Planning a summer vacation in the Phoenix area? No doubt you’ve heard about the heat, but if you’ve never experienced summer in the desert, there are some things you should be aware of – especially if your doggos are along for the trip! Moxie Girl has some important tips to help you and your “best friend” have a safe and enjoyable summer vacation in Arizona.
The Perfect Place to Stay
Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley all have some great “dogs-welcome” vacation rental homes and these cities, in particular, have many restaurants and cafes with pet-friendly patios, too! Before booking your vacation rental, make sure you’re clear on the property’s pet policy.Some good questions to ask:
Is there a pet deposit required, and how much is it?
How many pets are allowed, and is the required deposit “per pet” or just a general pet deposit?
Is the pet deposit refundable (or not charged) if no pet damage occurs?
Does the property have any weight or breed restrictions?
Wow – They Weren’t Kidding About This Heat…
Nope, not at all! Moxie Girl cannot stress enough the importance of protecting your pet (and yourself) from extreme desert heat.First and foremost, NEVER, EVER leave your pet in the car! Even if the outside temperature is only 80 degrees, the temperature inside your vehicle can rise to 120 degrees within a matter of minutes, so just DON’T.
Staying hydrated is a must!Always have plenty of cool, fresh water available for you and your pet, especially when you’re out and about.Remember, if you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already on your way to dehydration…and that’s just a hop and a skip from heat stroke – or worse.
Walk your pet in the early morning hours. Not only is the desert gorgeous at sunrise, but it’s usually also the coolest part of the day. Still, even during the coolest hours asphalt or concrete may be uncomfortably hot for your pet to walk on. Take your shoes off and walk outside.If your feet are burning, so will your dog’s. Either stay on the grass during your walks or invest in some protective footwear for your pet.
Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan on Unsplash
Creature Features and Weird Plants
Even though your summer vacation rental home may feel as though it’s “in the city” – and it may well be – doesn’t mean you won’t find any critters. Sure, there may neighbors, restaurants, and shopping nearby, but please be advised that our desert wildlife pays no mind. Coyotes, javelina(wild desert boars) and various birds of prey are regularly spotted in well-populated areas around the valley, so NEVER leave your pet unattended outside.
Early mornings sightings are common, so pay special attention to your surroundings when walking your pet.If you should happen upon a coyote or javelin, don’t panic. They’re generally not aggressive unless they feel threatened, but then again they’re not called “wildlife” for nothing.It’s always best to stay quiet and calmly but firmly guide your pet in the other direction. If you feel threatened by these creatures, know that they can usually be dispersed by a loud noise, such as banging a heavy stick on a metal sign or fence if necessary.
Oh, and we also have scorpions and snakes.Don’t freak out, but definitely steer clear of either of those.Scorpion stings can be dangerous and are always painful.While many desert snakes are harmless, unless you’re versed in herpetology, take no chances. One of the most dangerous snakes in the Southwest is the rattlesnake and they blend in quite well with the desert landscape, so keep a close eye on and around your path.
Pets can be curious, and cactus is unique! Keep plenty of space between you and your pet and anything that looks spiny or full of thorns.
Stormy Weather
Summer monsoon storms can quickly come out of nowhere, bringing blowing dust, heavy rain, booming thunder and spectacular lightning strikes.You and your pet are safest indoors during these events and your pet may appreciate some extra TLC – these storms can be loud and scary!
If a monsoon storm is predicted, making a few simple preparations in case of a power outage is a great idea.A fully charged cell phone is a good place to start.Think about what you and your pet might want to have close at hand should you find yourselves in the dark for a few hours and gather those items in a comfy spot you’ve chosen to wait out the storm.
Moxie Girl hopes our tips for summer travel with pets have you feeling excited and well-prepared for a fantastically fun getaway with your whole family. Check out other blogs for more helpful hints for enjoying your Phoenix summer vacation rental!
Moxie Girl loves a summertime pool party and we have some inexpensive and creative ways to make yours a hit! Many of the items needed to implement these fun and functional tips may even be purchased at your nearest dollar store.
No Pests Allowed!
A week or so before your party is to take place, make time to do a thorough walk of your grounds and nip any pest problems in the bud. Your local hardware store can recommend products to take care of any issues you may discover and keep your party bug free!
Your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness in having mosquito repellent available during your outdoor party – mosquitoes can be relentless during monsoon season. Moxie Girl recommends a chemical-free repellent such as Z-Shield which contains natural citronella, clove, peppermint and cedar oils.
Photo by Norwood Themes on Unsplash
Discourage flies, in particular around food service areas by cutting lemons in half and placing cloves in the flesh of each lemon half. Set the lemon halves in small dishes or candle cups, attractively placed between dishes on serving and dining tables.
BYOT*
*Towel…Bring your own towel! Unless you have a resort level stock of beach towels and would like a laundry duty for days after your party. It’s best to ask your guests to BYOT to your pool party. You may spark your guests and get them excited about bringing their own towels by making a game out of it. Consider providing a small prize for the guest who brings the funniest, cutest, or most colorful beach towel!
Speaking of towels, make sure there are plenty of places for your guests to hang their towels to dry. Retractable clotheslines are a great idea and can be useful on a regular basis for air drying your hand washables.
Photo by Lauren Fleischmann on Unsplash
Let’s Drink to That!
Liquid refreshments are a must at any party. Moxie Girl knows how to make cleanup easier, as well as reducing waste in the drink department.
Use drink dispensers with spigots for water. Guests will be able to easily serve themselves and you will not be creating a mountain of plastic bottles to be recycled – or worse, abandoned half empty around your yard. Since it is so important to stay hydrated, attract your guests to the water dispensers by offering an infused selection (or two!) as well as plain. Try these great combinations for infusions: cucumber and green grape, strawberry and fresh mint, and lemon and raspberry. Simply wash, cut and freeze the ingredients in advance and add to the fresh filtered water when filling your drink dispensers.
Moxie Girl thinks it’s a great idea to set up a “drink area” and keep dispensers, cups, ice, and napkins conveniently within reach. Consider placing a colorful plastic table cover from the dollar store underneath your drink dispensers to catch any drips or spills. Keep a sanitized cooler filled with ice for drinks and provide an ice scoop or tongs for your guests to use when making a drink.
Photo by Shubhesh Aggarwal on Unsplash
If using disposable party cups, have several Sharpie markers for party-goers to write their names on their cups, making it much easier for guests to keep track of their drinks and save on cups.
Small inflatable or durable plastic kiddie pools filled with ice make fantastic and festive open-air coolers for canned or bottled beverages. A shady spot is best for anything you are trying to keep cool, of course!
Go play!
Inflatable rafts and beach balls are pool play favorites. Quality, long-lasting inflatable pool toys can be pricey – you may want to consider some inexpensive selections just for your party. You may also invite your guests to bring their favorite pool toys to the party. Having a manual pump on hand will allow inflatable items to be quickly applied for play!
Pool “noodles” also make for a great floating fun, they don’t require air and can be found at the dollar store. Remember, none of these toys are safety devices, children should be supervised AT ALL TIMES!
Which Way to the Bathroom?
If you have a choice, select a bathroom with the shortest path through the house for your guests to use during your pool party. As always, make sure this bathroom is sparkling clean and stocked with plenty of toilet paper, hand soap, and hand towels!
Now, examine the path from the pool to the bathroom and decide if water could damage the flooring or create a slippery and unsafe situation for your guests. A protective runner or high absorbency mats are solid pre-emptive measures against mishaps!
If your backyard gala is particularly large, investigate renting a Port-a-Potty for the day. There are many reputable companies that will deliver these units clean, fresh and ready to use. Moxie girl has seen hosts decorate their rented portables with all the comforts of an indoor restroom – lighting, mirrors, fresh flowers, fancy soaps, and lotions. And once the party is over, the disposal company will haul them away for you!
Speaking of Hauling Away…
Discourage guests from abandoning their dirty dishes and other refuse around your yard and pool by making sure to have adequate, lined trash bins and clearly marked recycle bins that are easy to spot. Keep pests and odors to a minimum by using bins with lids and placing all bins away from serving and eating areas. Full liners should be replaced before they begin to overflow and hauled to an area away from the party, for permanent disposal later.
Party Patrol, Reporting for Duty!
Even hosting a party as a couple, it is easy to overlook things like the timely refilling of drink dispensers, replenishing food, emptying trash bins and freshening the restrooms. If you’ve got a few friends willing to help, put together your own “party patrol” with each member committing to periodic checks of items and areas needing attention during the event!
Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
We hope you found these tips useful and fun – maybe they even inspired you to begin planning your own outdoor summer party!
Moxie Girl is a local, female-owned cleaning company specializing in the care of vacation rental homes. Our team currently services nearly 120 vacation rentals in the Phoenix metro area, providing full between-guest turns, including SAME DAY cleanings for our valued clients! Vacation rental home owners, please click for a FREE CONSULTATIONto find out how much easier your life can be!
