter cannot come back and say the money was for the last months rent...
-----
that's my 2 cents and i'm prepared for punishment
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Wow, quite a range of comments...hmmm..lots to think about. Muchas gracias todos for your valuable input. I had never heard of a cleaning fee before
so I was just curious. I'm thinking a key/damage deposit is a good plan. Problem is we don't take credit cards here so cant charge them on those. But
boy it sure takes a long time to wash all that bedding and towels etc. as well as clean the house whether they stay a night or a week. Probably
raising the price would be a good plan too...I'll meditate on it a bit......thanks again everyone.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bedman
If I remember correctly (Ferna correct me if I'm wrong) FDT has managed a major hotel in Ensenada and knows what he's talking about.
I would not be put off by a refundable cleaning deposit in any way at all. I would expect it.
Bedman |
It was Rosarito that you remember.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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SiReNiTa
Special Correspondent
Posts: 881
Registered: 5-5-2006
Location: Ensenada, B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Savoring life while saving the world!
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mamma...a cleaning deposit scares of a bunc hof people...here at the hotel we ask fo ra 10 dll. deposit for remote, keys and any other stuf that can
be taken even though the guests get it bakc the next day or when they leave they always seem to be bothered by such a thing and it seems to offend
them and make them do the "oh i am not going to take anything" even if it's just the rules...we don't like asking for it but it's necesary here at
least because people have taken towels, blankets, pillows, even light bulbs!!!!!!!!!!!! so...if you want to make friends as well as buisness i'd say
no to the cleaning fee...and just try to make it clear in a.....nice way that it's hard work for you alone to clean it if they make it really
dirty...if you throw that point out there alot of people i'm sure would respect that!!.... but that's just me...what do you think nomads....????????
Live life as well as you can,
don\'t regret the things that once made you smile,
learn from your mistakes,
and thank God for every second he gives you upon this earth.
Visit me at
Http://BajaScents.Scentsy.com.mx
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Want to see a class act business in Baja? Go stay at Baja Cactus... no key deposit, no security deposit, etc. Just a nice big room, great shower,
friendly staff... Now, if they don't know you are a Nomad, then I think they hold onto your ID until you check out or pay any phone bill.
However, a bed and breakfast is not a motel... it should be more like a place for friends... ??
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
Wow, quite a range of comments...hmmm..lots to think about. Muchas gracias todos for your valuable input. I had never heard of a cleaning fee before
so I was just curious. I'm thinking a key/damage deposit is a good plan. Problem is we don't take credit cards here so cant charge them on those. But
boy it sure takes a long time to wash all that bedding and towels etc. as well as clean the house whether they stay a night or a week. Probably
raising the price would be a good plan too...I'll meditate on it a bit......thanks again everyone. |
Shari-
I am against the cleaning deposit. Cleaning is a cost of business and should be incorporated into the price. If you find that your margins are too
slim with one night rentals, require a minimum X night's stay. Or charge less per day for longer stays. A refundable cleaning/damage deposit is okay
but not a cleaning fee.
Can you imagine paying a cleaning fee at a restaurant....? I mean it costs the same amount of money to clean up after a table of one as it does for a
table of four....
Zac
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
Member Is Offline
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Hmmmm....?? Cleaning fee at a restaurant? Ohh......You mean like the 20% gratuity that some restaurants charge without your permission when you have a
party? Or the standard 15% to 20% tip you leave?
Just pokin at you Zac
Bedman
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Capt. George
Super Nomad
Posts: 2129
Registered: 8-21-2003
Member Is Offline
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Cleaning fee? I would not stay....add it to the price of rental and go with the flow. Have you had any real problems yet? Refundable security deposit
from people you don't know? No problem there
Laundry, part of the gig, unless you want people to bring their own towels and linen? Not a good idea when you're that far off the grid.
Cleaning fee in Ascuncion, not a good idea Shari. cap'n g
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Shari,
Do a Google Search:
Mexican Beach Rentals Cleaning Fees
Or:
Oregon Beach Rentals Cleaning Fees
Iflyfish
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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SiReNiTa...
you are "in the business" and see the reactions...
this job is grooming you for the future...excellent
David
We stayed at the Catus in El Rosario....
they took my license...
no problem but...
I leave kinda early and ...
it was fr--kin cold
but...
to get my license back the office guy had to "check" the room
6 minutes...i timed him
i felt "offended" at first because i thought i was targeted
(i am kinda ULGY)
as other places there don't do that...
but I accept it as their policy...now
i wish they had told me what they do when i checked in
then... i would have been prepared
i wouldn't know how to explaine that diplomaticly
to someone renting a motel room
"we check ALL rooms before you leave because you renters STEAL"???
i do relize their spot ...
tough business...overnite rentals on the hwy
next time i will know
just wait until the FIRST person STEALS their bathrobe from ME!!!
i'll probably drive up the coast "looking for them"!!!
