Cleanliness is one of the most important factors guests consider when looking for a place to stay. According to LinkedIn, around 87% of people consider cleanliness above other factors when booking a short-term rental. Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness is essential for keeping and attracting guests.
One of the best ways to stay on top of your rental is with a vacation rental cleaning checklist. This blog will cover our top three steps to creating a rental property cleaning guidebook. This will keep your guests happy while improving your customer rating.
1. Identify Important Cleaning Areas
One of the easiest ways to get started on your vacation rental cleaning checklist is by breaking down your rental property into different sections. By taking this step, you can narrow down what actions need to take place in each area.
For example, you'll want to focus on disinfecting surfaces and restocking supplies in the bathroom. Linen management and dusting should be your top priorities in the bedroom. Create a framework for your cleaning checklist by first separating it into different zones.
2. Determine Your Cleaning Frequency
Each guest will leave behind different messes after their stay. There may be times when a light cleaning is needed. However, there may be scenarios where you need to conduct a more deep cleaning.
You'll still want to establish how often you perform deep cleanings in your rental units, even if you don't have a large mess to take care of. You'll want to perform routine cleanings after each stay, at the very least. You can choose to do deep cleaning on some of the following schedules:
- Biweekly
- Monthly
- Seasonally
Additionally, certain areas of your home may require a deep cleaning before other parts. For example, you might want to deep clean your kitchen appliances more often than you would your living room blinds. You also may want to consider deep cleaning your rental property more often during the busy seasons.
3. Organize and Create Your Checklist
As we mentioned earlier, we recommend breaking down your checklist by room. It's also good practice to start cleaning from the top down. This means starting with dusting or wiping down the highest surfaces while working your way down to the floor. Some of the areas you should pay attention to when writing your checklist include:
- Ceiling fans
- Window sills
- Light fixtures
- Light switches
- Remotes
- TV screens
Think about every surface you touch in your home. Add anything you can think of to your checklist.
Get Help Creating a Vacation Rental Cleaning Checklist in Gatlinburg
Creating a vacation rental cleaning checklist is important whether you're doing the cleaning yourself or outsourcing it to another company. Incorporating these cleaning routine ideas into how you run your short-term rental will ensure you have a successful rental turnover. You'll continually have a steady stream of high-quality renters on your property.
If you're looking for more guest preparation tips and assistance with running your short-term rental, PMI Smoky Mountains is here to assist. We offer a wide range of services for landlords, including property maintenance and cleaning. Reach out to our office to schedule a consultation in Gatlinburg.
