Is this the norm for a Rental Home in Orlando?......

[debden]

Hi,Ijust got back last night from our trip to Orlando.We rented a beautiful rental home with 5 Beds/4 Baths. We only stayed a few nights but as I was reading thru their welcome book they 'requested' that we: do the dishes
Wash and dry all towels used (and put
them away)
Strip all the beds and start the washing
Clean the BBQ
Put out the garbage by the road
Now I don't mind keeping things picked up and doing the dishes but after paying an $85.00 cleaning fee I did not expect to do a whole list of cleaning the morning I left.Am I being unreasonable?
Or was that 'request' a little much? I did it because I wanted to make sure we got our deposit for the house back.Should we ask the people we rent from the next time whats expected of us at check-out before we rent the house? Any comments about this?
Anyone have the same experience? I don't think the tenant before us read it because their garbage was still in the bin!
Thanks,Debbie

 

[momof2inPA]

We have rented homes at the beach. The garbage and barbeque requests seem normal. The other two seem bizarre.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

It depends on your point of view. If you own the home, I don't think it is too much to ask of a short-term renter. If you are the renter, it also depends on your point of view.

We like to leave a rental place in as good as, or better, shape than when we arrive to use it.

Washing towels and putting them away doesn't seem to be hard or time consuming. The garbage and BBQ are just normal things that we do without thinking about it.

The sheet and pillow case stripping and starting them washing might be questtionable, but it just takes a few minutes. I just like to leave a place in good shape as something we normally like to do.

What the previous renters do would not be a factor for us, it is what we do that matters.

Just my opinion.

 

[Robinrs]

I've rented several times and was advised to do everything but the wash the towel thing. I never used the BBQ so that wasn't a requirement.

We were told to put all dirty towels and sheets in the washing machine and all dirty dishware in the dishwasher and put the garbage out. That was about it.

 

[Hillbeans]

I've not rented a home in Orlando, however every year my family and my brother's family rent a shore house. They do have a cleaning crew that comes in at the end of the stay, but that's more for vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning the kitchen, etc. We generally do our own dishes and put them away. We leave the garbage out at the curb. I think that's pretty standard. I know it may not seem very "Vacation-like" to do dishes or laundry, however when you rent a house instead of a hotel room and have the use of dishes and kitchen supplies, I think it's on the person renting to clean them. I would not expect to strip the beds though, however it's a nice gesture.

 

[JANNYANS]

As an owner I ask my guests to strip the beds they have used but not do the washing. It makes sure the cleaners change the bedding .As for the garbage if it is a collection day it is in the rentors interest to have them emptied and a lot of counties won't pick them up if they are not at the bottom of the drive way ans also have excess garbage fines If my guests leave dirty dishes thats fine its a quick job for the cleaners to put them in the dishwasher but not all management companies are the same.Some management companies charge extra if they have to clean the bbq

 

[ptcruisermom]

When we rented 2 previous times, we always asked the MC when the garbage was picked up and always put it out. They never asked us to wash the towels or linens at the endo of our stay but did wash them during our stay. They asked that the dishes be put in the dw not a hard thing to do. The last time we stayed we went ahead and stripped the beds and started the laundry, didn't have to but thought we would be nice. WE also set the garbage out. Even though it is vacation it doesn't really seem like work, throuw some clothes in the washer and go out for a swim, throw them in the dryer and go out for a swim. Oh yes they did request we clean the grill otherwise there would be an additional charge. We just tried to keep it clean after each time we used it, used the brush thingy on it. 7 dyas until we leave. (thank goodness it is cold here 25 wind chill 14)

 

[debden]

Thanks everyone for your replies.I didn't mind doing the dishes and putting out the garbage but I could've done without the rest.
Oh well,thats OK.It certainly won't stop me from renting a home next year.Like I said,we enjoyed the house alot! Especially the pool and jacuzzi! At least next year I can set time aside for those little projects I need to do before we leave..
Thanks again,Debbie

 

[JC Butterfly]

So do most rental homes have the items you need to clean available? (laundry soap, dish soap, etc) or are you expected to purchase these things to clean the house?

