A changeover is complete when the property is ready for the next guest and the responsible people know it. Booking a cleaner is one task within that process. Laundry, access, maintenance, guest information and outstanding issues also need a clear handover.
This checklist is a starting point for holiday lets, serviced apartments and a small property portfolio. Adapt it to the property, your service agreements and the equipment you use. It is an operational planning guide, not a replacement for the relevant inspection or maintenance requirements.
Before the departing guest leaves
Check the current booking record, the agreed checkout time and any approved changes. Make sure the guest receives the same instructions that appear in the property. Airbnb’s checkout guidance emphasises clear expectations and straightforward departure information.
Confirm who is assigned to the turnaround, how they will enter and which tasks are included. Share only the information each provider needs to do their work. If a maintenance issue has already been reported, make it visible in the handover instead of hoping the next team will discover it again.
Give each task a clear finish
| Area | What to confirm | Completion evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Guest departure | The booking status and agreed checkout arrangements | Updated stay record or agreed confirmation |
| Access | Guest and local-team access follows the agreed windows | Relevant access status checked |
| Cleaning | The property’s agreed room-by-room tasks are complete | Assigned provider records completion and exceptions |
| Laundry | Used items collected and required clean linen available | Linen task confirmed against the property’s list |
| Maintenance | New and existing issues reach the responsible provider | Issue owner and next action recorded |
| Information | Welcome, Wi-Fi and stay details are current | Guest-facing details checked |
| Readiness | Someone has responsibility for the final decision | Property marked ready, or the blocker escalated |
Use the same meaning for each status across the team. “Assigned”, “in progress” and “ready” should describe different stages. If a task cannot be completed, the record should show what remains and who is handling it.
Keep laundry separate from general cleaning
Decide what stock should be available for the next stay and how shortages are reported. Link collection and delivery to the turnaround window. A clean room with missing linen still needs action, so avoid hiding the laundry task inside a single broad “done” button.
The useful level of detail depends on the property and provider. A short agreed checklist is easier to maintain than an elaborate system nobody uses consistently.
Route maintenance to the right person
Distinguish a routine supply task from a reported electrical, gas or plumbing issue. Record the location, observed problem and next action without expecting a cleaner or guest to diagnose or repair equipment.
Arrange appropriate providers for the work and keep their responsibilities clear. Agree how urgent issues are escalated and who decides whether the property can receive the next guest. The platform can help coordinate information; it does not replace the people responsible for the work.
Review energy and welcome settings
Where supported controls are part of your setup, check that the property follows its agreed between-stay and arrival rules. Those rules should account for the equipment and the property rather than simply turning everything off indiscriminately.
Update the guest-facing information at the right point. A connected welcome display can form part of that workflow, while permanent guest information signs should still contain accurate details.
Close the loop across properties
For a portfolio, use a consistent task structure with property-specific instructions. Keep the address, access arrangements, provider assignment and due time visible in the correct record. Review exceptions rather than relying on a stream of separate messages.
Signaki’s Guest Experience and Property Automation service connects local cleaning and laundry coordination with booking, access and property updates. Local coverage, integrations and responsibilities are agreed for the actual locations.
Send your property list and current changeover process to discuss a setup that gives you a clearer view of each stay.