In our recent ELEVATE webinar, we explored the vital role of inspections in driving operational success and maximizing property readiness. Industry pros Annette Grant (Thanks for Visiting), Dylan Bozarth (30A Escapes), and Fernando Molina (South Padre Trips) shared invaluable strategies to optimize inspections for efficiency and guest satisfaction. While we covered a lot, there were still some questions we couldn’t address live. Here, we’re excited to share those unanswered questions along with our panelists’ advice, as well as top takeaways from the session.

Key takeaways

• Maximize efficiency by adding additional tasks to your inspector’s responsibilities to keep costs in check.
• Clear expectations are crucial—outline the inspector’s role thoroughly for success.
• On busy turnover days, send inspectors in while cleaners are still working to get a head start, then have them return post-clean to ensure the property is guest-ready.
• Prioritize inspections smartly by asking guests when they’ll arrive. For later check-ins, extend your inspection window to maximize flexibility.

If you missed the webinar or want to watch it again, you can catch the recording. Don’t miss our next ELEVATE webinar on November 21, covering Strengthening Owner Relations.

Additional Q&A from the webinar

How do guest services and inspectors coordinate for early check-ins?

Bozarth mentioned that, whenever possible, they avoid early check-ins without an inspection. However, using Breezeway allows their Front Desk team to notify inspectors of any early check-ins. This way, the inspection team can prioritize those homes and ensure full visibility across teams during high-turnover days.

What kind of training programs do you use to improve attention to detail?

Bozarth shared the importance of checklists, property-specific notes, and requiring photo documentation to ensure consistency. Molina emphasized structured training and checklists, alongside their “follow the wall” technique to methodically cover all areas of a home.

What other roles/tasks do you have for your full-time inspectors?

The panel unanimously agreed that when inspectors aren’t actively inspecting a property, they can assist with tasks like managing linens, handling laundry, and responding to guest requests. They can also act as runners for inventory needs or any missing items in a property. With the right training, some inspectors can even serve as greeters, welcoming arriving guests and enhancing the guest experience.

Do you charge owners for inspections?

Neither Bozarth nor Molina currently charges owners for inspections, as these are considered essential to their service. However, deep cleans, maintenance checks, and other specific inspections are included in their service packages.

How in-depth are your inspection templates?

Bozarth explained that 30A Escapes uses templates as guidelines rather than exhaustive lists. Rather than itemizing every detail, they focus on training inspectors to recognize what a guest-ready property looks like. However, they leverage Breezeway's property profile to capture each property's unique requirements, ensuring that every home receives the attention needed to highlight its distinctive features.

Is hiring an inspector necessary for a small business with only one property?

An audience member shared that they manage a single property located 45 minutes from their home and wondered if hiring a separate inspector would be worth the cost, given its impact on profits. Grant recommends hiring an inspector first and foremost. But, she noted that for smaller operations that choose not to hire an inspector, a cleaner could handle inspections by using a separate checklist to clearly distinguish cleaning tasks from inspection duties. However, for more in-depth tasks like safety checklists, enlisting an inspector could be beneficial.

Does Breezeway pull data directly from PMS systems, or do home details need to be added manually?

Breezeway pulls basic property information directly from our PMS partners, but for optimal use, you’ll want to customize each home’s profile within Breezeway by adding specific elements. This allows you to create checklists that are tailored to each property’s unique needs. Bozarth agrees that building out these elements is essential! Though they didn’t start using this feature until their second year on the platform, they now consider it indispensable. For Bozarth’s team, Breezeway serves as a comprehensive record of all property-related activities—offering details beyond what their PMS provides.

The most common question during the webinar was how to handle peak turnover days when many properties need inspections.

Panelists advised starting inspections while cleaners are still on-site, allowing inspectors to return afterward to ensure a property is guest-ready. Additionally, knowing guests’ arrival times allows flexible prioritization.

The enthusiasm during this webinar highlighted the crucial role inspections play in operations. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out, and we’ll gladly continue the conversation on inspections. And, be sure to follow Thanks for Visiting as they have a great YouTube video on inspections, which will be released in November!