Moxie Girl is always open to expanding our very supportive team, too! The nature of our business lets our Moxie Girls (and Moxie Boys!) enjoy flexible schedules that fit with their college schedules, parenting duties and other obligations, while getting and keeping fit as a Vacation Rental Assistant. There’s plenty of room for growth here, and Moxie Girl prefers to promote from within our excellent team. Interested in joining us? Click to APPLY!
Phoenix vacation rental home owners often think it’s a good idea to just shutter their property and wait out the summer season – who wants to come to Phoenix in the summer, anyway? Actually lots of people DO come to Phoenix in the summer, even if they are just passing through on their way to cooler temps than we have to offer.
With our vast experience in the Phoenix area vacation rental home market, Moxie Girl can always be counted on for excellent tips for vacation rental home owners. We recently received an email from one of our valued clients, asking for tips to help her boost the summer bookings for her Valley vacation rental home – and we are happy to share our advice with you, too!
Here are a few things we’ve heard from our clients (vacation rental homeowners and professional property managers) whose properties in the Valley stay busy during the summer:
Use Multiple Rental Platforms
List your vacation rental home on multiple sites! Summer tends to have more road tripping guests and they use AirBNB a bit more than VRBO, so using at least both of these platforms to list your property “widens your net” for potential bookings.
Implement Active Tweaking
Rental platform sites all have algorithms that keep a secret eye on your listing activity and will boost more active properties to the top of relevant search results. Simply tweaking your prices on a weekly basis will help show the sites that you want your vacation rental to be listed higher than those of your competition!
Competitive Pricing
Speaking of competition, keep an eye on prices of your competitors – both vacation rental homes AND hotels/resorts in your area. One of the biggest mistakes we see vacation rental home owners make is to refuse to drop their prices in the summer.
Yes, offering your $199-a-night-during-peak-season vacation rental home for $89/night during the summer sounds painful, but if the nearby five-star resort with an amazing water park is offering $99/night, and a competitor’s vacation rental home down the street is listed at $89/night, then your home, listed at $199/night will most likely sit vacant.
It’s also important to think about what a potential guest sees when they look at a vacation rental home listing with a WIDE OPEN calendar – they may second guess if they should book with you based on that empty calendar alone (trust us, it’s a whole social validity/psychology thing.) Consider taking a couple reservations each month at deep discounts to get SOMETHING on your calendar. Having at least a couple bookings a bit in advance should help you attract more bookings, at regular summer prices.
Another thing you may consider doing is to take “last minute” reservations – anything is better than nothing! If your vacation rental home calendar for an upcoming week is empty, drop the price and you may snag the budget road trippers!
Guests Are Guests
In our experience, lower prices do NOT equal lesser quality guests. The interactions that vacation rental homeowners or managers have with guests prior to arrival have far more impact than the nightly amount the guest will pay. Moxie Girl actually sees the most damage to homes when guests stay over 30 days because they really start to LIVE in the home.
Something is Definitely Better than Nothing!
To illustrate what busy vacation rental homes in the Phoenix area CAN do in the summer, let’s look at the 2018 summer season stats for three properties belonging to Moxie Girl clients. Please note that all three properties are professionally managed by local property managers – it really helps to specifically “tuned-in” to Phoenix summer vacation rental market.
Remember, NO bookings equals ZERO income for your vacation rental property. So, even if your rental home is only booked for close to half of the days in each summer month – and even at summer rental rates – that income will go a long way in covering the regular, monthly expenses that come with rental ownership. (Mortgage payments, HOA fees and utilities don’t go away, even if you do “close” your rental for the summer!)
Check out the number of nights BOOKED for each of these vacation rentals:
Property
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
4Bed/4Bath
North Scottsdale
14
21
16
15
26
4Bed/2.5Bath
Scottsdale
12
11
18
12
10
4Bed/3Bath
North Scottsdale
16
17
26
18
22
Need More?
Be sure to check out our other blogs filled with even more helpful tips for a successful summer rental season!
Almost everyone’s heard of Spring cleaning…but what about a Spring “refresh” for your vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo? It’s always important to keep your rental looking its best and now is the perfect time to make some updates that will let your guests know you care.
Spring in Phoenix is peak season for vacation rentals. Properties renting for $80/night during the summer can command 3-4 times that price during the Spring. This alone may raise the expectations of your guests, so you certainly want them to be happy they chose YOUR vacation rental home.
Competition is fierce – don’t let your rental look dingy! Almost everything in a busy vacation rental experiences significantly more use/abuse/laundering than it would in a normal residence and should be replaced/updated accordingly anyway. Read on to find out what you can (and should) do to get ready for Spring!
Soft Stuff
When thinking “fresh” we MUST think linens! No one wants to sleep on torn or stained sheets, or use “crunchy” towels – especially at $300/night.
Do a thorough inspection of all bedding and bath linens in your vacation rental home. You should definitely put yourself in your guest’s head for this task – would YOU be happy to be paying to use these items? Weed out anything that doesn’t look, feel or smell completely fresh and replace as necessary. (Psst…For ease of care and organization, Moxie Girl recommends white cotton everything for bed and bath!)
Check out all throw pillows and rugs throughout the home. Don’t forget the kitchen towels and potholders, too! Spring is an excellent time for a color change in these household goods – especially if replacements are necessary due to staining or wear. Discount department stores such as TJ Maxx, Ross and Big Lots generally have a ton of options in colors and designs at bargain prices.
Got shower curtains and liners? These items can get especially gross – and quickly – even with regular laundering, so it’s almost always time for new ones anyway. And new shower curtains are a great way to carry your “color change” into the bath, too! (Moxie’s advice: Splurge on a “wow!” machine-washable curtain and stock up on cheap vinyl liners.)
Other Touches
Look for decorative items in the home that may be easily swapped out for a more season-appropriate look. Colored vases, silk floral arrangements – even candles and coasters – may be good choices for Spring updates. (Check those discount stores we mentioned earlier!)
If you live in Phoenix, YOU’RE probably not in the pool yet, but chances are your out-of-town guests WILL be, so it’s not too early to put out the “summer goods” – pool towels, plastic drinkware for poolside, etc. (Read more about this topic in our blog, “5 Sizzling Summer Tips for Vacation Rental Homes with Pools”!)
How Moxie Girl Can Help
Having a professional vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo specialist you can count on makes a world of difference in the operation of your property. Communication being one of our core values, Moxie Girl vacation rental service includes immediately alerting our clients to any damages or theft of items in case emergency replacement is needed. This means that not only will the issue be resolved, but you’ll be well within the reporting window if you need to hold guests financially responsible for any mishaps!
Moxie Girl is happy to not only provide you with our expert recommendations on specific goods that perform well in a vacation rental situation, but many of our clients prefer to just have us shop for and stock their properties for them. Easy-peasy!
Moxie Girl can also help you to put your retired household items to good use by donating them to the Esperanza Preparatory Academy. Esperanza Preparatory Academy is a complete circle of care school in Tempe, Arizona. Visit their website HERE.
Phoenix area vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo owners – CLICK HERE for a free consultation and discover the benefits of having your own vacation rental specialist!
Did you know many vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo owners periodically book stays in their own vacation rental homes? Whether it’s just to “check on things” or take advantage of their Phoenix “investment” during perfect weather, these visits are never bad idea.
And regardless of your the reason, it’s always a good idea to mentally prepare yourself for an “in-between-guests” visit to your operating vacation rental home. In other words…various and multiple virtual strangers have been almost continually occupying your home since your last visit, so it may not look exactly as you left it last time you staged it yourself.
Loved, But Also Lived In
Moxie Girl, your vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo specialist, makes a point of alerting our clients immediately to theft, es or anything in obvious need of repair when we turn a home, but everyday wear-and-tear in a busy rental home is quite different than that of the home you live in full time.
Paint may seem a little dull compared to last season, and throw rugs and sofa pillows might look less than brand new – bed and bath linens could feel slightly less than luxurious to you this time around. Wow, it’s a good thing you dropped in! Now could be the perfect time to replace your soft goods and maybe even consider planning some more extensive updates such as paint, flooring or window coverings (during “off season” of course!)
A “Turn” Clean is Not a Deep Clean
Moxie Girl services many vacation rental homes that offer back-to-back availability, limiting the time we can spend making the home guest-ready. Our “window” to completely turn a home, including laundry, is often a matter of a few hours. So, while we certainly don’t skimp on the cleaning – we want your home looking top-notch, too! – there simply isn’t time to get to “deep cleaning.”
Things such as hard water build-up, stained grouting and other issues that slowly become an issue over time really SHOULD be addressed, whether it be during your visit or by scheduling a deep clean with Moxie Girl as your property’s schedule allows. But the point here is, yes, you might see some things that need attention, but they will generally be the type of things that would fall under the deep cleaning category.
Why is This HERE???
Are you sitting down? And is your chair exactly where you left it last? If so, great! But if you’re walking into your vacation rental home for the first time in a while, this may not be the case. We’re not sure why, and the reasons may be many, but brace yourself for this bit of news: GUESTS MOVE THINGS!
