Cleanliness is the single biggest driver of Airbnb ratings. Here's the turnover playbook our short-term-rental hosts swear by.
Airbnb's own data shows cleanliness is the #1 ranked category in guest reviews. If your average cleanliness rating slips below 4.8, your listing's visibility drops. Here's what we do on every turnover for our short-term-rental hosts in Old City, Fishtown, and Cherry Hill.
The non-negotiables
- Hospital corners on every bed. Guests notice.
- Linens swapped, never just re-made.
- Towels stacked spa-style, not folded flat.
- Trash and recycling fully emptied and re-lined.
- Welcome tray restocked — coffee, tea, water, snacks.
The 'guest's first 30 seconds' rule
Most reviews are decided in the first 30 seconds a guest is in your space. The smell, the lighting, the surface they touch first — that's where to over-invest. We diffuse a neutral citrus scent, leave a single light on a timer, and make sure the entry counter is empty and spotless.
Photo confirmation matters
We send hosts a photo report after every turnover so you can catch issues before the next guest arrives — burnt-out bulbs, low supplies, a missing remote. It's the cheapest insurance against a 4-star review you can't undo.
Same-day turnovers
Tight checkout-to-check-in windows are the hardest part of hosting. Our Airbnb crews work in two-person teams to keep turnovers under 90 minutes for studios and one-bedrooms, and we can guarantee a hard arrival time. If you host across multiple units, ask about our route-stacking discount.
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