Turnover day scheduling — how tight is your window?

Category: Operations & Cleaning

By: James Wu

Posted: 2026-01-19T17:44:33.840Z

My current setup: 11am checkout, 3pm check-in. That gives my cleaner 4 hours. She usually finishes in 2-2.5 hours for my 2BR but if there's a particularly messy guest, she needs 3+. I've had one close call where she finished at 2:45pm. Some hosts I know do 10am/4pm for a 6-hour window. Others do 11am/3pm like me. A few aggressive ones do noon/3pm (only 3 hours!). What's your window and have you ever had a cleaner not finish in time?

Reply by Daniel Kowalski:

I do **11am checkout / 4pm check-in** and I'll never tighten it. That 5-hour window has saved me multiple times: - Guest checked out 45 minutes late (happens more than you'd think) - Cleaner found a stain that needed an extra treatment - Maintenance issue discovered during cleaning (leaked pipe under sink) - Laundry took an extra cycle (someone spilled wine on ALL the white towels) With a 4pm check-in, my cleaner rarely feels rushed. She does better work when she's not watching the clock. And guests actually prefer a later check-in — they can explore the city, grab lunch, and not stress about getting to the property by 3pm. The revenue impact of a 4pm vs 3pm check-in is basically zero. Guests don't choose between properties based on a 1-hour check-in difference.

Reply by Brittany Simmons:

I run a tight ship: **10am checkout / 3pm check-in** across 8 properties. This only works because: 1. My cleaners are FAST and experienced (2 hours per 2BR) 2. I have 2 cleaner teams so I can dispatch both if needed 3. Turno (https://turno.com) sends automatic alerts when a guest checks out, so the cleaner knows to head over immediately 4. I keep a buffer inventory of linens at each property (no waiting for laundry) The 10am checkout is aggressive but I rarely get pushback because I message guests the night before: "Just a reminder, checkout is at 10:00 AM. Please strip the beds and start the dishwasher before you leave — we really appreciate it!" Most guests comply. The ones who check out late, I send a gentle message at 10:15 and they're usually out by 10:30.

Reply by Camille Dubois:

Had a nightmare scenario: cleaner couldn't make it (car broke down), guest checking in at 3pm, no backup. I spent 2 hours racing to the property and cleaning it myself at breakneck speed. Finished at 2:55pm, drenched in sweat. Lessons learned: 1. ALWAYS have a backup cleaner. I now have 2 backups on standby. 2. Keep a "host emergency kit" in your car: cleaning supplies, fresh linens, toiletries. 3. Consider a 4pm check-in for extra buffer. Turno (https://turno.com) actually has a backup cleaner network — if your primary can't make it, the platform can find a replacement from their marketplace. Haven't needed it yet but it's a nice safety net.