Vacation Rental Turnover Checklist

A vacation rental turnover is the work between one guest leaving and the next arriving — and a good checklist keeps it from becoming a scramble. Use this as a starting point, adapt it to your properties, and tick each item as you go. It covers departure, cleaning room by room, inventory, maintenance, safety and the final readiness check.

One principle runs through it: a task being done is not the same as the unit being ready. The final readiness inspection exists so that “ready” always means the required work is complete, the evidence is there, and no issue is left open.

Guest departure

Confirm the guest has actually checked out and the unit is vacantCheck for late checkout or an extended stay before dispatching a cleanerCollect or reset access — keys, codes, smart locksNote anything the guest reported on the way out

Initial inspection

Walk the unit and record its condition before cleaning startsPhotograph any damage or unusual wearFlag anything that needs maintenance, not just cleaningCheck for forgotten guest belongings

Cleaning — bathroom

Scrub and disinfect toilet, sink, shower and bathDescale taps, glass and shower screensReplace towels and bath matsRestock toilet paper, soap and toiletriesEmpty bins and replace liners

Cleaning — bedroom

Strip and remake beds with fresh linenCheck mattress and pillows for stains or damageDust surfaces, lamps and skirtingVacuum floors and under the bedCheck wardrobe, drawers and hangers

Cleaning — kitchen

Clean counters, sink, hob and splashbacksEmpty and wipe the fridge; discard leftover foodRun and empty the dishwasher; put away crockeryCheck kettle, coffee machine, microwave and ovenEmpty bins and reset recycling

Inventory & restocking

Count crockery, glasses, cutlery and cookwareRestock consumables — coffee, tea, dishwasher tabs, cleaning suppliesReplace welcome items and amenitiesConfirm linen and towel par levels for the next stay

Maintenance

Test lights, switches and socketsCheck heating, air conditioning and hot waterTest Wi-Fi and the TVConfirm any reported fault has been repaired and verified — not just reported

Safety

Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarmsConfirm the fire extinguisher and any safety equipment are presentCheck window and door locksVerify the first-aid kit and emergency information

Final readiness inspection

Walk the unit as if you were the arriving guestConfirm every required task is complete with evidenceConfirm no blocking issue remains openOnly now mark the unit ready for arrival

Guest arrival

Confirm access details are ready to shareSet heating or cooling to a comfortable levelSend check-in instructionsBe reachable in case the guest reports an issue

Turn the checklist into a repeatable workflow

A printed checklist helps one cleaner in one unit. Across a portfolio, the harder part is coordination: knowing which unit is at which stage, whether a reported repair was actually verified, and whether the unit is genuinely ready before the next guest arrives. Ergexo can turn this checklist into a repeatable operational workflow — with assignments, evidence, inspections and a verified readiness state — so nothing depends on remembering it. You can keep using the list as-is; the software is there when coordination becomes the bottleneck.