A turnover checklist isn’t a wall of items. It’s a sequence — a path through the unit that finishes in the right place (front door, lights off, smart lock armed) without crossing your own footprints.

Here’s the path we run.

Step 0 — Damage walk (5 minutes, before anything is touched)

Every photo timestamped. Every flagged item written down. If the guest broke something, we want it documented before we clean the evidence away.

Bedroom (per bedroom)

Strip linen (sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover) into a sealed laundry bag.
Mattress and pillow visual inspection — stain audit, retire-or-launder decision.
Fresh linen on. Hospital-corner sheets. Even drape on duvets. Pillow plump.
Bedside surfaces — wipe, water glass placement, charging cable coiled.
Wardrobe — empty, hangers reset, drawers reset.
Dust horizontal surfaces top-down (shelves → headboard → skirting).
Vacuum, then microfibre-mop hard floors.

Bathroom (per bathroom)

Toilet brush, descale rim, polish seat hinges.
Shower glass restore (squeegee + finish wipe — zero water spots).
Mirror polish (zero streaks at 45°).
Drain hair sweep.
Tap, shower head, drain cover polished.
Bath mat refresh (clean or fresh).
Towel set: bath, hand, face — folded with logo or label outward if branded.
Toiletries restocked.

Kitchen

Empty dishwasher, run a hot cycle if needed.
Hand-wash anything dishwasher-unsafe.
Wipe inside microwave, kettle exterior, toaster.
Stovetop deep-wipe (induction polish).
Inside fridge: discard expired, wipe shelves, organise.
Cabinet fronts top-to-bottom.
Restock: coffee, tea, sugar, water, dishwasher pods.
Bin: empty, sanitise, fresh liner.

Living room

Cushions plumped and corner-aligned.
Remote controls cleaned, batteries checked, placed visibly.
TV screen polished (lint-free).
Coffee table cleared, wiped, restyled.
Dust top-down: shelves, frames, lamps.
Vacuum, then mop.

Entrance, balcony, finish line

Balcony glass and railing wiped.
Balcony floor swept.
Entrance mat shaken or replaced.
Light fittings on, check every bulb (replace from van stock if needed).
AC set to 22°C and remote in obvious place.
Smart-lock test — confirm guest code active.
Final walk-through: open every door, scan every surface, listen for drips.
Photo report (5-8 photos) sent to host before leaving.

The reason we leave the photo report at step 37, not 30

Because lights and finishes are last to be tweaked. The photo is your check that the unit is exactly how guests will see it walking in — not how it looked mid-way through the clean.

Want this in PDF for your own crew? Get in touch.

The Holiday Home Turnover Checklist We Use on 1,000+ Dubai Properties