The Ultimate Guest Changeover Checklist | Downloadable Checklist

Whether you run a single short term let or multiple serviced apartment buildings, guest changeover days often feel like a military operation. In the summer this is even more true, as it’s usually one guest in, one guest out. Back to back bookings can make changeover days stressful and difficult. The last thing you want is a bad review, or complaint, from a guest about the level of cleanliness in the property. Luckily for you we’ve created this helpful and free, downloadable guest checklist.

Hire professional cleaning staff

Firstly, you’ll need to decide if you’re going to hire a team of professional cleaners. Cleaning the property yourself can save money. You can write a cleaning checklist so you know what needs to get done, or you can download our free guest changeover checklist which we’ve linked later on in this blog. Cleaning the properties yourself can add a lot of pressure and stress to your already busy workload. If you manage multiple properties, cleaning everything yourself will just not be possible.

Take the time to find a local and reliable professional cleaner. Read reviews of their services and make sure they’ll be a good fit for you and your property/properties. They’ll have relevant experience and may even be experienced in cleaning short term rentals with a quick turn around. Once you’ve decide on a cleaning team, you could get them to use your cleaning checklist, or the downloadable checklist, but it would be beneficial to use property management software. This will help you to manage them. We recently wrote a blog post about this topic, so have a read of that to find one that works well for you.

The Ultimate Guest Changeover Checklist

Having a checklist that you can tick off can save you time. For a quick changeover it’s even more important as you’ll have limited time to get the property ready for your next guest. We’ve put together a helpful downloadable guest changeover checklist, but we’ve also summarised the most important parts below for you:

General:

It’s good to have a general reminder of chores to complete throughout every room you are cleaning. Checking all the light switched work and that the light bulbs aren’t broken will go a long way to keeping your guests happy. Making sure plug sockets are working and aren’t damage too will be useful. Checking all windows and doors open and close correctly and aren’t damaged will help to keep your guests feel safe when they stay in your property. Remember to check all the bins, you never know which ones your guests will use. Remove the rubbish and replace with new bin liners. It’s also important to check things like the Wi-Fi, TV remotes and hot water all work correctly, as these can really hinder the guests experience.

Bedrooms:

The bedrooms are arguably the most important rooms for your guests during their stay. The first thing you should do is strip all the beds and throw the bedding in the washing machine. That way you can get on with other tasks whilst this is happening. Always make sure to check under the beds and inside wardrobes and drawers for any items that were left behind. Dusting furniture will help to remove dirt and can be cleaned up by sweeping of vacuuming the floor.

Kitchen:

In the kitchen it’s good to check that taps run and the drains aren’t blocked. Guests can often clean out plates in the sink and small bits of food can build up in the drains which can become a problem. It’s also worth checking the fridge and cupboards for any left over food. Remember to leave new tea towels out and restock any cleaning supplies.

Bathrooms:

Bathrooms can be the longest to clean so make sure you allocate a good amount of time for them. Remove any leftover toiletries, and if you provide some, replace them. Check that the water pressure is good, this is something guests can complain about a lot. Always check for mould and plumbing leaks.

Lounge:

Make sure to dust and wipe down all the surfaces in the lounge. Remove any cobwebs and check that the blinds and/or curtains open and close correctly. If you have a guest handbook, make sure it has been correctly placed, and that pages aren’t ripped or missing.

Outdoor areas:

If you property has an outdoor space remember to wipe down any outdoor furniture. Remove fallen leaves to make it look more presentable, and clear pathways so they aren’t slippery. It’s also important to check that the front and back doors lock and unlock correctly.

Whilst this is a summary of what to remember to clean during changeover days, you can download our free checklist here so that you never have to think about it again! And if you want to not think about the utility bills for your property, Resooma can bundle all the bills across your entire portfolio and condense them down into one single monthly payment. To find out more about how Resooma can help your property business, click here.