01
Set the physical and presentation baseline
Begin with condition, cleanliness, repairs, furniture, linen, lighting and the items a guest will use. Record defects and complete work that affects safety, function or the accuracy of the listing. Photography should represent the prepared property, not an aspirational version that will not be delivered.
Define what ‘ready’ means for each room. A checklist can cover beds, bathrooms, kitchen items, heating, windows, outdoor areas and visible damage. The standard should be specific enough that another person can inspect it consistently.
02
Test access and house systems
Walk through arrival without relying on knowledge only the owner has. Test keys or access devices, exterior lighting, parking instructions, Wi-Fi, heating, hot water, major appliances and the location of safety information. Remove instructions that are ambiguous or require the guest to guess.
Protect access details. Do not put door codes in public listing content or ordinary enquiry emails. Deliver booking-specific access information through the controlled confirmation and arrival process.
03
Create inventory, supplies and turnover standards
List the items that must be present, their expected quantity and when they are replenished or replaced. This can include linen, towels, kitchenware, consumables and property-specific equipment. Separate included guest items from owner storage so responsibilities are clear.
Run a complete turnover rehearsal and record how long it takes, what must be checked and who resolves an exception before the next arrival. A booking gap is not evidence that the property is ready; an inspected reset is.
04
Agree maintenance and owner decisions
Name the contacts for urgent and routine maintenance, define approval limits and decide what happens when a supplier cannot attend in time. Keep evidence of the issue, decision and completion without exposing guest or access information unnecessarily.
Review the preparation plan after the first stays. Guest questions, turnover findings and maintenance records can reveal where instructions, inventory or responsibilities need correction. Improvements should update the standard rather than depend on memory.