How to Use the Guest-Ready Checklist
This is the "is it ready?" list: cleaning, restocking and setup. It is not an inspection. Damage, wear and things about to fail belong on the property inspection checklist, which you should run at the same visit.
Copy the list into a note your cleaner can tick off on a phone, or print it and keep a clipboard in the owner's closet. Add a line for anything unique to your home (a sauna, a bunk room, a boat lift). Date each finished checklist and keep it with a few photos of each room. If a guest later says something was missing, you will have a record.
A note on what you can ask of guests: Airbnb's ground rules say the cleaning fee is meant to cover standard cleaning between reservations (laundry, vacuuming and so on), and that hosts may not charge guests fees for not doing specific cleaning or checkout tasks (as of October 2026). Plan your turnover on the assumption that the house will need a full clean every time.
Entry and Arrival
- Driveway and walk clear. In winter: plowed, shoveled, and sanded or salted, including steps and the path to the door guests actually use.
- Exterior light at the entry working and on a timer or sensor.
- Smart lock or keypad battery checked; new guest code set and the previous code removed.
- House number visible from the road, day and night.
- Doormat down; boot tray and a place for wet gear in ski season.
- Welcome note or printed house manual in place, with the Wi-Fi name and password.
Kitchen
- Counters, stovetop, oven interior and microwave wiped.
- Fridge emptied of guest leftovers, shelves wiped, freezer checked.
- Dishwasher emptied; every dish, glass and pan clean and put away.
- Place settings for the full listed number of guests (plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, cutlery).
- Coffee maker clean and descaled if needed; filters stocked.
- Starter supplies: coffee, tea, salt, pepper, cooking oil, sugar.
- Dish soap, dishwasher detergent, sponge, dish towels, paper towels.
- Trash and recycling emptied, new bags in; instructions posted for your town's pickup day or transfer station.
Bedrooms
- Beds made with fresh linens; mattress protector clean.
- One pillow per guest at minimum, plus spares.
- Extra blanket in each room (a New England must from October to May).
- Closet with hangers; a luggage rack or clear surface.
- Under beds, drawers and nightstands checked for items left behind.
- Blackout shades or curtains working.
- Lamps working; a charging spot by the bed.
Bathrooms
- Toilet, sink, tub and shower cleaned; no hair in drains.
- Mirrors and glass streak-free.
- One bath towel per guest, plus hand towels and washcloths.
- Toilet paper: a roll in use and spares.
- Hand soap, shampoo, conditioner and body wash topped up.
- Hair dryer working.
- Bath mat clean; trash emptied.
Airbnb lists toilet paper, soap for hands and body, one towel per guest, one pillow per guest and linens for each bed as essential amenities it strongly encourages hosts to provide. If your listing says "Essentials," these must be there.
Living Areas
- Floors vacuumed and mopped; rugs vacuumed.
- Cushions fluffed, throws folded.
- TV and streaming working; remote batteries checked; you are logged out of any guest's accounts.
- Wi-Fi tested from the farthest bedroom.
- Fireplace or wood stove: ash removed (into a metal can outside), screen in place, firewood stocked only if your rules allow fires.
- Board games, books and puzzles complete and tidy.
Laundry and Utility
- Washer and dryer empty; lint trap cleared.
- Laundry detergent available if guests may use the machines.
- Thermostat set to the arrival setting; in winter, never below your freeze-safe minimum.
- Heating fuel checked: oil or propane level above your refill point.
Safety, Every Turnover
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms present and not removed or covered.
- Fire extinguisher in place and visibly charged.
- In Massachusetts: the posting inside the unit showing where the fire extinguishers, gas shut-off valves, fire exits and fire alarms are (required by state law for short-term rentals).
- In Vermont: the state Short-Term Rental Checklist left in an obvious, visible place, as the Division of Fire Safety asks of operators renting to eight or fewer people.
- First aid kit stocked.
- Emergency info posted: address, nearest hospital, local non-emergency number, your contact.
Our insurance and safety guide covers the state alarm rules in detail.
Outdoor, by Season
- Summer and lake season: deck furniture wiped, grill cleaned and fuel checked, life jackets in the right sizes if you provide boats, kayaks and paddles counted, outdoor shower clean.
- Fall: leaves off steps and deck (wet leaves are slippery), outdoor furniture stored by late fall if you are not using it.
- Winter: ice melt and a shovel by the door, roof edges checked for icicles over the entry, hot tub cover locked and water tested if you have one.
- Mud season: extra mats inside the door, gravel driveway checked for ruts.
Final Walk-Through Before Arrival
- Every light switched off, every faucet off, every window closed and locked.
- Thermostat at arrival temperature.
- Photos taken of each room as left.
- Lock set and tested from outside.
- Message sent to the guest, through the platform, that the home is ready (or let your scheduled message go out).
For a printable list of the small items guests notice most, see our Airbnb cleaning checklist items. If you are still at the setup stage, start with the owner launch checklist.
When to Hand It Off
Turnovers are the most time-sensitive job in hosting: one checkout and one check-in on the same day, sometimes in a snowstorm. New England Host Co does housekeeping after every stay through local crews it engages and manages, with an inspection at the same visit. See how the cleaning and turnover service works, or start with the Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb in New England hub.
FAQ
How Long Does a Turnover Take?
It depends on the size of the home, the number of guests and the season. Time your first few turnovers with this checklist and plan the gap between checkout and check-in from that, with extra time in winter.
Should I Make Guests Strip the Beds or Start the Laundry?
You can ask, but Airbnb's ground rules say the cleaning fee covers standard cleaning between reservations, including laundry, and hosts may not charge fees for checkout tasks guests skip. Keep checkout asks simple: lights off, trash out, doors locked.
What Does a Massachusetts Short-Term Rental Have to Post Inside?
State law requires operators to post inside the unit where the fire extinguishers, gas shut-off valves, fire exits and fire alarms are in the unit and building.
Do I Need to Restock Food for Guests?
No, but basics such as coffee, salt, pepper and cooking oil are a small cost that guests notice. List exactly what you provide so nobody is disappointed.
