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The Ultimate Holiday Home Changeover Checklist
Falmouth Cleaning & Property Management
The devil is in the detail!
It's no secret that a clean holiday home, means happy guests when they first walk in. And as we know, first impressions count....a lot! Below you have our holiday home checklist, to help with your own changeover clean. The key thing to remember is that with a holiday in Cornwall costing the same as a holiday abroad in a hotel, guests expect things to be perfect. And so they should, this might be their only holiday of the year!
The first thing we always do is read any new reviews in the guestbook. Have your guests mentioned anything that wasn't to their liking of could have been better?
Do a visual check of the property for any damage, stains, missing items or if the home was left excessively dirty. Take photos as evidence, you may need it at a later date if you are deducting from a security deposit. We always send these images straight to the property owners as a rule of thumb. Most lettings companies (including Airbnb) will only help you to retain the deposit if damage is reported within 24-48 hours from check out.
Next its time to get started!
Cleaning the Kitchen - This is where your guests will start off their day. The cleanliness of a kitchen is so important! You want your guests to enjoy being on holiday, so really focus on this room.
- Wipe down worktops, sink, units, chairs, tables and baby high chair equipment.
- Clean all the white goods (oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee machine) and check they are working. Hard to clean items such as the oven and BBQ should be tackled early on during the changeover, as you may need to apply a cleaning fluid and leave it to soak while you get on with other tasks.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
- Organise cupboards.
- Restock washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, bin bags, dishcloths and replenish hand soap.
- Put out 2 clean tea towels.
- Empty bins and disinfect.
- Wipe place mats and coasters.
- Empty the kettle of any old water.
- Check cutlery, pots, pans, crockery, glassware and utensils for grime, breakages or chips.
Cleaning the Living Room - Your guests are going to spend lots of time chilling in this room after a busy day exploring. You want to make sure it is as comfortable as possible for them.
- Dust and wipe over all the surfaces – furniture, blinds, picture frames, shelves, window sills, skirting boards, ornaments, lamps (don't forget their wires) and get rid of glass rings.
- Vacuum furniture, including under the sofa cushions.
- Remove any cobwebs.
- Clean windows and any internal glass doors.
- Empty the waste paper basket.
- Check remotes and batteries for all electronic devices.
- Clean the wood burning stove, replenish logs and build a new fire for your next guests.
- Throw out any surplus or old magazines.
- Floors should be one of the last jobs on your list. If you’ve got solid wood or tiled flooring, then sweeping, mopping or steaming is a relatively quick job. You can almost finish up on your way out the door!
Bathrooms - It's amazing what you can spot when you're sat on the loo, or lying in the bath. Take a moment to have a look at the surroundings from your guest's perspective.
- Remove left over toiletries. (You might think its a nice touch to leave these for your guests, but it ruins the mystique of staying in a holiday home.)
- Empty bin.
- Wipe down units and countertop.
- Clean shower, bath, sink (use grout cleaner and an old toothbrush if needed).
- Remove any plughole debris.
- Check silicone for mould/pink stains.
- Clean mirror.
- Shine taps.
- Clean toilet and be sure to leave a blue or green toilet cleaner product in the bowl.
- Change the bath mat.
- Mop floor.
- Restock liquid hand soap, toiletries and toilet paper.
- Supply clean fresh towels.
- Double check the plumbing for leaks or potential problems.
Bedrooms
- Stripping and making the beds should be one of the first tasks, especially if you have to wash the linen while you get on with other jobs. It is a good plan to have at least three sets of sheets and towels. Preferably Egyptian cotton. This can add quite a lot of stress to the changeover process, so many of our clients opt to rent linen from us.
- White linen is best as it can all be washed together and its easy to visually check that its totally clean.
- Check for wear and tear or stains on linen, mattress covers, throws and pillows.
- Check under the bed and in drawers for personal belongings left by guests.
- Vacuum the floor and under beds.
- Dust furniture, clean mirrors and windows.
- Always check the bed side tables - trust us when we say, we have found all sorts in here!
Exterior - The outside of your holiday home are as important as the inside, your guest want and expect the full package!
- Wipe down all outdoor furniture.
- Check for dog muck if you are pet-friendly holiday home - no one wants to stand in that!
- Clean the BBQ - If you're providing one which the holiday home, guests expect this to be clean and ready to use.
- Make sure paths are clean and not slippy.
- If you have a hot tub check the water, chemicals and that it’s working properly. Don’t forget to inspect the cover for damage. Follow the relevant health and safety checks (you can find out more with your supplier). However, it’s a good idea to outsource maintenance to qualified professionals.
