A turnover has one goal: the next guest walks into the flat they saw in your photos. That takes a fixed order of work and a list that doesn't rely on memory, because the thing that gets missed is always the thing nobody wrote down. Here's the checklist we'd start from. Adapt it to your property.
Before you start
- Open windows to air the flat
- Do a quick walk-through: anything broken, missing or left behind? Photograph it before you touch it
- Strip every bed that was slept in (and check the ones that weren't)
- Gather towels, bath mats and tea towels; bag the laundry
- Empty every bin, including the bathroom and bedroom ones
- Load the dishwasher, or start the washing up
Kitchen
- Clear the fridge of guest food; wipe the shelves and seals
- Clean the hob, splashback and extractor
- Wipe inside the microwave; check the oven and clean it if it's been used
- Descale or rinse the kettle; empty the toaster crumb tray
- Wash, dry and put away every dish, matching your inventory
- Wipe the worktops, cupboard fronts, handles and the sink; polish the taps
- Restock dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, a fresh sponge and cloths
- Sweep and mop the floor
Bathrooms
- Clean and disinfect the toilet, including the base, hinges and behind
- Clean the shower or bath, screen and tiles; clear hair from plugholes
- Clean the basin and polish taps and mirrors
- Check the extractor fan runs and the light works
- Restock toilet roll (leave at least two spare), soap and toiletries
- Lay out fresh towels and a clean bath mat
- Mop the floor last, working towards the door
Bedrooms
- Check mattress protectors and pillows for marks; change protectors if needed
- Make the beds with fresh linen, the same way every time
- Dust bedside tables, lamps, headboards and the tops of wardrobes
- Check under the beds and in drawers for left-behind items
- Leave hangers in the wardrobe, and spare blankets where the guide says they are
- Vacuum, including under the beds
Living areas and hall
- Plump and straighten cushions and throws; check the sofa for crumbs and stains
- Dust surfaces, shelves, the TV and remotes; wipe light switches and door handles
- Check the wifi card, house guide and safety folder are in place
- Clean glass, mirrors and any glass tables
- Vacuum and mop the floors, including the hall and entrance mat
Final checks
- Every light, plug-in and appliance works
- Heating and hot water set as you want them for arrival
- Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms show no warning lights or fault beeps (and report any to the host)
- Windows shut and locked, blinds or curtains as in your photos
- Welcome set up: tea, coffee, a note, whatever you leave
- A final look from the doorway: does it match the listing photos?
- Keys back in the key safe or with the host, and the door locked
After you lock up
Let the host know the flat is ready, ideally with photos of each room, and note anything that needs their attention: low stock, wear and tear, damage, maintenance or lost property. Platforms set time limits for damage claims, so same-day photos matter. Check the platform's own rules for the exact window.
What a turnover doesn't cover
A turnover is a race against check-in. Jobs that build up slowly need a periodic deep clean in a quiet gap: inside the oven and freezer, limescale and grout, behind and under furniture, skirtings and light fittings, windows and soft furnishings.
Want this done for you? See our turnover cleaning or get a quote.