Airbnb Turnover Checklist: What to Do Between Every Guest

When we first started hosting our Airbnb, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when it came to turnovers between guests.

There was an extra layer of uncertainty, too, because we didn’t live nearby. In fact, we lived over 2.5 hours away from the property, which meant I couldn’t simply drive over if something went wrong. Because of that, I knew we needed a turnover system we could trust.

For the first year of hosting, we worked with an independent short-term rental cleaner. For a while, it worked well. She genuinely cared about the house, and we could count on her to get the job done.

That said, our process wasn’t exactly streamlined.

We didn’t have a backup cleaner, and we relied on text messages to communicate schedule changes. Nothing was automated, and she didn’t have access to a calendar that synced with our bookings. We were also a bit lax when it came to inventory management and reordering supplies.

About a year into hosting, things started to feel overwhelming. We realized that if we wanted to continue hosting successfully, we needed more efficient and reliable systems.

That’s when we switched to Turno, an official Airbnb software partner that allows local cleaners to bid on turnover projects. The platform automatically syncs with Airbnb, Vrbo, and other major booking platforms. This is great because the app handles all scheduling, payments, messaging, and turnover management.

From a host perspective, the calendar syncing and automated scheduling have been game changers. We no longer have to worry about manually coordinating every turnover.

Our second Airbnb has been a little different because it’s within walking distance of our primary residence. We still use Turno and many of the same systems, but our management style naturally looks different because the property is nearby.

All of this has taught me that there’s more than one way to manage Airbnb turnovers. Every property, host, and situation is different.

One thing I believe every host needs, though, is a repeatable Airbnb turnover checklist.

Having a documented process has made preparing our properties between guests so much easier. It helps us stay organized, ensures guests have a consistent experience, and gives us confidence that nothing important gets overlooked.

Today, I’m sharing the step-by-step Airbnb turnover checklist we use between every guest stay.

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Why Every Host Needs an Airbnb Turnover Checklist

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an Airbnb host is that systems reduce stress.

When we first started hosting, it was tempting to think we could just remember everything that needed to be done between guests. After all, how hard could it be to make sure the house was cleaned and ready for the next arrival?

As it turns out, there are a lot of little details involved in a turnover. Refill the coffee. Restock the toilet paper. Check the batteries in the smart lock. Make sure there are enough towels. Verify that everything is functioning properly.

Individually, none of these tasks are difficult. The challenge is remembering all of them every single time.

A turnover checklist helps:

• Create a consistent guest experience
• Reduce mistakes and forgotten tasks
• Simplify same-day turnovers
• Make it easier to delegate cleaning responsibilities
• Improve cleanliness and organization

This is important whether you’re managing a remote Airbnb like we were or handling turnovers yourself.

Even if you’re the only person involved in managing the property, having everything written down is incredibly helpful. Trust me, after a busy week or a late-night guest checkout, you won’t want to rely on memory alone.

Step 1: Walk Through the Property

Before any cleaning starts, we do a quick walkthrough of the entire property.

If you’re using a cleaning service, this is something your cleaner can do as well.

The goal is simply to identify any issues before the turnover begins.

During this walkthrough, we:

• Check for damage
• Look for missing items
• Collect belongings left behind
• Make note of maintenance issues
• Confirm appliances are functioning properly

This doesn’t have to be a lengthy inspection. Most of the time, everything is perfectly fine and the walkthrough only takes a few minutes.

That said, every once in a while you’ll find something that needs attention before the next guest arrives.

Maybe a lamp has stopped working, a kitchen item is missing, or a guest accidentally damaged a piece of furniture.

Catching these issues early helps prevent surprises later. It also creates a clear timeline if you need to report damage through Airbnb.

For example, if a cleaner notices a broken chair immediately after checkout, it’s much easier to determine which reservation the damage occurred during. If you wait several turnovers before noticing the issue, it becomes nearly impossible to know which guest was responsible.

For that reason alone, I think a quick walkthrough is one of the most important parts of any Airbnb turnover checklist.

Step 2: Start Laundry Immediately

If there’s one step I wouldn’t skip, it’s this one: start the laundry immediately.

Laundry almost always takes the longest out of all the turnover tasks, so getting it started right away helps everything else run more efficiently.

Depending on the stay, we typically wash:

• Bed sheets
• Pillowcases
• Quilts and blankets (as needed)
• Towels
• Washcloths
• Kitchen towels

One thing that has helped tremendously is keeping backup linens on hand.

Instead of waiting for laundry to finish before making the beds, we can immediately put fresh linens on and continue working through the rest of the turnover checklist. This has been one of the biggest time savers for us, especially when preparing the property for a same-day check-in.

