After each guest leaves, we clean everywhere thoroughly, including checking pots and pans etc are clean, polish cutlery and glasses, arrange all these items neatly in their cupboards, make up the beds, tidy the coathangers, dust worktops, walls, skirtings, door and picture frames, check all electrics and smoke and heat alarms, clean and polish windows inside and outside, arrange books neatly on the bookshelves, water the houseplants, touch up paintwork where needed, wash floors after vacuuming, do the laundry and line dry, then iron the following day. In the garden we mow, strim, tidy as necessary, rake the gravel, brush up leaves, prune and maintain plantings and probably lots of other things I can't recall just now. We pick flowers and have some in a vase in the living room. When necessary, we repair or replace damaged items, clean the upholstery, carpets, etc.
On an ongoing basis we check stocks of cleaning materials, dish towels, toilet paper, etc and update supplies as needed. We maintain our websites and check our listings on OTAs. We reply very promptly to guest enquiries and bookings. We plan our own activities around bookings and only very rarely get away for leisure excursions.
Annually we PAT test electricals, have the gas supply tested, do a Legionella test.
We fit in maintenance of our old boat when we can; and try to occasionally get out sailing for a couple of days, depending on weather, tides and guests.
After all this we feel our mid-seventies age and need a glass of wine!
