This week on the Hosting Hotline, we're digging into a question from Penny, a host of two jaw-dropping luxury rentals in Hocking Hills, Ohio. With properties clocking in at over 10,000 and 13,000 square feet, a saltwater pool, and four separate apartments, Penny’s homes are stunning — but she's stuck on one big question: how should she charge her cleaning fee?

Should she bake the fee into the nightly rate or break it out as a separate line item? What’s the “right” way to do this, especially when hosting large groups or events?

In this episode, we walk through:

• Why understanding your actual cost to clean is step one
• How to assess guest perception of your fee and reduce sticker shock
• Ways to use dynamic pricing software (like PriceLabs) to stay competitive and track market cleaning fees
• Why breaking down booking feedback and sales data is critical
• When it makes sense to blend cleaning fees into your nightly rate

Plus, we revisit a real-world case study from Episode 321 with Monique from PriceLabs, where she adjusted her pricing to recover cleaning costs and stay competitive in her market.

Whether you’re hosting luxury travelers or managing smaller STRs, this is a must-listen if you’ve ever wrestled with how to present your cleaning fee to guests.

Resources:

Follow these incredible Hocking Hills properties:

• The Cliffs
• The Box Hop
• Dunlap Hollow Cabins

Follow our land journey in Hocking Hills:

• @richhollowretreat

Check out Penny’s luxury homes:

• @woodland_retreats

Listen to Episode 321 – PriceLabs Dynamic Pricing vs. Airbnb Cleaning Fees

Start using PriceLabs (our preferred pricing tool): https://pricelabs.co/users/sign_up?referral=RTj8a0

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | 5 Red Flags Your Airbnb Cleaner Isn't Doing Their Job

Mentioned in this episode:

Make More Money in 2025! Join us for a Pricing Boot Camp!

Make More Money in 2025! Join us for a Pricing Boot Camp!

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