What about things like garbage bags? Readily available? How about if you spill something on the carpet, stain removal items around?

I am considering renting a house for my next vacation and want to make sure I have thought of as many of the "little details" as I can!

Brenda

 

[JANNYANS]

Brenda,the law does not allow for more than the starter amount of detergents just enough to get you started so yes you have to provide these yourself any surplus will be removed at trhe end of your stay by the cleaners some homes will have things like stain removers there -but it does depend on the man co sometimes garbage bags like wise.Most homes will have soap like you get in an hotel in the bathrooms.Hope this helps

 

[kaylajr]

We rented a home in 2002
and had the same requests made of us we were there 7 nights so no cleaning fee
didn't seem like a big deal except for the fact that the home was
DIRTY when we got there
we arrived late and i had to spend over an hour cleaning just so we could move in
things like hair in the bath tub dirt on the floors
i could go on and on
so when we left i cleaned up as requested hoping the next person would have a better stay.

We are renting again this year from a different person and i would expect similar request to me they seem normal

there is a walmart close down there and a Publix so getting cleaning stuff like dish soap and garbage bags is no big deal

just my opinion but 20 minutes of picking up before you leave is so worth the luxury of having the home for the week

 

[wdisneelvr]

I'm looking for a Orlando rental home for my family. We are going to have a get-together and need more space then my apt will provide.

Can someone please recommend some rental home companies/names that they would rent from themselves?

Everyone seems to enjoy their stays and I would want to rent from someone reputable.

Thanks for your help!

 

[djm99]

This is a perfect reason why we need a whole board for rental homes. I didn't even think to ask a seller about what they need done before my departure. Anyway, because 4 families will share the 6 bedroom house I'm renting we are willing to pay extra to have our rental cleaned daily.

wdisneelvr,

Here is the 6 bedroom house I'm renting. The owner also has a 4 bedroom. He seems really easy to deal with and takes online payments (online money orders, paypal, etc.). This is really convenient for me and it allows me to keep track of payments made. He also only asks for a $150 deposit, the rest paid 60 days before arrival, or if you choose to make sparadic payments.

Hope this helps... http://tours.360house.com/viewer.cfm?house=68670&RefURL=tours.360house.com

 

[kilee]

I've rented many homes and "luxury" cabins throughout the country. However, the one we rented in Orlando this past October-- had similar "rules" They wanted the towels and linens washed, and dryed before we left. Well, that was impossible. We needed to sleep there our last night. We needed to leave the home by 7am to go to the airport. Most of us wanted to shower in the morning. Also, we rented a 5 bedroom house, for 8 people. We used 5 beds. I could not possibly even do the one load of towels plus 5 sets of sheets washed and dried before we left. I also didn't want to leave the washer running once we left. We left the house, clean. However, we did just pile up the towels by the washer. As for the bedding, we stripped each bed down and left the bedding next to each bed. I understood the garbage and BBQ thiing. But the other was a bit overboard. It just wasn't timely possible!!!

 

[BonnieA]

I've stayed in 3 different rental homes. I've never been asked to wash the bedding and towels. The main requests were to take out garbage, keep the place picked up and start the dishwasher when we leave. I would not even think of breaking out the vacuum cleaner unless there was a major mess. They do have a cleaning service come in between guests.

 

[kilee]

I just wanted to mention-- even though we didn't do the "wash" as asked. We left everything else clean. We did get our security deposit back w/o a problem. And the owners even emailed me with a discount code for a one week stay in 2004. So, it must of not been a problem.

 

[Toyztory]

Debbie Can you please give me the name or website where you stayed? Thanks

 

[MommyTo5]

The owner of the villa we've stayed in twice now had similar requests in her welcome book... bedding stripped, towels and bedding loaded into the washer, dishwasher loaded, etc...

I think this is pretty standard in the Orlando area.

~ Angie
MommyTo5