How to use the form
Ask the cleaner to fill in the form during the first five minutes of the turnover, before opening windows or starting laundry. Rating each room on a simple scale is quicker and more useful than a paragraph, and it makes comparisons between turnovers easy. The form can be printed and photographed, or copied into a notes app or your turnover software.
Keep the language factual: describe the smell, where it is strongest and what is visible, not who caused it. If something suggests indoor smoking, such as ash, butts or an ashtray, the photos matter more than the cleaner's opinion.
Room-by-room form
| Room | Smell (0 to 3) | What it smells like | Where strongest | Photos taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry and hallway | ||||
| Kitchen | ||||
| Living area | ||||
| Bedroom 1 | ||||
| Bedroom 2 | ||||
| Bathrooms | ||||
| Balcony, deck or patio |
Also note
- Date and time of arrival at the unit.
- Thermostat setting and whether windows or doors were left open.
- Ash, butts, ashtrays, lighters, rolling papers or vape cartridges, photographed where found.
- Food left out, full trash or anything spoiled in the fridge.
- Stains on bedding, carpet or furniture.
- Anything the guest said in their checkout message.
Questions the host reviews afterward
- Is the smell likely to clear in a normal turnover, or does it need more time?
- Does anything here support a damage claim, and is the evidence photographed?
- Does the next guest need to be told about a later check-in?
- Is this the same smell noted in an earlier turnover?
Common questions
Why rate before cleaning?
Once windows are open and laundry is running, the smell changes. The first few minutes give the most accurate picture of what the guest left.
Should the cleaner smell every room even if the guest used only one?
Yes. Smells travel through doors and the air system, and a room the guest never used can still pick up odor. A full walk also catches problems like a dry drain or a forgotten trash bin.
What if the cleaner and host disagree about how strong a smell is?
Noses differ, and people get used to a smell quickly. That is why the form records the first impression before cleaning and why photos of physical evidence matter more than ratings alone.
Can the form be used for claims?
Yes. A dated form filled in at the start of the turnover, together with photos, is the kind of contemporaneous record a platform reviewer finds useful.
How long should the forms be kept?
Keep them at least until the platform's claim window closes, and longer if a pattern of problems is developing in the unit.
General information for LoHi, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.