Hard truth: your cleaner has more impact on your reviews than you do. Cleanliness is the most common cause of bad reviews, and a cleaner no-show on a same-day turnover is the self-manager's nightmare scenario. Treat this hire accordingly.
Never hire from an interview. Pay full rate for a test turnover, then inspect against your checklist yourself. Check the tells: under beds, inside microwave, shower corners, top of the fridge. Test two or three candidates — the difference will be obvious.
A written checklist, room by room, with photo verification: cleaner sends photos of each finished room (or completes them in your turnover app) before leaving. You inspect every turnover from your phone. This one habit is what makes remote and busy-owner self-management actually work.
Keep two vetted backup cleaners who've each done at least one paid turnover at your property. Your primary will get sick on a sold-out weekend. Plan for it now.
ACTION: Write your room-by-room cleaning checklist this week, including the photo requirements. You need it before you can vet anyone.
Next: the rest of the turnover machine — supplies, laundry, and damage checks.