BrightSide Software logo

BrightSide Short Term Rental Software
Do more. Work less.™

Our cloud-based hospitality software is both powerful and easy to use. But more importantly, our support team is here for you, ready to help make your user experience the best it can possibly be.

  1. BrightSide is powerful and easy to use from anywhere you have Internet access.
  2. BrightSide’s API integrates directly with Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Google Vacation Rentals and others.
  3. BrightSide support responds to email requests in minutes or hours, not days or weeks. No AI, real people.
  4. BrightSide support answers the phone. If we can’t answer, leave a message and we will call you back. Really.
  5. BrightSide is affordable. We do not add charges for features; it’s all included in the subscription.
BrightSide Software logo

BrightSide Short Term Rental Software
Do more. Work less.™

Our cloud-based hospitality software is both powerful and easy to use. But more importantly, our support team is here for you, ready to help make your user experience the best it can possibly be.

  1. BrightSide is powerful and easy to use from anywhere you have Internet access.
  2. BrightSide’s API integrates directly with Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Google Vacation Rentals and others.
  3. BrightSide support responds to email requests in minutes or hours, not days or weeks. No AI, real people.
  4. BrightSide support answers the phone. If we can’t answer, leave a message and we will call you back. Really.
  5. BrightSide is affordable. We do not add charges for features; it’s all included in the subscription.

Cleaning Reports

2024-10-18T15:01:55-04:00

Cleaning Reports

Cleaning Arrival/Departure Report

This report is useful when you need a summary of the cleaning schedule for a single housekeeper or all of them. Options for running this report make it a flexible tool for staying up to date with what needs to be cleaned and when. You may email and/or print this report directly from BrightSide.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Arrival/Departure Report

Report Options

  • Cleaner: You may select “All Cleaners” or an individual cleaner by name. If you are going to email this report to the cleaner, select that individual.
  • Type: The options here are Arrivals/Departures, Arrivals, or Departures.
    • Arrivals/Departures: This option includes reservations arriving in the date range of the report as well as the departures.
    • Arrivals: This option includes only the reservations arriving in the date range of the report.
    • Departures: This option is the most useful for cleaners. It includes only reservations departing in the date range of the report. However, the date and number of days before the next arrival is listed also.
  • Start Date: Choose the beginning date of the report. You may want to email/print a weekly outlook, or just a daily list.
  • End Date: Choose the ending date of the report.
  • Include Guest Stay: You want to include these in most cases, after all, these are the units that need cleaning.
  • Include Owner Stay: You want to include these if units need to be cleaned after an owner stay. Some owners clean the unit after an owner stay, so you can exclude this when needed.
  • Include Owner Guest: You want to include this stay type unless it is excluded from cleaning for some reason.
  • Include Maintenance Block: If you clean units after a maintenance block, include this stay type.
  • Include Access Details: This option includes the unit address, key code, and alarm code.
  • Print Notes: Selecting this option includes any “Cleaning Notes” recorded in the reservation.
Cleaning Arrivals/Departures Report Options
Cleaning Arrivals/Departures Report Options

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Sample Cleaning Arrival/Departure Reports

Cleaning Arrivals/Departures Report Sample
Arrivals/Departures Report Sample

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Cleaning Arrivals Report Sample
Arrivals Report Sample

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Cleaning Departures Report Sample
Departures Report Sample

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Cleaning Log

There may be an occasion when you need to edit the cleaning log to correct the record. Perhaps a cleaner marked a unit clean, but someone else actually cleaned it. Or, a cleaner accidentally marked it clean and you need to return it to dirty status so the cleaning is not skipped. You have two choices when editing the log, reassigning to a different cleaner and/or undoing the clean.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Log

  • When a guest checks into a unit, the unit is automatically marked dirty and shows up in the Cleaning Log as “dirty.” Awesome Place reservation #10 is an example. There is nothing to edit because the unit has not been cleaned yet.
  • When a cleaner marks the unit clean on the Unit Cleaning List, a record of that shows up in the Cleaning Log. Reservations #5 and #4 are examples in the screenshot below.
  • Before the next guest checks in, you may edit the cleaner and even “Undo Clean.” “Undo Clean” removes the entry from the Cleaning Log and returns it to the Unit Cleaning List so it can be cleaned. This is normally done when a cleaner marks it clean by mistake.
  • After a guest checks in for the subsequent reservation, you do not have the option to “Undo Clean” on the previous reservation. The option is no longer available. However, you may still edit the name of the cleaner if needed. Reservation #6 is an example of this situation. You cannot undo the clean because reservation #10 already checked in.
Edit the Cleaning Log
Edit the Cleaning Log

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Last Cleaned Report

This report is a simple printout with the unit name, the cleaner, and the date the unit was last cleaned.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Last Cleaned Report

Last Cleaned Report
Last Cleaned Report

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Cleaning Billing Report

This report is used to determine how much you need to pay the cleaners and for which units. You may enter specific dates so you can see what you owe for the week, the month, or any given time period. This report can be emailed, viewed and printed, or exported in Excel format.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Billing Report

Cleaning Billing Report
Cleaning Billing Report

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Cleaning Weekly Audit

The Cleaning Weekly Audit report provides a weekly snapshot of the cleaning costs broken down by the day. You can run this report for all cleaners or a specific cleaner for any time period. The result is a table with the name of the unit, dates, amount owed, and the totals for the week.

