Finding the right people to care for your vacation rental home is challenging work. You really can’t do it all. Managing the home, keeping it organized and making it profitable can be a full time job in itself and who has the time to do it full time? It is very important to find trustworthy and loyal people who can maintain your vacation home well, while helping with other tasks as needed, such as vetting tenants and keeping you immediately informed of any maintenance requirements.

Here are some guidelines to make your selection job easier.

1. Planning frequent trips to your rental property at least towards the end of the week can help you find housekeepers who are likely to work at neighboring properties. This visit also helps you identify if the housekeeping help is working independently and if they are free on your schedule, you might find just what you need right after that.

2. Check local resources for help with cleaning/maintenance; You can usually find these types of ads in Cafes and dry cleaners. Another great resource these days is craigslist.org. Log on to craigslist and post a job in the jobs section. You will be amazed at the number of responses you get and the quality of people. To find housekeepers, this can be a bit difficult, but you never know.

3. In churches, priests may have housekeeping help or know someone among their worshipers who would help you make a good adjustment. You can also post a note in the weekly bulletin announcing your need.

4. Reading the local phone book can also help you find a reliable cleaning service. This is probably the most expensive as the advertisers usually charge the most, however they are also often the most professional and long term.

A little verification before renting can go a long way. You will be surprised how many people avoid this simple step out of sheer laziness and an unfounded hope that their housekeeper will miraculously turn out to be the best in the world. Wake up! If all of this still doesn’t seem to fit you, hiring a cleaning service might be your best bet. This way you can be sure of the background of the staff, but this comes at a price.

Hiring a great housekeeper is easier than you think. Treat it as a very important part of your vacation rental business and you will not regret the time and money invested in them. With these little tips, your vacation rental property could be in good, clean hands in no time.