Weird, right? And yet, it’s absolutely not uncommon. Moxie Girl, being who we are, takes care to beautifully stage your vacation rental home as soon as we’re done cleaning, but even WE sometimes just don’t know where a chair (or a nightstand, or a this or a that) actually belongs according to your original plan. So, we do our best.
And you know if guests are relocating furniture, chances are the items in your kitchen cupboards and drawers have definitely been moved! Again, Moxie Girl does take care to make sure these areas are clean, neat and organized, but maybe not exactly as YOU would have them arranged.
P.S. You’re absolutely welcome to arrange them as you wish during your stay!
What Can You Do?
As a vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo owner there are steps you can take during your visits that will help you (and us) keep your investment looking its best for your guests. Remember, proper maintenance of your vacation rental home and its contents help keep your ratings high…which helps keep your calendar full…which gives you higher return on your investment!
Meredith Willis of Arizona Getaways, a Phoenix vacation rental management service, understands that between-guest attention, even by professionals, is on a strict time limit and advises vacation rental home owners to visit their properties regularly to check out the wear-and-tear and make needed repairs and provide routine maintenance to household systems.
As we mentioned in our blog “Minimizing Your Liabilities as a Vacation Rental Homeowner” keeping your home in good repair not only LOOKS better but greatly reduces the chance of accident or injury to guests, and ta-da! – minimizes your liability. Brilliant!
Meredith says this is also a great time to check all the linens! Even if your property rotates multiple sets of sheets and towels, these items are heavily used and laundered much more so that in regular residential use, and everything from kitchen towels to duvet covers are bound to take some mild abuse.
In short, nobody sees things in quite the same way you do, so it’s best you make it a point to do regular inspections of your vacation rental yourself. If we’re not doing things quite the way you’d like, let us know and Moxie Girl will make an effort to accommodate all reasonable requests.
Contact Us!
Looking for reliable, professional vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo service? Moxie Girl is here to help with everything from converting an existing home to a vacation rental to in-between-guest turns, including same day services! Contact us today for a FREE CONSULTATION!
This month, the team at Moxie Girl would like to take a moment to honor one of the greatest U.S. Inventors in history: George Washington Carver.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery during the 1860’s. Due to the Civil War ending when he was boy, he had the opportunity to pursue an education in botany. Since childhood, Mr. Carver had always been fond of experimenting with plants and agriculture. With education, his interest grew into a teaching career that helped heal the crops in the southern United States by introducing farmers to his concept of crop rotation.
Peanuts and Cotton
What do peanuts and cotton have in common? They were the two crops largely used in the south. The peanuts were used to fix the soil that had become depleted by the cotton crops. You might be asking yourself, “wow, was that how peanut butter was invented?”. Well, while Mr. Carver created many things with the peanut crops; he did not create peanut butter. So, what were the peanuts used for? They were used to make about 300 products, including but not limited to: mayonnaise, laxatives, laundry soap (for which we are eternally grateful) and glue!
A Great Role Model
George Washington Carver is a great model for us here at Moxie Girl. We strive to have a positive impact in our community and on our environment, doing our best to be eco-minded, use local (and natural) cleaning products and give back to our community. Please join us in celebrating this great inventor, entrepreneur and teacher, George Washington Carver!
First of all, Moxie Girl believes in building relationships, not just “business.” We take the time to get to know you and your properties, so we can be sure we’re always doing our best to keep that relationship strong!
We know clear communication is crucial in our mission to provide our clients with the best service possible – not just with our clients, but between our team members entrusted with caring for your property.
Because Moxie Girl has extensive experience in the care of vacation rental homes, our clients know they can trust us to meet the specialized demands these homes present. We are just as concerned with guest satisfaction as they are – and we know what it takes to garner great reviews!
With Moxie Girl in charge of the “dirty” end of things, our clients can use their time to focus on filling their booking calendars and maximizing the return on their investment!
Of Course the Feeling is Mutual…
We love our clients, too! Moxie Girl clients KNOW we know our stuff and they’re willing to allow us to do what we do best, because they’re just chill like that. And why shouldn’t they be? Moxie Girl IS The Valley’s Vacation Rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo Care Specialist!
Our clients also understand the need to “do their part” in keeping their vacation rental home and all its systems and contents properly maintained. As powerful as we are, Moxie Girl is just one facet of a profitable, well-functioning vacation rental!
Moxie Girl is always grateful for the referrals our appreciative clients give to their associates and we are especially excited when our clients thrive to the point of adding multiple properties to their portfolios (and ours!)
Looking for Pro-Mance?
Operating a vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo in the Phoenix/Sedona area? You could be our next PERFECT match! Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATIONtoday!
We’ve all had the experience of dealing with rule-breakers in our lives now and again – and it’s almost never pleasant. As a vacation rental home owner, rule-breakers can ruin your property – or at the very least, your schedule.
Had the opportunity to sit down with a local pro in the business of vacation rental property management to find out what types of rules are typically broken by guests – and how to best protect yourself and your property.
Moxie Girl: We are here with Meredith Willis of Arizona Getaways. She is one of the property managers that we work with doing vacation rental property management.
We’ve been working with you for about a year and so we have gone through a few different surprise situations with you, and I thought we could just get some tips from you on how you handle some of the surprises that come up as a property manager for vacation rentals. So talk to me about what are some of the surprises you’ve run into?
Meredith Willis-Arizona Getaways: Yeah, lots of surprises along the way in the probably three years of doing this. But definitely guests breaking house rules so any rules that we set, that’s always a surprise. For example no smoking, or no pets or even check-in or check-out problems such as guests not checking out on time – possibly disrupting the next check-in.
So, I guess the best way to handle them is to be preventative as much as possible, like clearly posting your rules. Signs, even check out signs saying, ‘Reminder check out is 11 AM’ or 10 AM whatever time it may be. We always like to send a reminder text before guests check out saying ‘Hi, we hope everything is going well – just a reminder check out is at 11am.’ You can also charge a late check-out fee, too, and make incentives for guests to leave on time. Of course, clear communication is always great. You can make arrangements for a planned late check out, for example. So that way you don’t have a rush with the next incoming guest. That is a great way to avoid that specific problem.
Moxie Girl: Let me ask, from a customer service point of view, I remember there was one time when we showed up at one of your units and the guest said ‘No, I leave tomorrow.’ How did you handle that from the back end with that guest?
MW: And that’s another example of something you want to prevent with clear communication. So we had to first of all clarify that, indeed, he was supposed to check out that day. And then we just try to be as polite as possible, because it was a mix-up. I think we got in there and just started cleaning around him, politely. But, he was very slow and kind of taking his time to leave. And we did have another check in that day, I think. So, you’ve just got to do your best and kind of work together with… You guys are great to work with, with your flexibility! And working with the guests-you just try to do your best.
Moxie Girl: So, it has been a learning experience. Yeah, I think we have all learned in this industry, to expect the unexpected!
Pssst – Take a break right here and think about you operated your own vacation rental property…Have you had any problems with guests not following your house rules? If not, you’re either extremely lucky (hooray and go buy a lottery ticket!), or you’re already making your policies clear to your guests (hooray and very smart!). It’s always a good idea to review your rental platform listings just to be sure everything is as clear, precise and correct as it can be, especially when it comes to rules!
Moxie Girl: We are back with Meredith Willis of Arizona Getaways, property manager for vacation rentals. They have their own properties they work with that are super cute in the Mesa and Tempe area. We love working with them. They have been doing this for about three years. So we thought we would ask Meredith, what are some of the red flags that you look for in terms of reservations or requests coming in? Like, how do you know if a guest is going to be a good guest or not?
MW: Whenever we get an inquiry or a reservation request, we always like to check out the guest profile and make sure they have good reviews, make sure they have some sort of feedback and verification. Like verified email, verified phone number, and then we also like to add another layer of protection and require that they have a government ID on file. And if all looks good and they do have reviews and prior references, then we feel comfortable.
If not, we like to look a little further and see where they are from. We find if they are local, it’s a little suspicious as to why they need a place, so we will ask them, you know, ‘what brings you to our rental?’ and find out more information.
Moxie Girl: Yeah, same day arrivals make sense if it is a road trip coming across the country or you know, it doesn’t make as much sense if it’s somebody who lives in Scottsdale who is wanting to stay at your place tonight.
MW: Right. We use Instant Book and you can always cancel reservations, no penalty, after the fact, if you are not comfortable. And by doing that potentially preserves your house.
Moxie Girl: Yeah, that’s a really good point that I think a lot of people don’t understand when they start using AirBNB is that a reservation comes in through Instant Book,,,Well, first of all how important Instant Book is-it really bumps you up in the ratings! So you want to use it, but then if you get somebody who is not up to your standards, or you’re cautious about them, there’s just something that doesn’t seem right, you can talk with Airbnb and get that cancelled.