Personally, I recommend having one or two backup sheet sets per bed. While it may be tempting to stockpile linens, I’ve found that having too many sets can actually make things harder. It becomes more difficult to keep track of which sheets are being used, whether a set has developed stains, or if something needs to be replaced.

I’d rather have one or two high-quality backup sets that I know are in good condition than a closet full of mismatched linens.

We’ve also tried to make turnovers easier by including a few simple checkout instructions for guests.

For example, we ask guests to start a load of towels before they leave. Not everyone does it, and that’s perfectly fine, but when they do, it gives us or our cleaners a small head start.

We also ask guests to leave the beds unmade.

This may sound counterintuitive, but it actually serves a few purposes. First, it allows us to quickly see which beds were used during the stay. Second, it helps us keep track of which bedding belongs to which room, which is especially helpful when your property has multiple bed sizes.

These small adjustments might not seem like a big deal, but they can make turnovers noticeably faster and more efficient over time.

Step 3: Clean and Reset the Bedrooms

The bedrooms are one of the first spaces guests see, and a clean, comfortable bedroom can have a huge impact on their overall experience.

Our bedroom turnover checklist includes:

• Check under beds for forgotten items
• Check nightstands for phone chargers and remotes
• Make beds with fresh linens
• Fluff pillows
• Dust surfaces and vacuum floors
• Empty trash cans
• Clean mirrors
• Inspect lamps and light bulbs
• Restock extra blankets

One thing I always try to do is step back and look at the room as if I were arriving as a guest. Does it feel clean and inviting? Is there anything that looks out of place?

I’ve found that guests tend to notice the details. A neatly made bed, fluffed pillows, and a tidy nightstand can make a room feel much more welcoming.

Step 4: Clean and Restock the Bathrooms

Bathrooms are probably one of the most important spaces when it comes to guest reviews.

Even a beautifully decorated Airbnb won’t leave a good impression if the bathroom isn’t spotless.

Our bathroom turnover checklist includes:

• Clean toilets
• Clean sinks and countertops
• Clean mirrors
• Clean showers and tubs
• Replace towels
• Refill hand soap as needed
• Restock toilet paper as needed
• Empty trash cans
• Check hair dryers and other guest amenities

Before moving on, I always do one final visual check to make sure everything feels fresh, clean, and organized.

This is also a good time to make sure guests have enough supplies for their stay. Running out of toilet paper is a quick way to turn an otherwise great guest experience into an unnecessary inconvenience.

Step 5: Clean and Reset the Kitchen

The kitchen is another area where guests tend to notice details.

We always make sure the kitchen is fully cleaned, organized, and ready for the next guest to use.

Our kitchen turnover checklist includes:

• Run the dishwasher if needed
• Empty and wipe down the refrigerator
• Clean countertops
• Clean the sink
• Wipe down appliances
• Refill coffee supplies
• Refill paper towels
• Refill sponges, dish soap, hand soap, and dishwasher pods as needed
• Empty trash cans

We also take inventory of any guest supplies that may need restocking.

Personally, I prefer guests to arrive to an empty refrigerator. We’ll keep a Brita pitcher and unopened bottles of water available, but anything else that has been left behind gets removed.

The pantry is a little different. We’ll typically leave basic spices and unopened snacks, but anything that’s already been opened gets thrown away during the turnover.

Everyone handles this differently, but I think guests appreciate knowing that the kitchen has been thoroughly reset between stays.

Step 6: Refresh Living Areas

Once the major cleaning tasks are finished, we move into the living spaces.

This step is mostly about making the property feel welcoming and guest-ready.

Our living area checklist includes:

• Vacuuming or sweeping floors
• Dusting surfaces
• Fluffing decorative pillows
• Folding throw blankets
• Checking remote controls
• Confirming the TV is functioning properly
• Straightening furniture and decor

Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference.

A folded blanket, neatly arranged pillows, or a clutter-free coffee table can make a space feel much more polished.

We also keep reed diffusers or air diffusers throughout the house because I think scent plays a bigger role in the guest experience than many hosts realize. A clean-smelling home immediately creates a positive first impression.

Step 7: Restock Guest Supplies

This is one of those steps that’s easy to overlook if you don’t have a checklist.

We keep a dedicated supply area so it’s easy to see what’s running low and what needs to be reordered.

Items we regularly restock include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Trash bags
• Dish soap
• Hand soap
• Dishwasher pods
• Laundry pods
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Travel toothbrushes

Having extra supplies on hand has saved us countless trips to the store over the years.

To make things easier, we purchase many of these items in bulk through Costco or Amazon so we’re not constantly running out of essentials.

