1) Preparing your home for guests
It's going to sound obvious, but it's important to prepare your home thoroughly before your guests arrive, just like you would if you were welcoming friends or family.
Make sure that every room is cleaned, and that your home is tidy. Provide your guests with a welcoming space and room for their belongings.
2) Discuss end-of-exchange cleaning
Make sure an exchange ends on a positive note by discussing in advance any cleaning that needs to be done. Hosts and guests should have an open dialogue so that everyone's responsibilities are clearly defined.
If you are staying in someone's home as their guest, here are some points to consider for a smooth exchange experience:
-Clean the kitchen, toilet(s) and bathroom(s)
-Empty and take out garbage cans
-Remove and gather used linens - agree with your host where you should leave these
-Vacuum and mop the floors if necessary
-Don’t forget to find out in advance where the cleaning supplies are located.
Remember that this list can be adapted to suit the specific needs of each exchange.
3) If you want to apply cleaning fees, be transparent in your listing and discuss this prior to finalizing the exchange
If you’re asking for cleaning fees at the end of the exchange, they must be clearly indicated in your listing. Also, it is essential that you discuss and agree on any cleaning fees with your guests before the exchange is finalized.
Your guest can pay this agreed fee at the end of the exchange by any means you wish. These fees should not be paid before arrival.
To avoid any misunderstandings, no additional fees can be added after the exchange has been finalized.
For more information on household charges, please consult this FAQ article on additional charges.
Be sure to specify these fees in every language of your listing, to eliminate the risk of ambiguity.