MW: Exactly. Yeah, listen to your gut instincts, because as a host you will kind of have that little nagging voice saying ‘maybe this wasn’t the best reservation.’ And follow through with that, because another one will probably come along that is a better fit for your property.
Moxie Girl: Yeah, I love that. Well thank you for that tip and thanks for sharing!
MW: You’re very welcome!
Whether you’ve been operating a vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo home for awhile, or you’re new to the game, you can always count on Moxie Girl to share ways to minimize your efforts and maximize your profits. Check our blog for more tips from Moxie Girl, your vacation rental specialist! Looking for reliable, professional turn service for your vacation rental? Contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION!
With the vacation rental business booming in the Phoenix metro area, Moxie Girl has made vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo home care our specialty! Moxie Girl was featured in the December 8 2018 Arizona Republic, in which one of our clients is quoted as saying, “They are very good at understanding the short term rental market and being able to accommodate a weird cleaning schedule.” No lies there! Moxie Girl even handle same day turns.
But we’re not known as your vacation rental, Airbnb, Vrbo home specialist based only on our understanding of the business and our accommodating nature. Being that Moxie Girl has experience how to best set up and stock your vacation rental home, too. And that’s not all… The Moxie Girl team can go even further than that in helping you achieve your goal of a owning a beautiful – and beautifully operating – vacation rental home.
One Such Project…
Moxie Girl recently helped one of our existing clients, who lives out of state, take a newly purchased a condo from “as- is” to “guest ready.” The two bedroom two bath condo had formally been a long-term rental and there was much to be done to bring it to the desired condition.
Moxie Girl advised the client on just about every aspect of the transformation. Moxie also became the owner’s eyes and ears through all of the painting, flooring, lighting and mirror installation by contractors. Moxie Girl regularly reported on and provided photos of the remodeling progress to the owner and alerted him to any potential issues.
Once the interior was ready, the owner furnished the home to sleep five adults, maximizing potential rental income on the two bedroom condo. Moxie Girl ordered all of the “essentials,” bath and bed linens, dishes etc. from Amazon.com and filled in the “soft touches.”
And Just Like That…
As always Moxie Girl took care of the cleaning and staging, making the home look its absolute best. And just like that, this vacation rental home was ready for its photo shoot and listing on AirBnB!
We can help you, too! Whether you’re looking for a reliable vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo cleaning team, or need help in converting a property to a vacation rental home, let Moxie Girl be YOUR vacation rental specialist. Get a FREE CONSULTATION!
You may know by now that Moxie Girl has made vacation rental home care our main focus. And we should clarify, when we say “vacation rental homes” we mean homes with a short-term rental of anywhere from a day to several weeks. Alas, it’s true…Moxie Girl no longer services 30-day+ rentals.
But…WHY?
Well, it’s that focus we mentioned earlier…With our extensive experience in the vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo home business, we know exactly what it takes to be able to promise our clients SAME DAY service if necessary.
We also have very high standards regarding that service. Moxie Girl wants your vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo home the best it can be for each and every guest. By limiting our vacation rental service to short-term (as in, less than 30 day) properties, we can properly set our team schedules, allowing us to deliver what we promise.
30-day+ rental properties are different from what we consider vacation rental, Airbnb, and Vrbo homes first and foremost in that the rental terms almost always start on the 1st of the month and end on the last day of the month.
Also, guests usually spend at least a month in a 30-day+ rental property. “Well, duh,” you may say, but consider that folks tend to get really comfy after about day 3 and this leads to the need for a much deeper clean than a 2 or 3 day stay would require. (Many vacation rental homeowners limit the number of nights in a stay for this very reason – it IS a thing.)
So, basically, you’ve got at least a “semi” deep clean AND a same day/overnight turn since there’s another 30-day renter waiting to get in on the first.
We Keep Our Promises
One of the most important promises we make to our vacation rental clients is that they can count on Moxie Girl to accommodate their bookings – even if that means a same day turn. With The Valley’s booming vacation rental industry, same day turns happen a lot – and it’s not unusual for Moxie Girl to have multiple “same-days” on our calendar on the first AND last days of any given month.
Sure, another company might contract a team of “extras” to handle the overflow at the beginning and end of the month and try to squeeze in those 30-day+ rentals, too, but that’s just not how Moxie Girl works. We prefer to use only our own meticulously selected and professionally trained team members to meet the goals and high standards we’ve set for ourselves. (We’re also very picky about the cleaning products we use, but that’s a whole other story.)
Back to Our Focus, Vacation Rental Home Care
If you’re a vacation rental home owner and would like to find out how Moxie Girl can make your life easier, give us a click for a FREE CONSULTATION!
At Moxie Girl, we recognize the value of, well…VALUE! We’re pros as multi-tasking and we love to find cleaning products that multi-task as well. One of our favorites is Dawn dishwashing liquid. Dawn is an inexpensive and eco-friendly solution to many cleaning and household needs. We all know that Dawn is great for washing dishes and has even been used to save wildlife affected by oil spills, but here are a few more ways to utilize this simple but effective cleaning product.
The REST of the Kitchen
Dishes aren’t the only thing in the kitchen that needs cleaning! A drop or two of Dawn on a wet cloth does an excellent job of tackling kitchen countertops. Wipe them down and dry with a microfiber cloth – your countertops will shine like the summer sun!
The Bathroom
Using the same technique we mentioned for kitchen countertops, Dawn is just what you need to easily remove body oils and grime from tile, tub and shower surfaces. For areas with build-up, use a net scrubby-sponge and a drop of Dawn directly on the surface being cleaned.
Floors
A small amount of Dawn in your mop water boosts cleaning power, removing even greasy dirt and leaving your tile, laminate and concrete floors clean, shiny and residue-free.
Why spend money on expensive stain-removing products when Dawn is handy? A tiny drop of Dawn can often lift food and grease stains right out of your tablecloths, linens, towels and even clothing (always test first, on an inconspicuous area!) An old toothbrush can be helpful for scrubbing out tougher stains. Remember to rinse the item thoroughly when spot-cleaning.
Lawn and Garden
Noticing unwanted pests on your plants? Instead of harmful chemicals, try this DYI insecticidal soap to rid your garden of these intruders! This solution is non-toxic and won’t harm your plants.
Make a concentrate: You’ll need 1 cup of cooking oil. Any variety will do – vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil…the important part is OIL. Use what you have on hand. Mix that cup of oil with 2 tablespoons of Dawn. Putting the oil and the Dawn in a glass jar with a secure lid is best – just seal and shake! Concentrate may be stored in the jar indefinitely – just shake before each use.
To use, mix 1 cup of warm water with just 2 teaspoons of the concentrate in a spray bottle and you’re ready to go! Check your plants at least twice a day (morning and evening) and spray directly on visible pests. You should see a dramatic decrease after a few days of spraying on a regular schedule.
We are certain there must be even more uses for Dawn and we are always seeking new ways to make your life (and ours!) easier and more productive. Whether it’s multi-use cleaning products or time-saving cleaning tips you desire, Moxie is always happy to share our discoveries! Check our other Moxie blogs for all kinds of helpful information.
Looking for professional, reliable turn service for your vacation rental home? Contact Moxie Girl, your vacation rental specialist, for a FREE CONSULTATION!
It’s almost that time… Feasts with family and friends, sharing a glass of wine and lots of hugs (we hope)! We finally have an excuse to bust out the “good stuff” in preparation for the holidays – elegant table linens, fancy guest towels and special occasion outfits! But even the most refined gatherings are chock full of opportunities for spills. And if your family and friends are like mine, forget about it! Spills are inevitable – and holiday stains are the worst! Never fear, Moxie Girl is here with some great solutions for these common but tough-to-remove stains.
Eat, Drink, Hug. (Repeat)
The “greatest hits” of holiday stains are usually due to one or more of these activities. Eating and drinking, of course, are the mainstays of any holiday get-together. It’s also “splurge season” so we’re likely to be diving into a lot of rich foods, full of greasy, saucy or buttery goodness. Then there’s the wine… Mmmmmmm….holidays and red wine – they just seem to go together.
I always hope there will be at least ONE person I want to hug anywhere I go. I also hope they’re wearing stay-put lip color. Unfortunately, we’ve all had the experience of a hug leaving a mark on our clothing. Heck, I’ve even dropped my own lipstick during application and had it skip down my entire outfit before it landed on a new turquoise blue bathroom rug. And it wasn’t even a holiday!
Read on to get the heads up on how to save your good stuff from stains! Whether a holiday stain occurs on a garment, linens or even upholstery, keep this blog handy and you’ll know just what to do.
First, is it Dry Clean Only?
Because if it is, you should probably let a professional dry cleaner handle this problem. This goes for any item, garment or table/decorative linen. Now, since it’s a holiday, it may be a minute before you’re able to get to a drycleaner – so to keep the stain from getting any worse, scrape off any solids. No rubbing! Take the item to your dry cleaner as soon as you’re able, point out, and let the dry cleaner know what caused the stain.
