Turnover time is that critical period between one guest's departure and the next's arrival. The shorter it is, the more you can chain reservations and maximize revenue. But how do you find the right balance between speed and quality? This guide gives you all the keys to optimize your cleaning schedules and effectively reduce this downtime.
1. Understanding the impact of turnover time on revenue
Every day your property stays empty between reservations is lost money. Turnover optimization has a direct impact:
- One less day of turnover = one additional possible reservation per month
- Over a year, this can represent 10 to 15 additional nights of revenue
- Your occupancy rate increases, improving your ranking on platforms
- You can accept last-minute reservations more easily
- Your overall profitability improves significantly
💡 Concrete example: with a property at $80/night, reducing turnover by 1 day per month represents $960 in additional revenue per year. With 5 properties, that's $4,800 in additional revenue.
2. Analyze your current situation
Before optimizing, you need to measure. Identify your current friction points:
- What is your current average turnover time?
- How long does a complete cleaning actually take?
- Are there properties that take longer to clean than others?
- Does your team always arrive on time?
- Do you have time slots where cleanings chain poorly?
💡 A good scheduling tool lets you visualize this data at a glance. You quickly identify problematic properties or periods.
3. Optimize cleaning scheduling
The key is to anticipate and plan intelligently:
- Schedule cleanings as soon as a reservation ends
- Manage reservation overlaps (check-out in the morning, check-in in the afternoon)
- Plan a safety buffer but without exaggerating
- Adapt allocated time based on property type and stay duration
- Use a centralized schedule to see all properties at once
💡 With an automated system, each new check-out automatically generates a planned cleaning. You don't have to think about it, and your team immediately sees what's planned.
4. Organize your cleaning team effectively
A well-organized team is faster and more efficient:
- Create pairs for large properties (2 people = 2x faster)
- Assign properties based on skills and geographic proximity
- Give access to a real-time schedule to avoid unnecessary travel
- Plan backup teams for emergencies
- Train your team in fast and efficient cleaning techniques
💡 Your team's autonomy is crucial. If everyone knows exactly where to go and what to do without contacting you, you save precious time.
5. Reduce cleaning time without compromising quality
It's possible to be faster while remaining impeccable:
- Prepare cleaning kits per property (products, equipment)
- Use standardized checklists to avoid oversights
- Optimize task order (start with most important rooms)
- Invest in professional equipment (powerful vacuums, etc.)
- Train your team in fast cleaning techniques
💡 A well-organized cleaning takes 30% less time than an improvised one, while being better quality. Standardization is key.
6. Manage back-to-back reservations intelligently
Reservations that chain on the same day are the most profitable, but also the most delicate:
- Plan an early check-out (10am) and late check-in (4pm) to have 6h margin
- Organize an express cleaning for short stays (1-2 nights)
- Prepare bedrooms as priority to allow early check-in if possible
- Communicate schedules clearly to guests
- Have a plan B if cleaning takes longer than expected
💡 Back-to-back reservations are your best friend for maximizing revenue, but they require perfect organization. An automated schedule alerts you in case of potential conflict.
7. Use technology to automate
The right tools save you precious time:
- Automatic reservation sync from all your platforms
- Automatic cleaning schedule generation from check-outs
- Real-time alerts for last-minute reservations
- Automatic calculation of available time between reservations
- Notifications to your team as soon as a cleaning is scheduled
💡 With an automated system, you go from several hours per week organizing schedules to a few minutes. This saved time, you can dedicate to growing your business.
8. Anticipate and manage unexpected situations
Even with the best organization, unexpected things happen. Here's how to handle them:
- Always plan a 2-3h minimum buffer between reservations
- Have a backup team available for emergencies
- Communicate proactively with guests in case of delay
- Block regular maintenance slots to avoid breakdowns
- Document incidents to improve your processes
💡 A flexible system lets you react quickly to changes. If a reservation is cancelled, the schedule automatically readjusts.
Conclusion
Optimizing turnover time isn't just about speed, it's about organization and anticipation. With the right tools and practices, you can significantly reduce this downtime while maintaining impeccable quality. The investment in an automated scheduling system pays for itself quickly through additional revenue generated.