Holiday rental cleaning: compare quotes and prices

A price per changeover or per staff hour?

Swiss offers checked in October 2026 illustrate different models: one regional example lists CHF 115–135 for a studio changeover, listed as a final price without an explicit VAT breakdown. Laundry services and any travel charges are considered separately. Another offer starts at CHF 49.90 per hour per person, excluding VAT.

These are different scopes, not a combined market price range. An indicative property price may need confirmation after a visit; an hourly rate needs a realistic workload estimate. With several properties, travel, different fittings and simultaneous departures also matter.

Changeovers, mid-stay cleaning and seasonal preparation

Changeover cleaning prepares the property after guests leave. Cleaning during a stay has a different scope and requires agreed access. Before the season starts or after a long closure, more thorough work may be needed.

End-of-stay cleaning does not automatically mean a rental handover with an acceptance guarantee. Windows, blinds, upholstery and intensive descaling are not necessarily included in each changeover either. Agree these tasks according to condition and need.

• Every changeover. Clean the agreed rooms, kitchen and bathrooms, remove rubbish and leave the property ready.
• As needed. Specify stubborn residues, appliance interiors, balconies and seasonal deep cleaning separately.
• Additional hosting services. Include restocking, welcoming guests or handing over keys only when agreed.

Changing linen is different from laundering it

Stripping and remaking beds is a different service from washing and drying the linen. Establish who owns it, where clean reserves are stored and who collects used items. For rented linen, agree deliveries, returns, quality and replacement for damaged items.

Sleeping capacity and the beds actually being prepared affect workload. A double bed, two singles and a sofa bed do not necessarily require the same work. Confirm sizes and the contents of each linen set before the first visit.

Spare stock should match booking frequency and laundry turnaround. A single set may be insufficient for a short-notice booking. Having a washing machine in the property does not guarantee that washing and drying can finish before guests arrive.

Available time is not the same as billable staff time

Departure at 10 am and arrival at 2 pm leave four hours available. That does not prescribe four billable hours. If two people each work for 90 minutes, they provide three staff hours; any necessary logistics still need separate consideration.

A tight turnaround needs reliable access, clean linen on hand and completion updates. Agree who can be contacted and how to adjust plans for late departures, short-notice bookings or an absent cleaner.

For several properties, simultaneous changeovers are especially important. A weekly average does not establish whether a company can prepare every unit on the same Saturday.

Use a short checklist specific to the property

A property checklist makes the agreed result verifiable. It should list specific tasks rather than simply say ‘clean everything’. Photos can support a completion report, but do not replace checking the work.

Report lost property, damage or unusual extra work to the agreed contact. This does not automatically include repairs, a full inventory or managing guest communications.

Agree a short completion update: which property is ready for which arrival, are the requested beds and towels prepared, and is anything still outstanding? Missing clean towels or an agreed area still needing cleaning should be flagged explicitly. In that situation, “cleaning finished” does not yet mean “ready for guests”. If a delay becomes likely, the responsible person needs early notice to organise the arrival. Agree a contact method and a backup person if the main contact is unavailable; the cleaning company is not automatically responsible for negotiating with guests.

Arrange access and supplies before the first visit

An initial walkthrough covers house rules, parking, carrying routes, water, power, storage and delicate surfaces. Arrange keys and secure handling of access codes directly with the appointed company. These details do not belong in the public initial request.

For consumables, establish whether the company uses your stock or purchases supplies. Products and shopping time are not automatically free. Reaching a remote or mountain property may also affect the work involved.

What does the cleaning company need to know?

Give the occasion, number of properties, approximate size, bathrooms, linen needs, frequency and any window between stays. For a varied portfolio, a typical property size is only an initial guide; each unit needs to be specified before a firm quote.

A practical enquiry might read: “We need changeover cleaning for our 65 m² holiday apartment with two bedrooms and one bathroom. One double bed and two singles need preparing for four guests. We expect around four to six changeovers a month, including Saturdays; not all dates are fixed yet. Departure is at 10 am and the next arrival may be at 2 pm. Our own clean bed linen and towels are stored on site. Please quote for cleaning and making the beds, with collection, washing and return of used linen priced separately. Consumables should be topped up from our stock. We need an update as soon as the apartment is ready.” The company checks whether this window suits the property’s actual condition and confirms when the linen will return. An existing property checklist can be reused.

1. Compare matching tasks. Separate cleaning, linen and property support. Keep occasional extras distinct from every-changeover tasks.
2. Check scheduling. Agree notice, weekends, short-notice changes and simultaneous changeovers. Have availability confirmed.
3. Prepare the start. Set the checklist, access, supplies and completion reporting before the first job. Require approval for unusual extra work.