Introducing Durk Johnson's Cleaning Column: Housekeeping Tips from a VR Industry Expert

Housekeepers Have Everything to Do with Your Guest’s Warm Welcome

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to the Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA where I would be doing housekeeping consulting. Unfortunately my family couldn’t join me on the trip, but it was indeed wonderful to be back at the beach. I could hear the sounds of pounding surf finding the beach as I pulled up to my accommodation which was, appropriately, a vacation rental.

It was already dark when I got out of my car and I took a few minutes to soak up the sounds and smells of the Atlantic Ocean. Then I headed to the door and typed in the electronic lock code I was given by the owner. The code didn’t work. Since it was late, I called the after hours number to get a new code to enter. It worked this time.

As soon as I opened the door and turned on the light, an inviting wave of warmth enveloped me. I looked around the living room, dining room, kitchen bar, and towards the upstairs balcony. In my mind’s eye, I could see my children laughing and running all over to explore the home.

I envisioned them sprinting through the back door and straight onto the warm sands of the beach. Thoughts of my family enjoying this space flooded my mind; I could practically hear their chatter and glee as if they were with me. It makes me think how lucky we are to work in the vacation rental industry!

Those of Us in the Vacation Rental Industry Have the Opportunity to Help Create Warm Wonderful Memories

As housekeepers we have a direct impact on how guests feel when they are in the property. Guests certainly expect the property to be clean, but they may or may not take notice of the small detail work we do such as straightening the pillows, placing the remote controls in the right place, or opening the blinds. But it is this work that influences their impression of the property.

And that is what I want to impress upon readers in the beginning of my series: the housekeeper’s work is the most viewed work guests and owners see.

Housekeepers and Their Jobs Are Mission Critical!

That said I look forward to exploring the ins and outs of vacation rental housekeeping with you and invite you to ask me questions or share your own VR housekeeping tips.

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About the Author: Durk Johnson has over 15 years experience as a leading authority in the vacation rental housekeeping industry. He serves as the executive director of Vacation Rental Housekeeping Professionals (VRHP), a national organization that specializes in housekeeping principles and procedures. Before VRHP, Durk worked with vacation rental companies from the snow-capped mountains of Park City, Utah to the sugar white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama to the countries of New Zealand, Spain, Chile, and Italy.

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