1. Hair on the bathroom floor or in drains. Your housekeeper should vacuum after mopping to make sure everything is picked up. You can also ask him/her to check the drains in the sink, shower and tub to prevent clogs. 2. Mildew on shower curtains. Use mildew-resistant shower curtain liners. They cost a bit more but will stay cleaner longer. Keep replacements in your owner's closet and ask your housekeeper to replace them before they start to mildew.

3. Rust stains in toilet. Keep bleach on hand in addition to standard toilet cleaner for your housekeeper to use regularly. 4. Dirty stove, oven or toaster oven. Remind housekeeper to check appliances. It is also helpful to purchase burner liners for the stovetop and keep extras on hand. 5. Dirty barbecue grill. Purchase the appropriate tools for keeping your grill clean. 6. Dirt or food under couch cushions. Ask your housekeeper to vacuum couch cushions after guests check out to make sure no Cheerios slipped through the cracks! 7. Dust on ceiling fans. Purchase a ceiling fan wand or duster and a stepstool for your housekeeper to use. 8. Dusty vents. Ask your maintenance person to replace A/C filters at designated time intervals, and have your housekeeper dust the outside of vents periodically. You do not want your guests to think that's what they're breathing! 9. Stained sheets or towels. Keep extras in your owner's closet, and have your housekeeper replace sheets or towels when they start to get dingy. Be sure to check your linens every time you visit your home. 10. Burned out light bulbs. Keep extras on hand. It is not unreasonable to ask your housekeeper to check on these and reimburse for any extras purchased. It is extremely important to discuss your expectations with maintenance staff and housekeepers upon hiring. As a vacation rental homeowner, you also have the responsibility of visiting your property as often as possible to monitor the appliances, linens and overall cleanliness of your home and to replace anything that is damaged or stained. That way you can rest assured that your home is being kept up to your standards. Being proactive is the key to preventing potential complaints from your guests.

What has been your biggest cleaning complaint from renters? "The floors. Sand, Dust etc.. Duh! You are at the beach and sand sticks to everything." -Veronica, Maravilla, Gulfview, Ciboney, (VRBO #21668 & #160892, VacationRentals.com #536, #2569, #38065) "I've never gotten a cleaning complaint. I did have a rental that must have been chain smokers. It took a long time to get the smell out. That's when I decided to go non-smoking. It was terrible!!" -Janna, Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks (HomeAway #132778) "I have only had one, years ago! My cleaning lady missed some hairs in the bathroom." -Roberta, Brant Beach, NJ (HomeAway #166671) "I don't get them anymore since I painted the house (it was never not clean, it just needed some freshening up)." -Homeowner, Hudson Valley, New York "Lipstick or hair on sink."  -DeAnne, Moclips, WA (VRBO #146133) "Our renters have complained about nothing...our service leaves our unit impeccable." -Dcruse, Carlsbad, CA (VRBO #134439) "Oven isn't spotless and toaster oven has crumbs." "Bbq grill is dirty" -Homeowner, Asheville, NC (HomeAway #305828, VRBO #20261) What is the most ridiculous cleaning complaint that you've gotten from a renter? "My snowbird told me that my condo was not clean enough for them (I recently completely painted the walls and baseboards and totally moved everything) but good enough for surfers and Spring Breakers. (Who pay in one week what they pay for a month)." -Veronica, Maravilla, Gulfview, Ciboney, (VRBO #21668 & #160892, VacationRentals.com #536, #2569, #38065) "I had a renter demand that the beach grass be cut due to the insects that it may (or may not) attract. After that I decided that the grass that was planted to keep the sand from blowing around will no longer be cut. It's the beach there are insects no matter what." -Janna, Kill Devil Hills, Outer Banks (HomeAway #132778) "'You didn't tell me that this was a BEE farm!' We do advertise ourselves as a farm. We have one hive far away from the house which pollenates our field. His wife complained about the pine pollen as well. Truth is, they just couldn't stand the "cooties" of the country, they just wanted their fantasy." -Homeowner, Hudson Valley, New York "Where is the trash? We didn't empty it because we didn't know where to put it."  -Dcruse, Carlsbad, CA (VRBO #134439) "Burners didn't have aluminum foil under them." Deborah, Park City, UT   "A good cleaning needs to be done under the loveseats" and another guest said "the decks need a good scrubbing". -Homeowner, Asheville, NC (HomeAway #305828, VRBO #20261) "Dusty blinds" "We had a high season summer renter who filled the refrigerator with warm groceries & then complained that it took too long for his beer to get cold! (This during a week when the temperature was in the high nineties!)" -Anne, Hilton Head, SC (VRBO #17559)

Fifteen "Must Haves" for Vacation Property Maintenance    Having these supplies on hand will help clean or repair any unexpected mishaps in your vacation rental home.