What is a Vacation Rental Checklist?

A vacation rental checklist is a tool used by property managers and owners in listing to verify the availability of properties and that they are clean, well-maintained, fully stocked, and ready for guest occupancy. The checklist covers essential processes including verifying the availability of supplies, inspecting the condition of the property, and maintaining safety and quality standards.

Importance

Having processes in place to maintain and clean your vacation rental properties before and after guests occupy them is a must to ensure safety and quality service. Also, it helps streamline the process of checking and maintaining the stocks and supplies in your vacation rentals.

Using this tool also allows you to spot areas you need to repair, replace, or remove to improve guest experience and satisfaction during their stay. Some areas might need quick fixes and cleaning, but others might need deep cleaning and major repairs that involve professional help. Overlooking these things might jeopardize the quality of your service and cost you more in the long run.

3 Major Aspects to Check During a Vacation Rental Home Inspection

Focusing on crucial areas like the functionality of essential living spaces, the overall condition of the property, and the quality of exterior and guest amenities can greatly enhance guest satisfaction while protecting your investment. When conducting a vacation rental home inspection, these three key aspects should be your primary focus.

Cleaning and Maintenance

When renting out a vacation home or property, it’s important to keep it clean and in good condition. In this aspect, creating and using a dedicated vacation rental cleaning checklist is encouraged. For housekeeping, make sure to sweep and mop the floors, clean the bathrooms, and vacuum the carpets. It’s also a must to stock up on supplies like toilet paper, paper towels, and dishwashing detergent.

For maintenance, check the smoke detectors, change the air filters, and test the plumbing and electrical systems. If any issues arise, be sure to address them as quickly as possible. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your vacation rental home is clean and in good condition for your guests.

Vacation Rental Inventory

A vacation rental inventory checklist comes in handy for this aspect. You may dedicate a separate cabinet or storage room for paper products, cleaning supplies, and other household items. You can also assign a specific person to take charge of regularly restocking essentials in your vacation rental property.

Rental Listing

It’s also a must to ensure that your vacation rental listing is met when the guests arrive at your property for their stay. After doing renovations, repairs, and maintenance tasks on your property, make sure that these are reflected in your listing to help inform your potential guests what they should expect.

What to Include in a Vacation Rental Checklist

Vacation Rental Checklist Sample Report | Mitti (by SafetyCulture)

Make sure your vacation rental checklist form has the following sections and elements to ensure a comprehensive walkthrough and inspection:

• Title Page – The first page of your checklist must include the date of the inspection, the name of the inspector, the name of the vacation rental property, and its location.

• General Home Area – Before proceeding with the specific areas, do a general check of the property, including walls, lights, Heating, Ventilation, and Airconditioning (HVAC) system, and doors.

• Bathrooms – Check essential supplies found in bathrooms to see their quality and quantity. Also, verify if all equipment is in good working order.

• Bedrooms – Inspect the condition of bed linens, clothes hangers, and lights. See if there are enough spare supplies.

• Kitchen – Verify if kitchen equipment and appliances are working properly and free from scratches. Check if cutlery, plates, and other eating necessities are complete.

• Laundry Area – See if there are spare towels available, the floors are free from damage and slip hazards, and appliances are readily available for use.

• Dining Room – Ensure that the dining table and chairs are working and safe to use.

• Living Room – Double-check if all electronics are in working order as designed and if all furniture is free from damage.

• Exterior – This includes the pool area and patio. Check if outdoor furniture and equipment are working and if there are sufficient supplies.

• Health and Safety – Do a thorough check on the property if it’s disinfected, it has working smoke detectors and alarms, and it has an available fire extinguisher.

• Additional Notes – For any other observations, recommendations, and findings, use this space for additional notes, photo documentation, and needed actions.