NOTE: While the Cleaning Audit Report Options allows you to enter a date range of more than a week, the resulting report provides data only for the seven days following the Start Date entered.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Weekly Audit

Report Options

  • Cleaner: Select “Any” or the name of a specific cleaner.
  • Start Date: The start date is really the only date you need to enter. The report provides data for up to seven days following this date.
  • End Date: The end date defaults to the seventh day after the start date. You may enter an end date of more than seven days, but the report only provides data up to seven days.
  • Options: Tick this box if you want to include units that have not been cleaned.
Cleaning Weekly Audit Report Options
Cleaning Weekly Audit Report Options

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Cleaning Weekly Audit
Cleaning Weekly Audit

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Cleaning Charge List

The Cleaning Charge List provides you with a snapshot of charges and fees for cleaning broken down by unit, stay type, and the payor. This report is printable and exportable in Excel format.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Charge List

Cleaning Charge List
Cleaning Charge List

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Cleaning Cost Analysis

The Cleaning Cost Analysis report gives you quick access to view what you paid for cleaning versus how much you charged for cleaning. You can view a year to date summary or select a date ranges. This report is printable.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Reports > Cleaning Cost Analysis

Report Options

  • Type: Select “Year to Date Summary” or “Date Range Detail.”
    • Year to Date Summary: This report gives you month by month cleans, cleaning cost, guest charges, owner paid, owner charges, and final cost.
    • Date Range Details: This report gives you the unit, reservation number, arrival and departure dates, guest name, cleaning cost, guest charges, owner paid, owner charges, and final cost.
  • Start Date: Enter the start date for the period you need information. Dates are ignored when you select the “Year to Date Summary.”
  • End Date: Enter the end date for the period you need information. Dates are ignored when you select the “Year to Date Summary.”
  • Sort By: “Unit” or “Arrival Date.”
Cleaning Cost Analysis Options
Cleaning Cost Analysis Options

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Cleaning Cost Analysis
Cleaning Cost Analysis Report

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Cleaning Cost Analysis
Cleaning Cost Analysis Report YTD

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Cleaning Reports2024-10-18T15:01:55-04:00

Housekeeping Setup

2024-09-26T10:41:20-04:00

Summary

Housekeeping is a vital part of the short term rental business. In this article, learn how to create a user account for housekeepers, create a housekeeper  contractor account, assign housekeepers to units, and enter cleaning rates. Follow all the steps below to add a housekeeper to your account.

Create a User Account

Housekeeper User Type

Like many property management companies, you want your housekeepers to be able to log in and see their assignments and mark the unit clean when they have completed their work. First, you must create a user account for them.

Navigate to: Setup > Users > Add

  1. Username: Enter the name of the housekeeper. Spaces are not allowed.
  2. Type: Select “Housekeeper” from the dropdown menu. The housekeeper designation limits the permissions and only allows this user to view housekeeping data.
  3. Password: Enter a password. For better security, the user should change this after they log in for the first time.
  4. Save
Create a Housekeeper User Account
Create a Housekeeper User Account

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Create a Contractor Account

Housekeepers

In the previous step, you created a user and assigned the type as “housekeeper.” Now you need to create a contractor record. This allows you to assign cleaning responsibilities to a particular user.

NOTE: The steps below include information you must have for BrightSide’s housekeeping to work effectively. In addition, we recommend that you complete as many of the other fields as possible.

Navigate to: Setup > Contractors > Add

  1. Name: Enter the first and last name of the housekeeper.
  2. Type: Select “Cleaning” from the dropdown menu. If this person has maintenance responsibilities also, you may select both “Cleaning” and “Maintenance.” By making both of these selections, this user will be able to access the maintenance area of BrightSide and receive maintenance related assignments.
  3. Email: Enter the user’s email address. You can send cleaning notices to this address.
  4. User: Select this person’s user account from the dropdown. This allows this person to log in and see their own schedule and assigned units only. IMPORTANT: If you do not select a user account here, this person has access to everyone’s schedule and assigned units, not just their own. Leave blank for cleaning managers who need to see  everything.
  5. Save
Create a Housekeeper Contractor Account
Create a Housekeeper Contractor Account

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Assign Unit Cleaners

Assignments

Now that you created user and contractor accounts for all your housekeepers, you may assign them to units. When you regularly assign a housekeeper to particular units, make those assignments here. If you randomly assign housekeepers to units, you may skip this step and manually assign them as needed.

Navigate to:  Cleaning > Unit Cleaners

  1. Select: Choose the housekeeper from the dropdown list. When the unit needs cleaning, it automatically shows up on their cleaning list.
  2. Save
Assign Unit Cleaners
Assign Unit Cleaners

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Unit Cleaning Costs & Charges

Costs & Charges

Usually, the cost (the amount paid to the housekeeper) varies depending on size and location. In order for BrightSide to correctly calculate your housekeeper’s pay, you need to enter what it cost for the unit to be cleaned.