If you use a home dry cleaning kit, apply the pre-treatment provided (according to product directions) before putting the item in the dryer bag. I’m so-so on the home kits, myself. In addition to a residual odd smell, I haven’t had a ton of success using them to try to remove stains.
Washable Garments and Linens
For oily stains such as from meat, gravy or butter, scrape any solid bits from the fabric. Do not rub during this step – rubbing will only push the stain further into the fibers of the fabric. Pre-treat the stain with your favorite laundry product, if you have one – or try a little Dawn dishwashing liquid. Gently scrub your choice of pre-treatment into the stain – an old toothbrush is great for this task! Let the pre-treatment sit for 15 minutes then wash in the hottest temperature safe for the item. Check the stain before drying to make sure it’s gone.
If necessary repeat the pre-treatment and wash again, BEFORE drying. Drying the stain will only “set” it, making it permanent!
Lipstick
Lipstick can sure be a tough one, with its oil/wax and pigment components. Lift or scrape (do not rub) any chunks of lipstick from the item. Chunks? Of lipstick? Mhmmm. This can definitely happen if you drop your tube of lipstick and it skips down your entire front side and hits your new turquoise blue bathroom rug…
Take care of the oil/wax component of the lipstick stain by pre-treating the same way you would for the oily-type stains mentioned above. After pre-treatment, it’s time to tackle what’s left of the pigment portion of the stain. Use an oxygen-based bleach, safe for most colors and fabrics, mixed with a gallon of cold water. Check directions on your bleach bottle, but usually, 1/4 cup of bleach to one gallon of water is about right.
Submerge the stained item and soak. You can check the stain periodically, and keep soaking until the stain is gone and then wash as normal. Again, check that the stains are gone before drying. Repeat the pre-treatment and washing, if necessary.
Red, Red Wine
You’re singing that song now, I’ll bet – at least the chorus.
For FRESH red wine stains, removal is easy as long as the item is able to withstand boiling water. Do not use this method of wine stain removal on a ‘dry clean only’ item unless you are truly making a last ditch effort to save it.
Locate the wine stain on the item and pull the stained area tautly over an appropriately-sized mixing bowl, or other fairly deep but also large-mouthed vessel. (I’ve done this for tiny stains using a large, plastic drinking tumbler.) The bowl should be big enough so that you have a few inches of unstained fabric around the edge of the stain but inside the diameter of the bowl. Use a large rubber band to secure the fabric over the bowl. Pour boiling water through the stained fabric into the bowl, taking care not to splash. Once you’ve flushed out the stain entirely, launder the item as you normally would.
Now, if you’ve got a wine stain that is not so fresh, it’s far tougher to remove but I’ve had luck with this technique. Mix small but equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dishwashing liquid – start with a half teaspoon of each. If you think your stain is going to be particularly tough to remove, mix two parts hydrogen peroxide to one part Dawn dishwashing liquid.
Lay the item on a flat surface and put an old towel under the area of the stain so as not to transfer it to another part of the garment or item. Rub the hydrogen peroxide and Dawn mixture into the fabric, gently, with your fingers. Start in the middle of the stained area to keep from making the stain bigger. Thoroughly saturate the stain with the solution and let the item sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with the hottest temperature water safe for the item. Hopefully, your old wine stain is gone, but if not repeat the process before drying!
Carpet and Upholstery Stains
If you have a stain on vintage or silk upholstery, stop right there and call a pro if you care about the piece! For other carpet and upholstery, as with garments and linens, scrape or lift solids from the stained area. Do not rub!
For these next steps, be careful to not over-wet your carpet or upholstery. Always do a “test” spot treatment in an inconspicuous area of the furniture or carpeting for color-fastness before treating the actual stain. If anything weird goes on in the test spot, stop and call a pro! If your test spot looks normal, proceed.
If you have a carpet cleaning product on hand, use a clean white cloth or a paper towel and treat the stain according to directions on the product packaging.
No carpet cleaning product on hand – or just hate chemicals? Try a tablespoon of Moxie Girl favorite, Dawn dishwashing liquid mixed with 2 cups of hot water. Add a tablespoon of ammonia and mix. Blot solution on carpet or upholstery with a clean sponge and then a dry towel. Repeat until the stain is gone. Using a fresh clean towel dampened with warm water, “rinse” the stained area to remove soapy residue which could attract more dirt later. Avoid the area and let it air dry completely.
Cheers!
Moxie Girl hopes these tips help you stay stain-free through the holiday season and all year long. Check our blog frequently for more helpful tips and fun features on all sorts of Moxie topics!
It’s not even officially in the dictionary – yet – but Friendsgiving has become a favorite tradition for many over the past decade or so.
Phoenix has always been one of those places where it seems almost everyone is from someplace else. As a born and raised here in the 60s kid, and a lifelong resident of Phoenix myself, I was used to new acquaintances regarding me as someone of a “jackalope” upon finding out my roots. (If you don’t know, a jackalope is Arizona’s version of a unicorn, a jackrabbit with antelope horns!) It seems everybody had heard about people born here, but nobody had ever actually met one!
With the steady growth Phoenix has experienced over the past several decades, plenty of babies have been born here and being a “native Phoenician” isn’t nearly as rare as it used to be. People continue to relocate to the Phoenix area for jobs and school, many leaving behind the family and friends with whom they would normally spend holidays.
Thanksgiving + Friends = Friendsgiving
Going home for the holidays isn’t always possible due to work, finances and other obstacles – and there are many who just actively avoid family gatherings for whatever reason.
We all have something to be thankful for though, and who doesn’t love a feast with friends? This is where Friendsgiving comes in. Moxie Girl has a few ideas to make hosting your own Friendsgiving easy and fun!
When Are We Doing This?
Well, that depends… Are you ADDING a Friendsgiving celebration to a traditional Thanksgiving week? Or are you having Friendsgiving INSTEAD of Thanksgiving?
If your BFFs all have family nearby, it’s likely you will be invited to join one of them for Thanksgiving. (And you should! It can be fun to meet the ‘crazy relatives’ your friends have told you so much about.) If you and your buddies all have family plans, the Friday or Saturday following Thanksgiving is a better choice to hold your Friendsgiving event.
However, if your gang is comprised mostly of friends who are also ‘on their own’ for the holiday, it might make the most sense to hold your Friendsgiving on Thanksgiving Day.
What’s on the Menu?
One of the great things about in an official holiday is that you are free to make your own rules and create new traditions! Unless you are just DYING to prepare an entire feast ‘solo’ for your group, a potluck buffet is always the answer. You can organize your potluck in varying degrees of detail, but assigning specific dishes for guests to bring will ensure you don’t end up with six bowls of mashed potatoes, but no gravy or some other “oops!” in the menu.
And remember, since it’s your friends and your rules, the menu is your choice as well. Maybe you’d like a traditional turkey dinner? Or maybe you want an all vegan/vegetarian menu… how about Mexican food? Mediterranean food? Totally up to you and your friends!
Some Friendsgiving celebrations are specifically planned for the Friday after Thanksgiving and guests are asked to bring their family Thanksgiving leftovers to share with the group.
Another option is that your friends all agree to ‘chip in’ and purchase a premade meal from a local market or eatery, saving you all in the mess of cooking in exchange for a few bucks.
Speaking of Dishes…And Other Things You May Not Have Enough Of
Living on your own for the first time? Or just simply live alone? You may likely have more friends than you have place-settings or even places to put them! Disposable dishes and utensils may be the answer, and they certainly make for easier cleanup.
A more eco-minded solution is to ask your friends to bring their own place settings. You can even turn it into fun by having a place-setting ‘decorating contest’ for your guests to create their own elegant/wacky/colorful place at the table.
For several years, my family members all agreed to show up with full-sized platters to use as our ‘feast’ plates. Mine was actually an hors-d’oeuvre tray with little compartments so my gravy would not touch my cranberry sauce or my candied sweet potatoes and RUIN EVERYTHING. (Yeah, I’m kinda weird that way.) The giant platters made for some funny photos too.
You may also need some help with seating arrangements for dinner. Folding tables and chairs will do if you don’t have a formal dining table large enough to accommodate your group. Don’t have any? Ask around – anything that can be borrowed for the day is a good thing! And you may find that your guests have at least one folding chair or a set of old-school tray tables they can bring.
Plan for Fun!
This should be easy… What do you and your friends like to do? Thanksgiving day, post-feast, in my family finds us splintering off into smaller groups of football fans, movie watchers, board gamers or card players – even outdoor Slip n’ Slide fun in the backyard. Hey, it’s Phoenix!
So unless your friends are all into the same thing, prepare for a few different, but simple and fun, activities based on what you know about your group.
New Traditions
The weather in Phoenix is usually perfect in late November for enjoying outdoor activities. Perhaps start an annual tradition of a group hike or a bike ride – before or after your meal. If your friends are service-minded, Friendsgiving is the perfect opportunity to volunteer at one of the local agencies serving up a Thanksgiving meal to those less fortunate.
