Full inventory check between stays?

[Summer156]

Im managing a property for an owner and she has requested I count everything in the property between each guests.  EVERYTHING- every fork, dish towel,  tupperware bowel, etc.   Is this customary?  Are you all doing a full inventory each turnover?  Previously I was simply doing a quick run around the property opening drawers and looking over furniture to make sure nothing looked off/damaged/etc as apposed to counting and doing a checklist. 

What do you do? 

[Inna22]

@Summer156 I expect my cleaning crew to notice when something is missing or broken. If it is a bigger item I want an opportunity to make a claim and if it is a smaller item I need to replace it. I do not want the next guests to be out of forks or be short on wine glasses or not have a wine opener. I try to keep double of everything to begin so we do not need to count towels every time but every few stays for sure. I do not care if they count each item, take pictures of art on the walls to remember or size the place up with a naked eye but I do expect this to be done.

[Summer156]

That makes sense.  Thank you

[Michelle1851]

I have stayed at places where drawers and shelves are labeled with quantities, I'm sure its for an inventory after each stay. Honestly they are usually pretty sparse; 4 knives 4 forks, 4 towels, etc. I don't do this with my listing but I could see how it would be helpful if you were concerned about theft.

[Summer156]

Thats a good idea!

[Anonymous]

@Summer156  I wouldn't say it's standard for Airbnb rentals, but I've had a couple of clients who were very strict about their inventory, down to the last tea towel. No problem, as long as I'm being compensated well for all the extra time it takes to go down the checklist. Luxury hotels are also very particular about these things.

But what you want to be very clear on is what's expected from you when items are missing from the inventory. A good client will give you a budget to replace broken glasses or torn linens at their own expense. But watch out for ones who believe it should be docked from your pay, or ask you to pursue damage claims with guests for minor things. In my experience, it's not worth doing business with those people.

[Summer156]

Agree.  I hope she doesnt start asking me to pursue the small stuff!  We only had some bath towels, a few dish towels, some tupperware(the cheap stuff) and 2 spoons missing after a year.   I just cant imagine charging a guest for these items.  I'm scared of a nit-pick review we may get after something so small.

[Anonymous]

@Summer156  If you're giving this owner the privilege of hosting under your reputable profile (i.e. as a co-host), IMO you should be the one dictating how the inventory system works. Your reviews are essential for any future co-hosting jobs you might seek, and it's a net loss for you if a client's orders force you to do something that will leave you with a retaliatory bad rating. Never let an insecure owner make you their human shield.

If you're ghost-co-hosting (as in, it's not actually attached to your profile), do whatever the client wants and let them deal with the consequences if they push too hard. 

[Huma0]

@Summer156 

I've never cohosted or employed a co host (I just host private rooms in my own home and so far, no one has stolen anything, but they do break things), but something I have noticed is that sometimes guests just put things in weird places. My cleaners also often move things around. You think something is missing but then find it elsewhere later, so that's another thing to consider when doing an inventory. 

At the end of the day, as others have said, you need to be compensated for the time it takes and establish who is responsible for replacing small items.