I have been working with my housekeeper for about a year and a half. In our initial verbal contract she agreed to schedule cleanings on the check out date. As time has gone on, especially in our slower season,  she has not cleaned at check out but closer to the date that the next guest checks in. Unfortunately I am 1400 miles away and cannot keep on top of it. but, I have had enough experience with her that when I do have a last minute booking I find myself calling, texting, and emailing her until she confirms that the house was cleaned.  This is NOT acceptable for sure. It makes me miserable.

My last last minute guest arrived to a very clean house... cleaned by the previous guests. Since I couldn't reach my housekeeper to confirm that it was clean, I called the guest to make sure everything was ok. She said the house was beautiful and clean and then she said, "would it be ok if we throw the towels on the floor in the washer?" I then knew that my housekeeper hadn't been there. My housekeeper called me the next morning with a list of excuses. She went over to the house and changed the sheets and put out fresh towels. I got lucky as the guests never complained and they loved the place in spite of it not being cleaned. I sent them a refund. My cleaner didn't charge me for the cleaning.

I would have thought that after the previous incident that she would have changed her scheduling but nope. I have confronted her again and insist that I need her cleaning scheduled for check out dates. She says she needs flexibility.  The problem is that her flexibility leads to procrastination. I feel she needs to regain my trust and then she can have flexibility.

I would like to find a second housekeeper and I am working on it. Our island is small and finding vacation rental cleaners is hard. Not to mention the word gets around quickly.  Any suggestions for a solution?