Step 8: Do a Final Guest Walkthrough

Before every check-in, we do one final walkthrough. This is when everything comes together.

I walk through the property as if I’m seeing it for the first time and ask myself a few simple questions:

• Would I be happy walking into this space?
• Does everything feel clean?
• Is anything missing?
• Does the property feel welcoming?

This final check helps catch little things that are easy to miss when you’ve been focused on cleaning and restocking for hours.

Sometimes it’s as simple as a lamp being unplugged, a remote being misplaced, or a throw pillow needing to be straightened.

Most of the time, everything is exactly as it should be. But those few extra minutes provide peace of mind and help ensure the next guest walks into a property that’s truly ready for their stay.

Bonus Tip: Create a Turnover Checklist Your Cleaner Can Access

I’ve found that having a documented turnover checklist becomes even more important when you’re working with a cleaner.

No matter how great your cleaner is, they can’t read your mind. Having clear expectations helps ensure the property is turned over consistently between every guest stay.

Since we use Turno to manage our cleanings, I’ve created a checklist directly within the app that every cleaner can reference before and during a turnover. This allows them to know exactly what I’m expecting and reduces the need for constant back-and-forth communication.

Many of our cleaners also send before and after photos once they’ve completed the turnover. I really appreciate this for two reasons.

First, it creates accountability and gives me confidence that everything was completed properly.

Second, it provides a record of what the property looked like before the next guest arrived. If a guest later reports damage or a missing item, those photos can be incredibly helpful.

Our turnover checklist is fairly simple and focuses on the tasks that need to be completed before every guest arrives.

Our Cleaner Expectations

• Immediately notify the host of any damage, maintenance issues, or concerns.
• Turn over both beds with fresh linens.
• Wash dishes and unload the dishwasher.
• Clean both bathrooms and replace towels.
• Restock guest supplies as needed, including toilet paper, paper towels, dishwasher tablets, and laundry detergent.
• Wipe down kitchen counters and return appliances to their designated locations.
• Vacuum floors throughout.
• Remove all trash.

The exact details of your checklist will depend on your property and hosting style, but the goal is the same: create a repeatable process that ensures every guest walks into a clean, fully stocked, and welcoming space.

The more clearly you define your expectations, the easier it becomes to maintain consistency across every turnover.

I recommend reviewing your checklist a few times per year. We’ve added items over time as we’ve encountered guest questions, forgotten tasks, or maintenance issues. Your turnover checklist should evolve as you learn what works best for your property.

Things We’ve Learned the Hard Way

After hosting for several years and managing multiple properties, there are a few lessons we’ve learned that make turnovers much easier.

Have Backup Linens

Extra sheet sets are worth every penny.

Waiting for laundry to finish during a turnover creates unnecessary stress, especially if you’re working with a tight timeline or a same-day check-in.

Having backup linens allows you or your cleaner to make the beds immediately and keep moving through the turnover checklist. It also provides a backup plan if a sheet gets stained or damaged unexpectedly.

Create Dedicated Storage Areas

Keeping supplies organized makes restocking much faster.

We try to keep all of our guest supplies in one designated area so cleaners know exactly where to find what they need. It also makes it easy to see when inventory is running low and needs to be reordered.

Nothing is more frustrating than knowing you have extra paper towels somewhere but not being able to find them during a turnover.

Write Everything Down

Even if you think you’ll remember.

You won’t.

There are simply too many moving pieces involved in hosting to rely on memory alone. A written checklist creates consistency and helps ensure every guest receives the same experience.

It also makes it much easier to onboard new cleaners or temporarily hand responsibilities off to someone else if needed.

Systems Matter More Than Memory

This is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned as a host.

When we first started hosting, many of our processes lived in our heads. Over time, we’ve moved more and more of those processes into documented systems.

The result has been fewer mistakes, less stress, and a much smoother experience for both us and our guests.

The more systems we’ve created, the easier hosting has become.

Final Thoughts

One of the biggest misconceptions about Airbnb hosting is that success comes from beautiful decor alone.

While design certainly matters, many of the things guests appreciate most happen behind the scenes.

A clean space, a fully stocked kitchen, fresh linens, and a smooth arrival experience all start with having a reliable turnover system.

Our Airbnb turnover checklist helps us stay organized, reduce stress, and create a consistent experience for every guest who walks through the door.

Whether you’re managing a property remotely, handling turnovers yourself, or working with a cleaning team, having a documented process can make hosting significantly easier.

If you’re just getting started with hosting, my advice is simple: create a checklist sooner rather than later.

Future you will be grateful you did.