You also need to enter the cleaning fee you want to charge the guests and/or owners.

NOTE: The housekeeper selected in the previous step (Assign Unit Cleaners), shows up in the unit’s “Cleaning” block. If needed, you may change it here and it will update the Unit Cleaners as well.

Navigate to:  Properties > Units > Select a Unit > Rates (tab)

Unit Cleaning (Costs)

  1. Cleaner: The housekeeper selected in “Unit Cleaners” is the default here. If you change it here, Unit Cleaners updates also.
  2. Cleaning Costs: Enter the amount you pay the cleaner for each type of stay. Circumstances may exist where you don’t pay the same amount for a particular stay type. For example, you may pay a lower amount for a maintenance block since it may not require a full cleaning.
  3. Charge Cleaning To: In most cases, select “Guest” since they usually pay the cleaning fee. Additional options include Nobody, Owner, and Management.
  4. Pay Cleaning to Owner: In rare circumstances, like when an owner always cleans their unit after a guest stay, you may want to pay the owner for cleaning. Tick this box and BrightSide automatically pays the cleaning fee to the owner.

Unit Charges

  1. Cleaning Fee: This is the amount you charge a guest for cleaning the unit after a guest stay. If you charge a standard cleaning fee for every unit, you may set up the default amount in Charges and Fees. When your cleaning fee varies by unit, enter the amount here.
  2. Owner Cleaning Charge: Enter the amount you charge an owner for cleaning the unit after an owner stay and an owner guest stay.
Unit Housekeeping Setup
Unit Housekeeping Setup

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Housekeeping Setup2024-09-26T10:41:20-04:00

Modify Cleaner Scheduling

2024-09-25T17:01:41-04:00

Summary

Under normal circumstances, housekeepers are assigned to a specific unit or units. When the unit needs to be cleaned it shows up on that cleaner’s daily cleaning list. On occasion, you may need to modify the assignment by giving it to another cleaner, or by changing the date it should be cleaned. To accomplish this, you must make changes in Cleaner Scheduling before it is cleaned.

Cleaner Scheduling

By default, a reservation is scheduled to be cleaned on the checkout date by the housekeeper assigned to that unit (if any). When the assigned cleaner or the cleaning date needs to be reassigned, you can modify it by going to “Cleaner Scheduling.” These assignment modifications only can be made in advance of the cleaning. If you need to change it after the fact, you must do it in the “Cleaning Log” report. Keeping it up to date ensures you pay the correct cleaner.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Cleaner Scheduling

  1. Start/End Dates: Enter the date range where you want to modify the cleaning schedule.
  2. Grayed Out Cleaners: When an entry is disabled (grayed out) it means it has already been marked clean and cannot be modified here. If the record needs to be corrected, due to an incorrect cleaner or cleaning date, you may change it by going to the Cleaning Log.
  3. Modify Date or Cleaner: Units that have not been marked clean, may be modified by changing the date it needs to be cleaned or by selecting a different cleaner from the dropdown.
  4. Print/Export: This list can be printed or exported to Excel via the buttons at the bottom.
Cleaner Scheduling
Cleaner Scheduling

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Ready to Clean

Now that you have assigned units to specific cleaners, housekeepers can log into their BrightSide accounts and see what they need to clean in the Unit Cleaning List.

Modify Cleaner Scheduling2024-09-25T17:01:41-04:00

Unit Cleaning List

2024-09-25T16:54:19-04:00

Summary

Units that need to be cleaned show up on the daily Unit Cleaning List. Housekeepers and front-desk staff can both view units that need to be cleaned. This is also the place where housekeepers mark the unit clean when they have finished cleaning.

Units stay on the cleaning list until it is marked Clean or Skip. BrightSide does not allow you to check in a guest if the unit remains in Dirty status. So if you are using the BrightSide cleaning features, it must be marked clean before the next guest can check in.

Unit Cleaning List

NOTE: Housekeepers assigned a username will see only their own assignments in the Unit Cleaning List when they login to BrightSide. Housekeeping managers can see everyone’s assignments.

Navigate to: Cleaning > Unit Cleaning List

  1. Unit: This is the name of the unit that needs to be cleaned.
  2. Status: Clean or Dirty
  3. Last Reservation: The reservation that is checking out.
  4. Next Reservation: The reservation that is checking in. By the guest’s name you see how many days before the next check-in. BTB is back to back (same day).
  5. Date Cleaned: If this is different than the expected clean date, modify it here.
  6. Cleaner: When someone other than the assigned cleaner completes the cleaning, change it here. This ensures the correct person is paid for the cleaning.
  7. Action: The cleaner or desk staff should mark it Clean or Skip. Skip cleaning should be marked only if it did not need cleaning after a maintenance block or something of that nature. If you mark one Clean or Skip by mistake, you may click Undo to return it to dirty status.
Unit Cleaning List
Unit Cleaning List

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Unit Cleaning List2024-09-25T16:54:19-04:00
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