Holiday let changeover checklist for Portrush and Portstewart owners

If you let a holiday home in Portrush or Portstewart, you will know the feeling: one group checks out in the morning, the next arrives in the afternoon, and everything in between has to go right. Most changeovers are routine. The trouble starts with the small things nobody spotted until the last minute: a dripping tap, a blown bulb, a sticking door or a gate that will not latch.

This checklist is the one I would want on the fridge. Use it as it is, or add the quirks of your own property.

Before guests leave

• Confirm check-out and check-in times so cleaners and any tradespeople know the window.
• Ask departing guests to report anything broken. It is easier to fix a problem you know about.
• Check your calendar for any bigger jobs you have been putting off. A longer gap between bookings is the time to do them.

Cleaning and linen

• Strip and remake beds, and check mattress protectors and pillows.
• Clean the kitchen, including inside the fridge, oven and microwave.
• Clean bathrooms thoroughly, including grout, extractor fans and shower heads.
• Restock essentials: toilet roll, bin bags, washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets.

Quick checks for wear and tear

• Run every tap and flush every toilet. Look for drips, slow drains and running cisterns.
• Test lights, sockets you can reach safely, the TV and the Wi-Fi.
• Open and close every door, window and lock. Sea air is hard on hinges and fittings.
• Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Outside

• Look at gates, fences, garden furniture and outside lights. Salt air and winter storms on the north coast wear them faster than you might expect.
• Clear gutters and drains before the wetter months.
• Tidy paths, bins and any outdoor seating area.

Getting help between guests

You do not have to do every job yourself, and you do not need to live nearby to arrange it. On WeeJobs you can post a cleaning job, a quick repair or a bigger maintenance job from anywhere, add photos and say exactly when it needs to be done. Local tradespeople and helpers who cover Portrush, Portstewart and the villages around them can let you know they are interested, and you choose who suits you.

A few tips that make changeover jobs go smoothly:

• Put the date and time window in the job title or description, for example "Between 10am and 3pm on Saturday".
• Explain access clearly: key safe, neighbour or code. Agree it directly with the person you choose, not in the public job post.
• Add photos of the problem. A picture of a leaking tap or a broken hinge saves a lot of back and forth.
• If you need the same help regularly, it is worth building a relationship with one person you trust.

When it is more than a quick fix

Some jobs need a specialist. Electrical and gas work in particular should only be done by someone qualified and registered for that work, so check before you agree anything. For bigger repairs, consider asking for a site visit first so the person can see the job before giving you a price.

Find local help

Browse cleaners in Portrush, handymen in Portstewart or all trades in Portrush, then post your job free in the WeeJobs app.