The point is that your new tradition can be whatever you want it to be. As long as it’s fun it’s likely to catch on, too, making your annual Friendsgiving get-together something to look forward to year after year.
So start putting together your plans for Friendsgiving now and check out our Moxie blog regularly for ways to make your holidays – and every day – cleaner, easier and more fun!
A short while ago, we introduced you to Moxie Cat, our “Queen of Bed-Making” in our first ever Moxie Spotlight feature. Today we’d like to meet you Moxie Randi, our holistic helper!
Moxie Girl takes pride in growing our team. We also take pride in helping our team members grow, both as Moxies and as individuals with personal goals. Randi is a shining example of the great things that can happen in the mutually supportive work environment Moxie offers.
Learning and Earning
When Randi came to Moxie Girl in early 2017, she was looking for a job with the flexibility to accommodate her school schedule at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, where she studies western herbalism and holistic nutrition. Randi had worked at a gym cleaning equipment, locker rooms, showers – basically the entire gym, every workday.
Thanks to Moxie Girl’s flexible scheduling Randi was able to work nearly full-time while attending classes. She also learned she enjoyed cleaning more than she thought she did. According to Randi, “Cleaning a gym is DISGUSTING, so the thought of cleaning people’s houses seems like nothing to me. “
Building a Business – On the Job Training
A lot can happen in a year and a half! As Moxie Girl’s needs evolved, unexpected opportunities presented themselves to Randi. While Randi made plans to build her own business, Moxie Girl recognized that utilizing her eagerness to learn about business could be mutually beneficial! As a result, Randi has been at the core of the Moxie Girl marketing team since its inception earlier this year.
With graduation right around the corner, Randi is poised to launch her own business, where her ever-expanding knowledge of social media platforms from a business standpoint will definitely give her an edge and marketing her own line of products.
Moxie Girl-We are 100% Human
Moxie Girl has set some challenging goals for our business and we count on our team members sharing our goals and working to accomplish them. Recognizing that our team members have lives beyond their roles at Moxie doesn’t make us unique, but truly sharing in and supporting those lives does. Randi credits Moxie Girl with not only giving her some excellent, real-world preparation for operating her own business but also with getting her through some very tough times personally.
For Randi, this year began with the news of the suicide of a good friend. Just one month later, Randi was confronted with more bad news…A dear friend had been lost at sea. Several days later when Rand was notified that “the body was found” her heart sank.
“I didn’t want to feel anything anymore, but every time I got to the point of completely giving up, Brea or Amanda would say or do something that would make me feel like everything would be okay. I miss my friends every day and still have ‘bad days’ all the time, but I always know that no matter what is going on in my life, I can still go to someone on the Moxie team and know everything will be alright – even when it feels like it’s all crumbled at my feet.”
Ready for Success
Randi will complete her degree in January 2019 and is busily preparing to launch her own business. Moxie Girl has become Randi’s “side gig” now. “I am a holistic practitioner looking to help people live their best lives,” says Randi. “My goal is to help people with any health issues they may have – using herbal remedies as well as different health and life suggestions. I eventually want to branch out into the marijuana industry and open up my own apothecary with a dispensary attached to it so people can get all the herbs in one place! I want to be able to educate people on the use of herbal remedies and marijuana as well as teach people about plant synergy between many different herbs. In my dream shop, I want to carry edibles that include marijuana and other herbs that work well with THC and CBD to create a unique healing experience. My life goal, however, is to teach families about growing their own food and help them set up community gardens. I believe if you have that security of knowing you will always have something to eat makes life just a little less stressful. This project will be to honor my grandfather who operated several farms and loved playing in the dirt with me!”
Moxie Girl wishes Randi all the best in her personal business and we look forward to her continued contributions to the Moxie Girl team! Check out Randi’s new website, her Etsy shop as well as her Instagram to stay up to date with her!
What Are You Doing with YOUR Life?
Moxie Girl is always looking for motivated individuals to join us in achieving our goals. Moxies range from college students to moms with school-age kids, grandmas to artists. And don’t let our name fool you, we love our Moxie “boys” too!
With our professional paid training, flexible scheduling and all supplies included, Moxie Girl offers an excellent opportunity to thrive. Think you’ve got what it takes to join our team? Moxie Girl is expanding and we’d love to have you grow with us!
With Moxie Girl’s increased focus on specializing in the care of vacation rental homes, we’d like to introduce you to our friends at Going GreenHouse! Going GreenHouse offers solutions for all your residential cleaning needs and more importantly, they share our love for natural cleaning products and satisfied clients!
April, founder and CEO of Going GreenHouse grew up in Chandler, AZ, and holds a BS in Finance from ASU WP Carey School of Business – which, in her words, led to a “very boring” career in Pension Administration. These days April is busy running her own thriving business but still makes time to be heavily supportive of the Tammy D Foundation, participating in as many of their fundraising events as possible. For more info about the Tammy D Foundation.
April is also proudly featured in the KNOW Phoenix book for 2018, which is “a community of women-owned businesses that you should KNOW and do business with, in Phoenix. These women are true rock stars of their professions, do tons of charity events and support other women without judgment,” says April. We say, nice!
Moxie Girl recently had the opportunity to ask April a few questions about Going GreenHouse. Read on to find out why we recommend this fantastic local company!
Moxie Girl: The Going GreenHouse website – which is awesome, by the way – states that you started your company because you realized the chemical cleaners you were using in your own home were making you sick. How quickly did your company plan come to action? Were you “solo” to start with?
April: I was inspired by my corporate job to do something that allowed me to have a flexible schedule as well as an active lifestyle. I started cleaning the homes of friends and family on the weekends. After about 9 months of doing that, I had enough business to quit my full-time job.
I was solo for the first couple of months, but I realized that in order to get more done I would have to hire someone to help me on an as-needed basis. I was referred to a family friend, Lisa. I asked if she wanted to help me out and she said sure. Lisa is about to celebrate her 7 year anniversary with us! She is now my full-time office manager and the “yin to my yang” when it comes to running the business and that’s a nice balance to have.
MG: Just based on his photo, I totally want to hang out with Crew Leader, Damani, for happy hour. How many employees does GGH currently have, and what’s most important to you when you are adding to your team? Any plans for growth?
April: Haha – we caught Damani in a rare moment with that pic! He is usually pretty quiet and reserved, if you can believe that. Damani is more of an animal guy than a party animal. In fact, more than a handful of clients have written us thank you cards and given us 5 star reviews – from their pets – because he is so good and loving towards all animals!
We have 15 on our team currently and Going GreenHouse is always looking to add awesome people. The more team members, the more business we can schedule, after all!
When hiring, the main things I look for are punctuality, reliability, teamwork, and positive attitude. A positive attitude, especially, will get you a long way in my book! This means if you accidentally damage something at a client’s home or if you get negative feedback, you take responsibility, own it and find a way to correct it without getting upset or taking it personally.
MG: GGH seems to have a special relationship with your clients, as well as with their pets. Do you find that clients are more willing to trust (and are less likely to feel “judged” by) a cleaner when they know that person is also an animal-lover and/or a pet owner?
April: I do think that most people are concerned about how their pets feel about the new people in their homes because pets are part of the family too! We have cat and dog treats at the ready just in case we need to make friends fast! It is important to us that everyone in the family is comfortable with our being there.
As far as being judged, I think that people naturally feel like they are being judged especially if they haven’t been able to maintain their home for one reason or another. I have had clients that apologize the whole time I am performing a consultation and I tell them a few things…1. We are no-judgment cleaners 2. They’ve got better things to do than cleaning their homes, like spending precious time with family or working on their own businesses. 3. A needy home is job security for us, so we can’t be mad at that! We love to see a fabulous turnaround on a house when we finish!
MG: Are there any particular or unusual challenges your clients present that you feel GGH excels in dealing with?
April: I always tell my referral partners to send me their pickiest clients. We use a very detailed checklist to manage client expectations, plus we have an electronic file for each client for any special requests or pet peeves. I do an on-site consultation prior to every single first service to make sure we capture every client’s specific needs. We value communication and send a feedback e-mail after every service to keep our communication fresh. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee so if any client is unhappy, we will send a crew back ASAP to remedy whatever was missed. Also, each month our team members earn gift card incentives based on the positive client feedback they receive. The people I hire are natural people-pleasers and genuinely care if the client is happy.
MG: What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received from a client?
April: We are affiliated with the Tammy D Foundation, which pays us a discounted rate for us to clean homes of women battling breast cancer. We usually have 5-10 of these clients on our schedule each month. Going GreenHouse sends a crew of 2 people to their home for 2 hours to do whatever household chores they need to be done. These women are by far our most grateful clients and when they send me a testimonial they usually make me cry because I am so moved by the generosity and care of my employees. Our crews take a special interest in making sure these ladies are comfortable. They go above and beyond and even become close, personal friends with some. It’s a really special bond and I’m proud to be able to facilitate it and proud of my crews for having such huge hearts that they use their own money to bring treats and gifts to our Tammy D clients and otherwise go out of their way when they can do something special for these ladies.
