Preparing your apartment for short-term rental: owner checklist

KEYS CONCEPT · OWNER ADVICE

Before publishing a listing, prepare a property that is easy to understand, comfortable to use and simple to maintain. This checklist is for owners in Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Golfe-Juan and Cannes who are preparing their first short-term rental or improving a property already on the market.

1. Describe the property exactly as it is

Start with a practical inventory: number of rooms, sleeping arrangements, floor, lift, outdoor areas, parking and equipment. Distinguish a separate bedroom from a sofa bed in the living room. State bed sizes and which areas guests can actually use.

Also mention constraints such as entrance steps, difficult luggage access, no private parking or a lively environment. A clear listing helps travellers choose a property that suits them and reduces disappointment on arrival.

2. Test equipment before advertising it

Check Wi-Fi from the main rooms, hot water, lighting, kitchen appliances and air conditioning where available. Prepare short instructions for equipment that is not intuitive. An appliance that is present but not usable should not be advertised as an available service.

• Bedding: mattresses, pillows, protectors and sleeping arrangements in good condition.
• Kitchen: enough tableware for the stated capacity, useful utensils and tested appliances.
• Bathroom: storage, accessories and drainage checked.
• Daily use: luggage space, hangers, accessible sockets and adequate lighting.

Purchases should answer a genuine need. A property visit helps separate essential improvements from purely decorative ones.

3. Organise linen and housekeeping between stays

A good-looking apartment is not enough: the same level of preparation must be repeatable before every arrival. Define what needs checking in each room, how consumables are replenished and how used linen is handled.

For the owner, the practical questions are simple: who intervenes after departure, who prepares the next beds and how is missing equipment reported? A clear process makes turnovers easier, especially when a departure and an arrival happen on the same day. Keys Concept can provide housekeeping and linen through its in-house laundry service, according to the agreed scope.

4. Explain access without multiplying messages

Prepare the essential information before arrival: exact address, building entrance, floor, key handover and parking access. Keep sensitive information such as entry codes in private messages sent to the relevant guests rather than in the public listing.

Also provide practical instructions for the stay: how to use equipment, waste sorting and building rules. Clear explanations matter as much as completeness.

5. Use accurate, useful photographs

Photograph tidy, bright rooms, first with an overall view and then the important equipment. Show sleeping arrangements, bathroom, kitchen and outdoor areas guests can actually access. Replace old photographs if they no longer match the property.

In Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, explain beach access from the real address; in Golfe-Juan, distinguish the port areas from properties further inland; in Cannes, explain useful routes according to the type of stay. Avoid approximate travel times presented as certainties.

6. Confirm the calendar before taking bookings

Block the dates when you will use the property yourself, as well as works or other periods when it cannot host guests. A realistic calendar is more useful than opening the property all year and correcting it afterwards. Also check the rules that apply to your own rental situation before publishing: this practical checklist does not replace the administrative steps that may be required.

Let a local concierge service prepare the property

Keys Concept reviews your property and the services you want before it goes live. Discover our support in Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Golfe-Juan and Cannes.

To prepare a visit, send us the address, property type and a few photographs. Contact Keys Concept · +33 4 89 82 79 47.