- Has the grass been cut? This is instant and really easy gardening that can make a property look cared for or neglected. We offer grass cutting and gardening services to all of our properties.
Utility Room - Its always worth checking in here as your previous guests may have left some clothes or placed their old towels in the washing machine.
- Is the washing machine and dryer empty?
- Clean out the dryer fluff trap - this is a fire hazard!
- If your dryer is a condensing unit, check the water draw is empty.
- Wipe around all the seals.
- Check there are enough pegs for guest to hang out their clothes.
- Check the clothes airer and ironing board work.
- Check the iron is working and empty of any water.
- Restock washing machine detergent.
Is everything working? Check the following -
- Heating/hot water
- Wi-Fi - Trust us, this is one of the worst things for guests not to have!
- Light bulbs - Keep spare ones
- TV remote control
- DVD remote control
- AC (if you have it)
- Safe Open and usable
Other areas
- Check the guest information folder is intact, correct and up to date.
- Leave the welcome pack if the guests are due to arrive soon. It’s a good idea to make up welcome packs beforehand, so you’re not running around buying gifts at the last minute.
- Before you leave the property check external doors and windows are locked.
- Always check your key safe works. Leave the key and change the key code after each visit as it is likely to be a requirement of your holiday letting insurance.
- Ensure the lighting and heating are on to welcome imminent guests (depending on the season). You never get a second chance to make a first impression, we live by this mantra.
Safety checks - These are legal requirements, never skimp on these!
- It’s important to ensure that your property not only looks perfect but is also safe for guests. Check furniture is suitable to use and look for trip hazards. In addition to Portable Alliance Testing (PAT), visually check your electrical appliances are safe to use. Look out for cuts in wires and any other signs of damage. Replace faulty items immediately, never wait for a problem to occur.
- It is also vital that you test all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working - press and wait for the beep! Check the fire extinguisher and fire blanket can be located easily.
Instructions for guests
Do the same for your holiday let guests. Make sure the arrival and departure times are clear in the booking contract, or you could be in for a nasty surprise when you come to do a quick turnaround clean and find them still packing, or eating breakfast!
Asking your guests to do certain things before they depart could save you a lot of time in the long run.
For example:
Leave used towels in the bathtub.
Empty the bins and remove any opened and perishable food.
Wash and put away any dirty dishes or load the dishwasher.
Turn off the lights.
Close windows and lock the doors.
Leave the key in a
certain place.
Preventing wear and tear
A stringent changeover plan not only reduces wear and tear, it also impresses your guests and prevents complaints that your rental is dirty. You are going to have a lot of human traffic through your property. A deep clean will be required at least three times a year, plus you will have to prepare your property for spring and winter with this maintenance checklist. Use this opportunity to replace any items that show damage or signs of wear and tear.
If you are shutting down your holiday home over winter, keep an eye out as we will be posting another checklist of what you will need to do to keep your holiday home in tip top condition.
Deep cleaning tips for holiday rentals
Providing a safe and clean property has always been one of the highest priorities for holiday let owners and managers. It’s now more important than ever to re-evaluate your cleaning procedures and take measures to clean and disinfect your rental as we aim to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. There are some ‘coronavirus cleansing’ tips to protect your cleaners and guests coming in our next blog.
To summarise
A structured changeover checklist allows you or your housekeeper to tackle the cleaning with military precision. Plus, if you ever need replacement cleaner they will have all the information they need to ensure the property is spotless for incoming guests.
Please help other holiday cottage owners by sharing your changeover tips in the comments below.
Holiday Home Management: Choosing the right service for your property.
So you're letting your holiday cottage, and you are met with the question - "Do I allow dogs?". Let us answer that question with a statistic from QualityTourism.com that "72% of dog owners would take more holidays in the UK if there was a better attitude to dogs". Interesting, isn't it! Furthermore, "77% of dog owners earn over £40k per year" meaning they are more likely to be able to take multiple holidays each year. Now first things first, remember that most dogs wont be the size of our boy pictured above! Secondly, in our experience most well behaved dogs are not difficult to clean up after. In fact, in some cases they are easier than the aftermath of having young children staying! But you do need to set ground rules, let your guests know what is expected of them if they want to bring their dog with them on holiday.
Coronavirus: Deep Cleaning Tips for Holiday Rentals - The "do's & dont's"
How will coronavirus impact on managing a holiday home changeover?