Guide
The room inspection: the checklist and the score
An inspection answers one question: can this room or unit be rented tonight? I recommend six zones, a score of 0 to 2 for each, and a few faults that hold the unit whatever the score. The scoring is a proposal to adjust. The rules and numbers come from the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
The inspection at a glance
| Zone | What to look at | Holds the unit if |
|---|---|---|
| Bed and mattress | Sheets, seams, headboard | Black spots, bed bugs, shed skins or eggs. |
| Bathroom | Cleanliness, caulking, drains | Widespread mould or an active leak. |
| Kitchen | Appliances, dishes, cupboards | Nothing on its own, unless food is left or an appliance is unsafe. |
| Walls, ceiling and windows | Stains, smell, peeling | Mould over 1 m², or mould that returns after cleaning. |
| Safety | Alarms, exits | A smoke alarm that is missing, disconnected or past its date. |
| Everything that should work | Lights, heat, lock, TV, Wi-Fi | A lock or heating that does not work. |
01
Bed and mattress
Sheets, seams, headboard
The Government of Québec describes small black spots on sheets, mattresses or bedsprings, and names bedsprings, seams and the bottoms of mattresses among the usual hiding places. Health Canada adds zippers and the area behind and around the headboard. The Government of Québec advises against applying insecticide yourself and points to a certified exterminator.
What to do Lift a corner of the sheet and check the seams with a flashlight, then behind the headboard. Confirm the sheets are clean, with no hair or stains.
02
Bathroom
Cleanliness, caulking, drains
This is the room where a miss shows fastest. Run a hand where the eye does not go: the top of the door frame, under the sink, the edge of the shower. Run the water long enough to see that it drains well and turns hot.
What to do Check the toilet, sink, shower, mirror and caulking. Run the water. Note any cracked or black caulking, even if the unit passes.
03
Kitchen
Appliances, dishes, cupboards
Open what the guest will open: fridge, oven, microwave, cupboards, drawers. An inspection that stays in the middle of the room only sees what the clean already looked at.
What to do Open every appliance and cupboard. Pick two or three plates and glasses at random. Check the dish soap, a new sponge and the garbage bags.
04
Walls, ceiling and windows
Stains, smell, peeling
The Government of Québec lists spots that are often green or black and an earthy smell as signs. Stains, buckling or peeling can point to water getting through a wall or ceiling. A small area such as a windowsill can be cleaned yourself. Over 1 m², or if the spots are many or come back, the government recommends a specialized firm. Water damage should be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours.
What to do Look at the ceiling and around the windows, and smell the room with the door closed. Photograph any stain and send it to maintenance the same day.
05
Safety
Alarms, exits
The Government of Québec recommends checking smoke alarms every month with the test button and replacing them every 10 years from the date of manufacture. An intermittent beep means the batteries need changing. That makes the inspection a good moment to press the button and read the date. Also check your municipality's rules.
What to do Press the test button, read the manufacture date on the back of the unit, and confirm nothing blocks the exits.
06
Everything that should work
Lights, heat, lock, TV, Wi-Fi
Airbnb asks guests to rate Cleanliness and Accuracy, which covers whether the photos and information were right and whether everything worked. One dead bulb is not a big problem. Three small problems in the same unit are.
What to do Turn on every light, adjust the thermostat, test the lock, the remote and the Wi-Fi. Compare the unit with the listing photos.
How to score it
2 points
The zone is ready. Nothing to fix.
1 point
A small fault fixed on the spot by the inspector: a dirty glass, a bulb, a badly folded towel.
0 points
The zone has to be redone or repaired. Cleaning or maintenance goes back before the arrival.
The result
I suggest 10 out of 12 or more, with no 0, to release the unit. A single holding fault stops it, whatever the score.
These marks are a starting point, not a standard. Keep the same grid long enough to compare units with each other, and record who inspected and when.
Free
The upkeep calendar, as a spreadsheet
Six items, their frequencies, and the status of every unit: overdue, due soon, OK.
The real problem: what happens after the score
A score alone fixes nothing. What matters is that the caulking scored 1 in March is not still scored 1 in June, with three people having seen it and no one acting.
That is why we built AirXperience: inspections are done room by room, with photos, tied to the exact item. What needs repair stays visible until it is done.
Get your exact priceCommon questions
Should every clean be inspected?
I recommend it for a new cleaner or after a complaint. Otherwise, a random sample each week already gives a good picture of quality.
Who should do the inspection?
Someone other than the person who cleaned. It is harder to see what you have just cleaned yourself.
What should I do if I find signs of bed bugs?
Do not rent the unit and do not apply insecticide yourself. The Government of Québec points to a certified exterminator.