Airbnb inspection & turnover checklist
Airbnb and short-term-rental turnovers combine two jobs: prove the unit was left clean and ready, and document any damage from the departing guest before the next one arrives. Guests remember when a listing is spotless; hosts remember when a damaged item goes uncontested because there was no dated photo. This checklist runs the full turnover in the order a professional cleaner or host actually walks the unit.
Who it's for
Airbnb, VRBO, and short-term-rental hosts running one to fifty units, cleaning companies serving STR portfolios, and property managers standardizing turnover proof across cleaners.
Key facts
- Cleaner-to-host handoff format
- Photo proof of clean state + any damage
- Consumables restock counted
- Guest-ready PDF for owner reports and disputes
The full checklist
- 1Guest checkout walkthrough
Photograph the unit before touching anything. This is the damage baseline for the departing stay.
- 2Damage documentation
Any stains, breakage, missing items, smoke evidence, or excess mess — photograph with wide + close-up shots and note in the step.
- 3Strip beds and linens
Count sheets and towels. Note any staining or damage before laundering.
- 4Kitchen reset
Empty dishwasher, wipe counters, clean cooktop and inside oven, check fridge for guest leftovers, sanitize sink.
- 5Kitchen restock
Coffee, tea, oil, salt, dish soap, sponge, trash bags — count and photograph the restocked shelf.
- 6Bathroom deep clean
Toilet inside and out, tub and shower, grout, mirror streak-free, drain hair, restock toilet paper and toiletries.
- 7Bedroom reset
Fresh linens, tight hospital corners, decorative pillows placed, nightstands wiped, lamps working.
- 8Floor care
Vacuum all soft surfaces, mop hard floors, note any new scratches or stains.
- 9Living area
Cushions plumped, remote controls placed and batteries fresh, HDMI cables tucked, decor styled.
- 10Trash and recycling
Every bin emptied, fresh liner installed. Exterior bins moved to the correct location.
- 11Consumables audit
Toilet paper (min 2 rolls per bath), paper towels, hand soap, dish soap, coffee, tea, laundry pods if provided.
- 12Amenity check
Wi-Fi working (speed test), TV powers on, thermostat set to arrival temp, smart lock code rotated.
- 13Exterior touchup
Entry mat clean, patio or balcony tidy, outdoor cushions positioned, grill cleaned if included.
- 14Final walk photo set
Wide shot of every room in the finished state — this is the 'guest-ready' baseline photo for the incoming stay.
- 15Report to host / owner
Share the DoneTrace packet with the host or owner. Any damage notes are already in the PDF.
Pro tips
- Guest-ready photos serve double duty: they prove your clean and can auto-populate listing photos if the unit is styled.
- Rotate smart-lock codes on every turnover — DoneTrace can hold the checklist step for it.
- Keep the cleaner's phone-camera photos in the same run so evidence and handoff live together.
Frequently asked
Should the cleaner or the host run this checklist?⌄
Whoever walks the unit last before the next guest. Most STR operations have the cleaner run it and share the packet with the host automatically.
How does this help with damage claims?⌄
Airbnb's AirCover and VRBO's damage protection both require dated photo evidence of pre- and post-stay condition. This checklist produces that evidence in one packet per stay.
Can I customize the consumables list?⌄
Yes. The DoneTrace builder lets you edit any step, add stops between steps, or remove ones you don't provide.
Run this checklist in DoneTrace
Every step is a photo-backed proof point. Get an audit-ready PDF the moment you finish.