A short-term rental turnover resets a property between guests: linens, kitchens, bathrooms, floors, trash, restocking and staging to match your listing, plus reporting damage or missing items with photos. Choose a company with reliable scheduling and a backup plan, agree on a written checklist, and settle who handles linens and supplies before the first booking.
Last updated
A short-term rental turnover is a cleaning job with a deadline. Between checkout and the next check-in, a cleaner has a few hours to reset the property to a consistent standard, spot problems, and report back. Reliability and communication matter as much as cleaning skill, because a missed turnover can mean a bad review or a refund.
What a turnover usually includes
- Stripping beds, washing or swapping linens and towels, and remaking beds to your standard
- Full kitchen and bathroom cleaning, including dishes, inside the microwave and refrigerator, and trash removal
- Dusting, vacuuming and mopping throughout
- Restocking consumables such as toilet paper, soap, coffee and paper towels from your supply
- Staging the space to match your listing photos
- Checking for damage, missing items or anything left behind, and reporting it with photos
Linens: decide who handles them
Some companies launder on-site, some take linens off-site, and some expect the host to keep spare sets. On-site laundry adds time to each turnover. Many hosts keep at least two or three full sets per bed so a fresh set is always ready. Make sure the arrangement and any per-set fee are in writing.
Set clear standards
- Write a checklist room by room, with photos of how beds, towels and amenities should look.
- Decide how the cleaner reports issues, such as a group chat, app or property-management platform, and how fast.
- Agree on what happens with same-day turnovers, late checkouts and early check-ins.
- Plan periodic deep cleans on top of turnovers, since quick resets don't reach everything.
Scheduling and backup
Ask how the company receives your booking calendar, whether it syncs with your platform, and who covers a turnover if the regular cleaner is sick. Big events can bring busy weekends in Atlanta, and turnover capacity tends to tighten when many hosts book at once. Ask about weekend, holiday and same-day rates.
Local rules
Several Metro Atlanta jurisdictions regulate short-term rentals. The City of Atlanta, for example, requires short-term rental operators to obtain a license, and other cities and counties have their own rules or restrictions. HOAs and condo associations may also limit rentals. Check current requirements with your city or county before listing.
Insurance and access
- Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance. Ask whether the company is bonded.
- Use smart locks or lockboxes with codes you can change, rather than handing out permanent keys.
- Check your own short-term rental or homeowner's policy for what it covers when vendors are on site.
Questions to ask
- Is pricing per turnover, and does it vary with the number of beds and baths?
- Who supplies cleaning products, and who buys guest consumables?
- How do you document and report damage or missing items?
- What is your backup plan if a cleaner can't make it?
Need a turnover partner? Request a short-term rental cleaning company and tell us about your property.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Airbnb turnover take?
It depends on the size of the property, how guests left it, and whether laundry is done on-site. Ask the company for a typical time for your property and build realistic gaps between checkout and check-in.
Who supplies linens and consumables?
Arrangements vary. Many hosts own the linens and supplies, while some companies offer linen service for a fee. Put the arrangement in writing, including who restocks and how they're reimbursed.
Do I need a license to run a short-term rental in Atlanta?
The City of Atlanta requires short-term rental operators to obtain a license, and other Metro Atlanta cities and counties have their own rules. Check current requirements with your local government and any HOA.