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Thanks again for all your responses...I really appreciate the input...OK...no cleaning fee....just nice fluffy towels, good shampoo, comp ear plugs in
case the waves bother you...candles, beer in the fridge...no wait a minute...maybe I'll have to raise the price then....
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Pstreet1
Junior Nomad
Posts: 94
Registered: 7-25-2005
Member Is Offline
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Hi, Shari. We have a rental in Rosarito Beach, and there it's normal to charge a separate cleaning fee for a condo rental, and normally there is a
two or three night minimum. For those who rent only a bedroom with bath, the cleaning fee is included in the way they price the rental and not
mentioned separately.
(By the way, we still smile a lot when we think of Guerro Negro.)
Pat
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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Shari -----
What you should do to maximise good will is to give away the rooms, no rent, and charge a big cleaning deposit. If guests think they're getting
something for nothing, they're yours forever.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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hi, Shari, I found the thread, see your u2u for my full message.
glad you've decided against cleaning fees. or published ones. build it in, have value for rates, and they will come. me, too. hope to check in
with you some day. of course, like everyone else who thinks they will make a little money doing a little business on the side, it's a heck of a lot
of work. me, I prefer to simply live on less. early retirement is tough enough.
bueno suerte.
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Wingnut
Nomad
Posts: 171
Registered: 5-5-2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Pensive
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Shari, I am a Controller for a hotel company and have over 35 years experience in the Hotel industry. You should sit down and calculate what goals
financially you want from renting your rooms. Get estimates if you have no history of the major costs such as electricity and other overhead expenses.
A good rule of thumb on linen replacement for a busy place would be twice a year and you should have enough linen to change 3 times. One on the bed,
on in storage, and one in the laundry. Consider the cost of hard good replacement on a ten year basis, seven for mattresses. Then calculate the daily
cost of cleaning, if done daily. If not then calculate the cost per hour of the cleanup after the rental and spread it over the total rental. If you
provide amenities such as soap, TP, etc, factor the cost in on a daily usage for the max number of occupants. Then add all this up and divide it by
the revenue you get for the rental period. If you factor this down to a daily cost, it will tell you how much you need to charge and how much profit
you will make. Always err on the high side and you will do alright without gouging anyone or going bankrupt. You can add a deposit if you wish, but I
would make that on long rentals, advance rentals and large groups or specialty rentals (ie kids on spring break, etc.). Charge a pet fee if you wish
and only if it becomes a problem. But don't charge a cleaning fee, it only makes people think they do not have to take care of things. Good luck and
plan ahead for all emergencies.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Great advice from Wingnut!!
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
Member Is Offline
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Sounds like Wingnut knows what he is talking about.
Iflyfish
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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wingnut...i copied this and put it in my file...OUTSTANDING!!!
it great to have so many people who know so much stuff
_______________________
calculate what goals financially you want from renting your rooms.
linen replacement for a busy place would be twice a year
you should have enough linen to change 3 times.
1 on the bed,
1 in storage,
1 in the laundry.
hard good replacement ...10 year basis,
7 (years) for mattresses.
calculate the daily cost of cleaning, if done daily.
If not then calculate the cost per hour of the cleanup after the rental and spread it over the total rental.
factor the cost (of amenities) in daily usage for the maximun number of occupants.
add all and divide it by the revenue you get for the rental period.
If you factor this down to a daily cost, it will tell you how much you need to charge and how much profit.
Always error on the high side and you will do alright without gouging anyone or going bankrupt.
You can add a deposit if you wish,
but make that on long (term) rentals,
advance rentals
large groups or
specialty rentals (ie kids on spring break, etc.).
Charge a pet fee if you wish and only if it becomes a problem.
But don't charge a cleaning fee,
it only makes people think they do not have to take care of things.
plan ahead for all emergencies.
_____________________________
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Al G
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2647
Registered: 12-19-2004
Location: Todos Santos/Full time for now...
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wondering what is next???
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Shari...I would be put off with a cleaning fee, but not so much a damage deposit if I was not blind sided after I arrived. Plus a damage deposit
should not be used for minor things of wear and tear.
Your place is out there (the main reason I want to go) so I would make sure all was up front.
Sorry I did not visit this year....Had to make Mulege before Christmas and on the way back had worries about my Motorhome. Should be able to see you
in a few months...
Albert
Albert G
Remember, if you haven\'t got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart, then you are just a sour old fart!....
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
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