What to Ask Guests to Do at Checkout (and What Not To)

That Cleaning Girl · Airbnb & Rental Turnovers

Checkout instructions are a small thing with a big effect on turnovers. A few simple requests can save real time on cleaning day. A long list of chores, though, annoys guests and can show up in reviews. Your owner’s closet handles the supply side, as we covered in How to Set Up an Owner’s Closet for Faster Turnovers. Checkout instructions handle the guest side.

Here is what we suggest to hosts around Waxahachie, Midlothian and the south DFW area, based on what actually helps us on turnover day.

Keep the list short

Guests are paying for a stay, not a cleaning job. A checkout list should take a few minutes at most. A good rule is no more than five simple requests. Anything that feels like real cleaning, like mopping, stripping beds or scrubbing the kitchen, belongs to the turnover, not the guest.

Short lists also get followed more often. A guest who sees fifteen items may skip them all. A guest who sees four will usually do them.

Requests that actually help

These are the checkout requests that save the most time on turnovers without asking much of guests:

• Start the dishwasher with any dirty dishes inside
• Put used towels in the tub or a labeled basket
• Take out trash if bins are full, using the outdoor can
• Turn off lights and set the thermostat to a given setting
• Lock the doors and send a quick message when you leave

That last one is especially useful. A checkout message tells your cleaner they can start, which can buy back time on a same-day turnover.

What not to ask

Some requests feel reasonable to hosts but frustrate guests, and they rarely save much time anyway:

• Stripping the beds, which can actually slow turnovers if sheets end up in a pile with towels
• Vacuuming or mopping
• Washing and drying linens
• Cleaning the bathrooms
• Wiping down every surface in the kitchen

Guests who do these things often do them partly, and the cleaner has to redo them anyway. It is better to let the turnover handle the cleaning and keep the guest list light.

A few house rules that help during the stay

Some of the most helpful instructions are not about checkout at all. They are about how guests treat the house during the stay. Mention them in your house rules or welcome book:

• Where to leave muddy shoes, especially after a rain
• No food in the bedrooms, if you prefer
• Using the dark towels for the hot tub, pool or makeup removal
• Keeping pets off the beds, if your rental is pet-friendly
• Using the squeegee in the shower, if you want to fight hard water spots

Clear rules during the stay mean a lighter turnover at the end. Keep the welcome book short too. Guests skim, so put the few rules that matter most at the top.

How to word it

Tone matters. A checkout list that sounds friendly gets followed. One that sounds like a list of demands gets ignored. Try something like: "Before you head out, we would love your help with a few small things." Then list the items. Thank guests for staying and wish them safe travels.

Avoid threats about fees in the checkout instructions. If you have fees for excessive messes, put them in your house rules, not the friendly goodbye.

Sending it at the right time

Send checkout instructions the evening before checkout, through your booking app’s scheduled messages. Include the checkout time, the short list and a request to message when they leave. Post the same list on the inside of the front door or on the kitchen counter, so guests see it on their way out.

If guests check out early, ask them to let you know. Pass that on to your cleaner right away so they can start early if they are available.

What to do when guests skip it

Some guests will not follow the list. That is normal. A turnover still handles everything; the checkout list just makes it go a bit faster. If a guest leaves a real mess, like a party, heavy damage or trash everywhere, that is different. Take photos and report it through the booking platform. A forgotten dishwasher is not worth a fight. Most guests who skip the list simply forgot, or were rushing to catch a flight out of DFW. A friendly reminder message the night before catches most of them.

Light list, smooth turnover

The best checkout instructions are short, friendly and focused on the few things that actually help. Leave the cleaning to your turnover. To see how we run turnovers for hosts, visit our vacation rental cleaning page.