From the Wyo Stays team.
Your cleaner is the single most important person in your operation. They're the last set of eyes before every guest, the source of most of your reviews, and your early-warning system for damage and maintenance. Hire and train them well.
Finding the right person
- Referrals first — other owners and managers know who's reliable.
- Look for STR experience — turnover cleaning is not house cleaning; the standard, speed, and staging are different.
- Test with a paid trial clean before committing.
- Prioritize reliability and communication over the lowest rate. A no-show cleaner on a booked day is a disaster; a cheap sloppy one costs you reviews.
Onboarding for five-star consistency
- Hand them your Turnover Cleaning SOP + checklist and walk it together (see that resource).
- Set the par-stock list so they restock to a number (see Inventory / Par-Stock Checklist).
- Require turnover photos every time — proof and consistency (see Turnover Photo Checklist).
- Agree on scheduling and communication — how they get booking dates, how they flag issues.
- Define damage/maintenance reporting — photos to you immediately.
Keeping them
- Pay fairly and on time; a great cleaner is worth a premium.
- Give feedback kindly and specifically.
- Have a backup for sick days and peak weeks.
The math: a great cleaner protects your reviews, catches problems early, and lets you (or your manager) run the property from anywhere. It's the highest-leverage hire you'll make.
→ Unlock the cleaner onboarding kit, or → get a free evaluation — our vetted cleaners and inspections come standard.