Why Should You Use a Standard Property Appearance Checklist for Your Rental?

Setting the tone for the rest of their stay is critical for vacation rental clients, and wowing them the moment they walk through the door is an essential part of that. A Standard Property Appearance (SPA) document is an excellent resource for cleaning or housekeeping professionals who prepare your rental property for the next set of guests to ensure that they know how to make those special finishing touches that make the difference between a so-so and a five-star guest experience.

Consider how you would feel as a guest and how you would like to be treated. For example, finding vases of fresh flowers in the entrance hall, shiny floors, counters, utensils, and dishes arranged neatly, freshly chopped firewood stacked in the fireplace, or high-quality toiletries in the bathrooms.

How you would like to be treated as a guest is a good indication of how you should treat your guests. For instance, finding vases of fresh flowers in the entrance hall, shiny floors, and counters, neatly stacked utensils and dishes, freshly chopped firewood in the fireplace, or high-quality toiletries in the bathrooms.

A Standard Property Appearance (SPA) checklist establishes the specific actions required in each room to meet your appearance standards. This document is typically a written or printed list of the appearance standards you expect from housekeepers, cleaners, or cleaning companies that prepare your vacation rental property for the next set of guests. Everyone is on the same page, and no information is lost in translation by using a SPA checklist. It is preferable if it is more detailed.

Including photos of each room in the house showing how the linen should be folded or the kitchen appliances arranged, for example, may be beneficial.

What makes Standard Property Appearance guides necessary?

It's accurate to say that SPA is not required if you're not dealing with a legal document. However, SPAs have become popular in hotels and the vacation rental business as a means to standardize and organize the cleaning of your property.

Having only one rental, you may find it more accessible, in the long run, to have this kind of document as a reference when informing a new cleaner or housekeeping squad for the first time. It establishes consistency in quality standards, signals professionalism, and minimizes the chance of miscommunications.

What should be included in your SPA?

Every vacation rental property's SPA will have a unique checklist or guest house rules. Your appearance guidelines will be based on your style and preferences and the kind of vacation rental you own. For example, if you own a luxurious vacation rental, the SPA will probably include additional information than the housekeeping guidelines for a conventional rental property.

In addition to our FREE Standard Property Appearance template, you can use our post on interior design trends for Airbnb hosts to help you create your custom SPA. Certainly, one size does not fit all, but the SPA can be used as a framework for some of the things described in our post below. If you'd like some inspiration for renovating your rental's interior, you may also want to read our previous post about the latest interior design trends.

Provide a Warm Welcome

Your guests' first impression of your house will be made in this room, so ensure the housekeeping staff pays extra attention to it. It is now essential to impress. Therefore pay attention to light, fresh air, and the appropriate temperature, in addition to lovely extras such as freshly cut flowers or a welcome book.

Make yourself at home in the living room - that's the rule.

The point is to replenish your guests with comfort beyond anything they could experience at home. Your guests should picture themselves sitting on your sofa, sipping a glass of wine, and watching a movie, or they should feel free to build a fire or open the patio or balcony doors and let in some fresh air. Housekeepers can do this by stacking wood next to the fireplace, inviting guests to make a fire on cold evenings, or inviting guests outside during the summer.

Be sure to tell the housekeeper to throw away old magazines and newspapers and store any games, DVDs, or other paraphernalia. It is necessary to keep clutter to a minimum to maintain a comfortable temperature when guests arrive and ensure that the room is aired. In other words, set the air conditioner to a comfortable temperature when guests arrive.

The kitchen is the Home's heart, and these are the Rules

Preparing food with friends and family in the kitchen makes for such an inviting environment. A well-organized, gleaming kitchen with quality equipment is the perfect setting for a family gathering. For example, a recipe stand with some contemporary cookbooks might be an excellent addition.

It is suggested that cleaning supplies should be stored safely and neatly, out of the reach of young children and pets, and that used sponges or towels, for example, should be thrown away and replaced with new ones. For example, you might tell the cleaning company or household worker to replace broken plates or glasses and keep their cutlery in the drawers where it is organized. Furthermore, you might ask them to leave a welcoming gift basket or package stocked with local delicacies for your visitors on the kitchen table, along with a welcome message.

Guarantee the Best Night's Sleep

Having a lie-in and a great night's sleep are two essential aspects of housekeeping finesse to ensure a wonderful vacation. Therefore, specify precisely how the beds should be made, what type of linen should be used, how many pillows are to be used, and how to fold additional blankets to ensure the housekeeper knows what is expected.

It's crucial to ensure the blinds are open when your guests first arrive to avoid having the temperature either too hot or too cold. Keep clutter to a minimum.

Keeping the toilet clean and simple is the key to success

The condition of the toilet reveals all you need to know about a property's standards. You may establish how the towels should be arranged, how toilet paper should be dispensed, and how toiletries should be refilled and cleaned.

Information about guest sign rules – Make sure the message gets across

In addition to ensuring that the air conditioner and hot tub are correctly functioning, you can instruct your housekeeper to ensure that instruction signs for guest use are in the right place and to inform you when they need to be replaced.

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