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Category: Operations & Cleaning
By: Michael Thompson
Reply by David Okafor:
I run 3-hour windows and it works, but ONLY because I have systems in place: **Minimum viable gaps by property size:** - Studio/1BR: 3 hours is comfortable - 2BR: 3.5-4 hours recommended - 3BR+: 4-5 hours minimum **What makes a 3-hour window work:** 1. **Laundry service** — no waiting for wash/dry cycles 2. **Pre-staged supplies** — everything the cleaner needs is already at the property 3. **Solo-purpose cleaner** — they're dedicated to your property, not juggling other clients that morning 4. **10am checkout, 1pm check-in** (some hosts use 11am/2pm) 5. **Guest compliance** — if a guest checks out late, the whole chain breaks **What breaks a 3-hour window:** - Guest checks out 30+ minutes late (happens 10-15% of the time) - Unexpected cleaning issue (stained mattress, guest left food everywhere) - Cleaner has car trouble or other delay - Missing supplies that need a store run **My buffer strategy:** I list check-in at 3pm but tell guests "you may be able to check in early, I'll let you know!" Then if the clean is done at 2pm, I offer early check-in as a bonus. If it's not done until 2:45, the guest is none the wiser. Build in buffer, then surprise guests with "early access" when possible.
Reply by Ingrid Svensson:
I tried 3-hour turnovers and had 2 instances in 3 months where the clean wasn't done on time. Both times, the guest arrived to an unlocked, half-cleaned property. One left a bad review about it. I went back to 4.5 hours and haven't had an issue since. The lost revenue from the extra 1.5 hours (maybe $15-20) is nothing compared to the stress and potential bad review from a late turnover.