MG: I know using natural/chemical-free cleaning products is very important to you. How did you – and do you – decide on specific products for use at Going GreenHouse?
April: We are always trying new products! If we don’t love the way something works, we will continue researching by following blogs, asking clients and doing web research. We also do a lot of ‘trial and error’ in our own homes to find out what works best! We had a hard time finding a great “green” stainless steel cleaner for many years and had resorted to using olive oil. Olive oil does work, but it can be messy which of course is not ideal. We finally found one that we love from “Earth-Friendly Products” that we found on Vita-cost.com.
The Going GreenHouse slogan is “Building a relationship with your family, your pets and your home” – and they mean it! From one-time services to regularly scheduled cleanings, Going GreenHouse is the eco-friendly, all natural answer to your residential cleaning needs. Get a free quote – visit or call 602-476-9321 today!
As the Valley’s vacation rental home experts, Moxie Girl is well aware of the difference a professional cleaning can make in terms of, among other things, guest satisfaction. Guests may cut you some slack on a few things, but cleanliness isn’t one of them. As we recently explored in our Moxie Blog, “Review Killers,” a good guest experience may turn into a good – or even great – review, but a bad guest experience almost always translates to a bad review.
As a vacation rental homeowner, you basically have three options when it comes to cleaning your property: DYI, hire an independent cleaning person or contract with a professional cleaning company. Of course, there are pros and cons to each. It’s up to you as the property owner to decide what each of those individual pros and cons actually weigh in relation to your particular situation. Read on as Moxie Girl delivers important points you should take into consideration when making your selection.
“I’ll Do It Myself, Thanks”
Do you own one, or maybe a small handful of vacation rental properties? Do you consider the operation of your vacation rental properties to be your full-time job? Do you love to clean and do laundry? If you shouted a resounding “YES!” in answer to all three of these questions, then perhaps the do-it-yourself option really IS for you! After all, the #1 “pro” for DIY cleaning is more money in your pocket. Plus, you’ll have total control – you know the job will be done YOUR way since YOU will be doing the job!
Turning your own properties does have multiple downsides though. What happens should you have an illness or injury that would keep you from cleaning? What if an emergency required you to be out-of-town that day? And what if you had a “same day” turn scheduled – with only a few short hours between departing guests and new arrivals? A DIY vacation rental homeowner better have a “Plan B” that won’t leave guests hanging. Even a “Plan C” shouldn’t be considered overkill if you’re doing this on your own!
One more question…Would you yourself be interested in taking a vacation of your very own, ever again? Assuming your answer is “yes!” how will you make that happen without affecting your vacation rental home operation? It sure would be a shame to have all that extra money you saved by DIY cleaning – even after purchasing your own supplies – there in your pocket and no time to relax and spend it. Just sayin’.
“I Know a Guy” – Adventures in Independent Contracting
Since commencing operation of your vacation rental home(s) – even if it was just last week – you’ve probably received all sorts of solicitation for rental home services, including independent cleaners. There certainly are a lot of them in the Valley, and their prices may seem very attractive, especially when compared to the price of a professional cleaning company. You may have yourself almost convinced that using an independent is the way to go. Think of all the extra time you’ll have for other things when you don’t have to spend your day at a property or two, getting ready for your next check-ins.
More free time is certainly at the top of the “pro” list here. And since you’ll still be “the boss” you’ll still be in control of how and when the job gets done – or at least you’d like to think so. Independent cleaners often work for a variety of clients. So what’s to keep your cleaner from being busy elsewhere on a day you need them? Or worse yet – what if they bail on you last minute? Just as with the DIY option, Moxie Girl advises you keep a “Plan B” at the ready if you’re choosing an independent cleaner.
But, your “indy” is still less expensive than a hiring a professional cleaning company, right? Probably – and there are reasons why that could be…First, a large percentage of freelancers carry no liability insurance and are not covered by a worker’s compensation policy. This means that if he or she has an accident or incurs an injury while on your job, you (and YOUR insurance) are likely to be held responsible. Yikes! Before hiring any independent contractors, it’s definitely a good idea to ask about – and verify – their coverage, if any. If they are legitimately covered, great! Ask for a copy of current insurance certificates for your files.
In addition to insurance matters, there are also tax implications should you choose to go the independent route and end up paying any one individual over the (current) IRS threshold of $2,100 during the year. Moxie Girl won’t bore you with the details, because…taxes. Snore. But trust us, you won’t want the IRS to have to explain it to you either.
If you’re the seasoned, business-savvy operator of a multiple vacation rental homes and already have your own tax and insurance ducks in a row, an individual cleaner may still be a good option for you – as long as you are willing to keep your Plan B (and possibly a Plan C) at the ready.
Going Pro
We’ll start out with what must be the most common “con” we hear: “Professional cleaning is so expensive.” But is it, really? Let’s take a look at what you get when you put Moxie Girl in charge of turning your vacation rental…
No training or supply burdens! Because we are a professional cleaning company, our team members are professionally trained. Moxie Girl comes equipped with our own tools and supplies – and the knowledge and experience to make your vacation rental home look, feel and SMELL its guest-ready best! We use eco-friendly products and we’re happy to customize our services to best fit your needs.
No tax or insurance worries! Moxie Girl is a registered employer in good standing with the state of Arizona. In addition to being in compliance with all tax and insurance requirements, we are also quite choosy when growing our team. All Moxies are subject to a thorough background check!
Total peace of mind! Imagine simply linking your vacation rental home platform calendar to the Moxie Girl schedule and never worrying about turning your property again. You can also count on Moxie Girl to immediately alert you to any damages or other unpleasantness we may find on the job, allowing for the quickest remedy possible. We even monitor your guest and property supplies – from dish soap to toilet paper – to make sure you never run out!
Wow! These, of course, are just the top 3 “pros” of choosing a professional cleaning company for your vacation rental home. How much are they worth to you? And what about your guests – what benefit do they receive from a professionally cleaned rental? Well, we’re confident that a Moxie Girl cleaning will make your guests feel as though special care was taken to provide them with a sparkling clean and beautifully staged place to spend their time. And who doesn’t love special care?
Cleaning Fees – To Charge, or Not to Charge
You care enough to choose a professional cleaning company to service your vacation rental home – so don’t be afraid to highlight this selling point in your listing. If you’re one of the many vacation rental homeowners charging a cleaning fee in addition to rental rates, mentioning that your property is professionally cleaned between each booking may make that cleaning fee a little easier to swallow for a prospective guest.
Some vacation rental homeowners don’t charge a separate cleaning fee, choosing instead to “bake it in” the rental rate. This can make your rates seem higher than comparable properties in your area, but highlighting the fact that your property is professionally cleaned – especially in the absence of charging a separate cleaning fee – will definitely be seen as a classy upgrade!
Moxie Girl really IS the Valley’s vacation rental home, Airbnb, and Vrbo specialist! Contact us for a FREE consultation and find out just how quickly and easily we can resolve your vacation rental home worries. From set-up to between-guest cleanings, Moxie Girl does it all!
Moxie Girl saw our busiest spring season ever in 2018 and with the Phoenix area growing in popularity as a vacation destination, we expect 2019 to be HUGE!
Read on to find out how to better prepare yourself and your vacation rental home to maximize bookings and profitability for the coming spring.
Mark Your Calendars!
Events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament and the Cactus League spring training games draw thousands of visitors to the Phoenix area each year and 2019 should be no exception. The Phoenix Open runs from January 28th to February 3rd. Spring training dates for 2019 aren’t scheduled as of this writing, but if we have to “ballpark” it (see what we did there?) Moxie Girl says plan for the last week of February through the first few days in April, for now.
Also, the month of March – ALL of it – seems to be the most popular month for vacationing in Phoenix – and it’s no wonder since our weather is usually perfect!
Review your vacation rental home rates for all spring dates, NOW. Lodging rates during these high-traffic months can be 2 1/2 to 3 times higher than summer months, so do a little comparison shopping for vacation rental and hotel rates in your area to determine what you should be charging and update your rental calendar accordingly.
Accentuate Your Positives!
If your property listing could use a little punching up, spring is a great time for doing just that! Does your property boast a swimming pool or a spa? If so, be sure to highlight those features in your listings. Some updated photos may be in order, especially if you’ve made any improvements or decorative changes to your vacation rental home. Show it off!
Accurate and appealing descriptions are always a must – and don’t forget to stress the desirability of your vacation rental home(s) location! Many guests are willing to pay more to enjoy the convenience of being within walking distance or a short Uber ride to event venues.
Shut Up Liver, You’re Fine!
Vacation rental homeowners beware; alcohol is likely to play a huge part in guest activities in the first quarter of the year – it seems to be a tradition. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption has a bad habit of increasing the chance of mishaps during your guests stay. Now is the time to do a thorough walk-through of your vacation rental property, take care of any maintenance issues and remove any decorative items which may be easily broken or are not-so-easily cleaned.
