Whether it’s some grease on the cooktop or crumbs on the floor, a guest checking into a unit that doesn’t meet their standards can cause major headaches. What starts as a complaint can snowball into a bigger issue, resulting in a negative review and even a drop in rankings on online travel agencies (OTAs).
Cleanliness is one of the most important factors for guests in determining the value of an Airbnb*, and review scores related to cleanliness play a significant role in the success of a short-term rental unit.**
But chances are you’re not cleaning your properties yourself—you’re either using a third-party cleaning company or your own team of cleaners. Even if you trust your staff, how can you be sure they’re covering all the bases with each turnover?
That’s where cleaning checklists can help. We’re here to explain the value of using a vacation rental cleaning checklist, plus give you a checklist template that you can use for your turnovers (be sure to download the PDF). We’ll also outline how you can manage your short-term rental turnovers better by using specialized cleaning operations software.
Want more 5-star reviews? |
While you may trust your team or the cleaning staff you always use, multiple turnovers in a day means little details can slip through the cracks. A stain on the bathmat or a smudge on the mirror may not ruin a guest’s stay, but they can certainly impact reviews and your reputation.
By using a vacation rental cleaning checklist, you can ensure your properties meet guest expectations without having to show up and inspect your units yourself. Here are some of the numerous benefits of using checklists for your short-term rental turnovers:
Using a digital cleaning checklist helps you ensure the quality of each of your turnovers, especially when your staff can upload photos of their work.
Let’s get right to the good stuff: The checklist. Use this checklist to guide your cleaners and help ensure your properties are always guest-ready—but remember, every property is unique. So while you can use this checklist as a guide, you should definitely customize it based on the specific characteristics of your units.
For your convenience, you can download the PDF to share with your cleaners or transfer over to a digital checklist.
The cleanliness of your kitchen will leave a big impression on guests, which is why you need it to be spotless for every stay. Aside from these checklist items, be sure to include any other tasks your cleaners have to complete depending on the property (such as cleaning a coffee maker or emptying crumbs from the toaster).
At the end of the day, your guests want a clean place to store their clothes and a comfortable bed to sleep on. Ensure the cleanliness of your units’ bedrooms by paying attention to the details, like cleaning the insides of drawers and checking the closet for items left by previous guests.
A guest finding just one hair in the bathroom sink can drop their review down a star or two, so have your cleaners pay close attention to detail when cleaning your bathrooms. Additionally, don’t forget to have your staff replace and restock any supplies or toiletries, such as toilet paper and hand soap, between each stay.
Whether it’s a popcorn kernel between the couch cushions or dust on the coffee table, your guests will notice the little details that slip through the cracks if you cleaners aren’t thorough enough. While you don’t need to conduct a deep cleaning of your living room after every stay, be sure staff clean and disinfect every surface—that may mean they need to polish wooden cabinets and dust off ceiling fan blades.
The front of your house is the first impression of a property for guests, so your cleaning process should include tidying up your outdoor spaces. That includes porches, patios, and decks. Also be sure to schedule in regular maintenance and cleans if you have a pool or hot tub.
Want more 5-star reviews? |
Having a comprehensive checklist is just part of the solution to running smooth turnover operations. The key is using vacation rental cleaning software that helps you share these checklists, track task status, carry out quality control on your turnovers, and manage your inventory.
Breezeway, for example, lets you create customizable checklists you can share with cleaners. You get notified when tasks are completed, and staff can upload photos of their job so you can ensure quality cleans without having to show up at the property to inspect them.
Additionally, Breezeway’s inventory tracking features mean your cleaning supplies and guest amenities are always well-stocked. Your supply levels are automatically updated when cleaning tasks are completed, and you can monitor stock via an inventory management dashboard.
Cleaners never show up to a property just to find there’s no glass cleaner or vacuum filters, and you never run into a situation where you realize two hours before a guest is set to arrive that there’s no laundry detergent or toilet paper left.
Breezeway’s inventory dashboard ensures you never run out of cleaning products right before a turnover.
By using a standardized checklist, you can feel at ease knowing your properties are always ready for your next guest. They give your staff clear guidelines on what they need to do to prepare for each check-in, and there’s no confusion over which tasks are required for turnover cleans and which fall under the scope of deep cleans.
To make your checklists even more practical, create customizable digital checklists with housekeeping management software like Breezeway. Your cleaners can easily access them via the mobile app, and you get updates with photo uploads to ensure your property is up to guest standards.
Plus, Breezeway’s dashboard gives you an overview of your turnover schedules, task status, and cleaning supply inventory, helping you smoothly manage housekeeping operations even as you add more properties to your portfolio.
Want more 5-star reviews? |
By using short-term rental management software, you can automate your turnover processes, even while you scale your business. That’s because a specialized housekeeping management tool like Breezeway comes with features that take manual tasks, like creating cleaning schedules and coordinating staff, off your hands.
When you automate these tasks, it’s easy to add properties to your portfolio without creating more work for yourself. This software also helps ensure all your properties meet guest standards with customizable cleaning checklists and photo uploads, no matter how many units you operate.