Why the gap between stays is so tight
In high season on the Costa Blanca, the interval between one guest leaving and the next arriving can shrink to a few hours. That leaves very little time to spot and resolve anything, so the only way to avoid accumulating surprises is a checking routine that does not rely on memory but on a concrete list repeated identically every time, whoever handles the changeover.
Plumbing and drains
- Check every tap opens and closes properly, with no persistent drip that will be noticeable by the next morning.
- Run water through the shower and basin, confirming the drain clears normally without slowing.
- Check the toilet cistern: that it refills properly and there is no continuous trickle into the pan, which beyond being annoying sends water consumption up.
- If the property has an electric cylinder or gas water heater, confirm hot water arrives within a reasonable time before the guest does.
Electrics
- Test every visible switch and socket, especially in the kitchen area where several appliances get plugged in at once.
- Check the consumer unit has not tripped and the RCDs are in the correct position.
- Check the outdoor lights, if there are any, work at dusk — a small detail that weighs heavily on first impressions.
Air conditioning
Air conditioning generates more complaints in holiday rentals during summer than almost anything else, precisely because it fails exactly when it is most needed. Before each new stay, run every split unit in the property for at least ten minutes, checking it cools normally and makes no strange noises or drips water internally. Checking and cleaning the visible filter on each unit takes a couple of minutes and prevents bad smells on first use.
Doors, windows and locks
- Test that every key handed to the guest opens without forcing and that the locks do not stick.
- Check the blinds raise and lower without catching or noise, which matters especially in bedrooms where the guest spends much of the stay.
- Check the insect screens if fitted, particularly in the months with more insects — a small detail that is very noticeable when missing.
Appliances
Washing machine, dishwasher, fridge and microwave should be switched on and run through a short cycle before each arrival, not just looked at. An appliance that fails halfway through a guest's first night generates an immediate complaint and, on booking platforms, can translate into a low rating that affects future bookings. It is also worth checking that the hob heats across all its zones — a detail that goes unnoticed in a quick inspection and only shows up once the guest is already cooking.
Small details that decide reviews
Beyond obvious faults, small details do not stop the property being used but heavily influence the guest's final rating. Blackened silicone in the bathroom, a door that catches when opening, a kitchen drawer that will not close properly, or a blind with a strap about to snap are exactly the kind of thing a demanding guest mentions in a review even when it did not really affect the stay. Checking these points with the same discipline as serious faults avoids losing points over things that take minutes to fix.
Final sweep before handing over the keys
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Bathrooms | Drains, cistern, hot water |
| Kitchen | Appliances, sockets, tap |
| Bedrooms | Blinds, air conditioning, locks |
| Outside | Lights, pool if there is one, insect screens |
| General | Consumer unit, smells, final clean |
When a deeper inspection is needed, not just between stays
Beyond the quick check between guests, schedule a fuller inspection once a year, normally before high season begins, covering air conditioning servicing with a gas recharge if needed, a full review of the electrical installation, and — if the property has a septic tank or sits in an urbanisation with no mains drainage — confirming when it was last emptied. This annual review stops a small problem becoming a serious incident at exactly the worst time of year to deal with it calmly.
Coordinating the inspection when you do not live there
Many owners of holiday rentals on the Costa Blanca manage the property from another city or even another country, relying on a local manager, the cleaning team, or an external maintenance company that checks the property between stays. In these cases, put the checklist in writing with reference photographs of how each area should look, so whoever carries out the inspection knows exactly what to check without depending on the owner being present or on verbal instructions that fade over time. A well-defined checklist also makes it easier to change cleaning or maintenance provider without losing continuity in the quality of the inspection — particularly useful when several properties are managed at once with different local teams.
If you manage several holiday rentals and want to outsource this between-stays inspection, Manitas covers the whole Vega Baja and quotes free of charge to fit around your booking calendar.