Moxie Girl has walked in to ‘party aftermath’ on cleaning day enough times to know that you don’t want to waste any time checking the condition of your vacation rental home after your guests depart. It’s important to remember, too, that most vacation rental home platforms have a limited window for you to charge your guests for any damages that may have occurred, so time is certainly of the essence!
While there may be many reasons for unanticipated late checkouts, alcohol consumption will probably also be to blame for at least a few during the spring season. Be sure your policies regarding the use of your property as well as fees for damage and late checkouts are clearly stated and understood by your guests. You may also want to consider increasing the deposit you require on your vacation rental property during this time.
Bro Bashes
We’re not saying females can’t be messy – or unruly – but as the old saying goes, “Boys will be boys.” With spring weddings so popular in the Phoenix area, you may notice an increase in the booking of bachelor party stays, especially if you vacation rental home is in a prime nightlife spot (think Old Town Scottsdale, ASU Tempe, and downtown Phoenix.)
It’s been Moxie Girl’s experience that if anything is going to get broken or thrown up on, it’s like to happen during a “Bro Bash.” So plan to get in there quickly after checkout and schedule a little extra time for cleaning if possible, just in case!
Talking Trash
As you might imagine all this spring partying tends to create mountains of trash and even bigger mountains of recyclables. Expect a lot of empty bottles, cans, and cartons during this time. Clearly labeling your recycle bins – indoor and outdoor – with the specifics of your vacation rental homes recycling service will make it easier for your guests to properly dispose of their refuse and keep you out of trouble with your service provider. Know your scheduled pick-up days and make sure your bins are out on time!
So, try to ignore the heat for now and get busy with planning for a busy and profitable 2019 spring season! From set-up to clean-up, Moxie Girl is an expert in caring for vacation rental homes throughout the Phoenix area. Check out our other blogs for more great tips on preparing and maintaining your vacation rental property. If you’d rather enjoy more of your free time than be bothered with all these details, give us a call! Moxie Girl would love to be YOUR vacation rental home specialist, too!
Spiders…Yikes! Most of us, if not completely terrified, are at least a little uncomfortable confronting them. And most of us have at least one personal horror story as a result. My own involves battling a quite sizable wolf spider with a can of AquaNet Extra Super Hold. Yes, it was the 80’s, and no, the hair shellac didn’t win…a braver-than-I neighbor lady was called in to help and conquered the by then very sticky beast with a good, old-fashioned foot stomp. Ew.
Spiders are a great natural pest deterrent, as they love to dine on mosquitoes, flies and other tiny things we’d rather not have around. But most of us would agree we’d rather keep spiders busy OUTSIDE, rather than inside our homes. Read on as Moxie Girl shares some tips to rid your living space of these eight-legged creatures!
Is Your Home an Arachnid Playground?
Often we see far more evidence of spiders in our homes, rather than the actual spiders themselves – collections of intricate webs hanging out in corners, underneath furniture or between those stacks of magazines, newspapers and junk mail we’ve let pile up. And sometimes we walk into webs without ever seeing them until it’s too late. That’s always fun, right?
So, we know they’re there – and clearly they’re comfortable. The key to a spider-free home is to make them UNcomfortable enough to move along. And think how much more comfortable YOU’LL be in your home without having to be on the lookout for spiders!
First, Let’s Clear those Cobwebs…
While it may be tempting to let those cobwebs “do their thing” and get a jump on some very authentic Halloween decorations, unless you’re a fan of sharing your home with the spiders that are creating them, it’s probably not the best idea.
As a first step, Moxie Girl suggests removing any existing cobwebs you see inside the house. Use your vacuums attachment tool to suck up cobwebs – and any lurking spiders! They’ll be quickly and neatly contained in the canister and easily disposed of without ever touching them with your hands. For webs in areas surrounded by delicate items, use a disposable duster. Be sure to check your window sills and door jambs for cobwebs, too!
Clutter-Be-Gone!
Spiders love a good hideout, making clutter a most inviting place to lay down a web. By de-cluttering your home, you’ll automatically decrease the potential places for spiders to set up camp. After you’ve vacuumed up all those webs you found, set about getting rid of the clutter! Spiders aren’t the only creepers preferring a hidden, cluttered habitat – and as we know, spiders love dining on other pests. Clearing the clutter will deter these other pests as well, cutting off the food supply to the spiders you’re attempting to oust.
Get rid of stacks (and piles) of stuff just waiting for a spider invasion. Do you really NEED those magazines from 2014? If so, at least consider plastic storage tubs or boxes with lids to keep your treasures spider and insect-free.
Don’t Forget the Outside
Exterior doors, window ledges, patio structures and furniture (including umbrellas) and corners should all get the web-removal treatment. Moxie Girl recommends using a wet/dry shop vac for this task, since moisture may be a factor outside. While you’re at it, you can use that shop vac to quickly collect any other patio debris at the same time.
You’re not the only one thinking your patio furniture is comfy. Spiders may find it a most attractive, too. Pay special attention to removing webs from your patio furniture – especially cushions!
Falling Through the Cracks
Okay, so it’s not so much “falling” through the cracks as is it CRAWLING through the cracks we should be worried about. Spiders – and lots of other pests – may be using the tiniest of entryways into your home. Make a thorough walk-through of your home, looking for any gaps needing to be sealed off. These types of “secret entrances” seem to be more prominent around exterior doors and windows. Your local hardware store staff can steer you toward the best products to use, depending on what and where you need to seal.
Nature’s Spider Remedies
Moxie Girl takes special care to use eco-friendly products whenever and wherever possible, and pest deterrents are no exception. We’ve got several natural remedies for keeping spiders from making their home in and around yours!
Essential oils, especially lemon, citrus, lavender, and peppermint may be quite effective in deterring spiders in the home. Make your own “spider spray” by mixing 5-10 drops of any of these essential oils and 5 drops of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid with 1 quart of water. Because essential oils may spot or stain, always test first in an inconspicuous area. Once you’ve determined it is safe for your particular surfaces, spray away – especially in areas where you previously found cobwebs.
Cat owners: Please beware that essential oils, especially those hated by spiders and other pests, may be harmful to your felines. (This goes for using aromatherapy infusers as well.) Better to keep Miss Kitty safely away from ANY essential oil use than to wind up sorry!
Diatomaceous Earth is another chemical-free deterrent that works to kill many types of pests including spiders. “DE” as it’s commonly known is mostly just fossilized plankton, ground into a powder. Under a microscope, DE resembles miniature shards of glass! It is generally harmless to humans and other mammals, but to any pest with an exoskeleton, a walk through some DE will literally make cuts to their bodies, causing dehydration and eventually death. Moxie Girl suggests putting a small border of DE outside, around your entire home as “Not Welcome” sign to any invading pests.
Important to note: DE is ONLY effective when it’s DRY. Moisture turns all of its sharp edges to mush. If your DE “line of defense” gets wet but doesn’t wash away, it will become effective again once it dries out. DE is safe to ingest – it’s even sometimes added to dry food items during production to kill any pests that may lurking in the food. (Try not to think about that last statement too much. Double “ew.”) But do be aware that you should refrain from breathing in DE since it could have the same effect on your respiratory system that it has on exoskeletal pests!
Certain plants may also be helpful in repelling spiders. Eucalyptus, lavender, mint, lemon verbena and lemongrass plant smell great – to us, not spiders – and bring a little of the outside, in! If you already use a furniture polish containing lemon oil (and many polishes do) consider spraying it on a rag and wiping interior window sills and doorways with it as an added layer of repellent.
Logical Lighting
Even though spiders aren’t drawn to light themselves, many of their favorite treats are, making outdoor light fixtures the perfect place for a spider feast. If you’re leaving outdoor lights on and your fixtures happen to be right next to doors and windows – as they often are – you’re actually encouraging spiders to hang out there by attracting a steady food supply for them.
You can create much more pleasingly ambient outdoor lighting and draw pests AWAY from your home’s points of entry by using rope lighting, LED candles or solar-powered stake lights – and turning off those traditional porch lights. Other outdoor pests will be drawn to these light sources, and the spiders will follow their food source!
Spidey-Senses, Weird Facts and When to Call in a Pro
Even though spiders have just as many eyes as they have legs, most are also what we humans would call “vision-impaired.” Spiders rely heavily on vibrations to guide them away from danger and to their prey. Spiders can also smell and taste using special sensory organs located on their legs. Weird.
Most spiders aren’t “poisonous” even though they may look pretty scary. If you do suspect your particular eight-legged invaders to be Brown Recluse or Black Widows, calling in a professional exterminator ASAP is advised, since your potential problems are far scarier than some cobweb build-up. Bites from either of these two generally require emergency treatment, so you’ll definitely want to get them out, once and for all!
Obviously…
A regularly scheduled and thorough cleaning inside and out will not only make your home nicer for you, but a clean, clutter-free home is a total buzzkill for spiders. Moxie Girl isn’t JUST your vacation rental home specialist – we’re happy to help at your residence, as well! Just tell us what you’d like us to do for YOU!
