Short-Term Rental Maintenance and Inspections

In a long-term rental, a tenant mentions the dripping tap when it starts to bother them. In a short-term rental, the next guest finds it, and so does everyone who reads their review. Guests change every few days, so the time to fix a problem is the gap between one check-out and the next check-in.

Short-term rental maintenance in Calgary and across Alberta also means planning for the weather: a cold snap can freeze a pipe in a home that sits empty between bookings, and snow at the front door is the first thing an arriving guest sees. Our Airbnb maintenance service covers bookings from every channel and is built around turnovers, the seasons and your approval.

What we check at every turnover

The most useful Airbnb property inspections happen at turnover, because the home is empty and someone is already inside it. When the home is cleaned between stays (see cleaning and turnovers), the cleaner also looks for:

• Damage: marks on walls, chips, stains on furniture or carpet, broken dishes
• Anything not working: lights, appliances, the TV and Wi-Fi, hot water, the keypad or smart lock
• Leaks under sinks, around the toilet and tub, and near the water heater
• Missing items, such as towels, remotes or kitchen tools
• Wear starting to show, like a loose hinge or a wobbly chair

Anything found becomes a routine minor task we deal with, or a report to you with photos.

Routine tasks and owner costs

Here is how the work splits.

Your approval comes before we spend

Outside routine operations, we don't spend your money without asking. When something needs a repair:

1. We tell you what we found, with photos and what it means for upcoming bookings.
2. We get a quote from a trade, or from your own trade if you prefer.
3. You approve it, decline it or ask for another option.
4. We arrange the work around your calendar and send you photos once it's done.

Some problems can't wait for a quote, such as water coming through a ceiling or a furnace out in January. The first step then is to limit the damage, like shutting off the water at the main, and we contact you about the repair straight away. When we take on a home, we ask how you want urgent repairs handled and which trades you already trust.

Working with licensed trades

Plumbing, electrical, gas, heating and appliance repairs go to licensed trades. Our part is making the repair fit around guests:

• Booking the visit between stays, or blocking the nights in Hostaway, our property-management system, so no channel sells them during the work
• Letting the trade in, then making sure the home is guest-ready again afterwards
• Checking the work and keeping the invoice and photos with the home's records
• Going through the manufacturer's warranty service first when an appliance is still covered

When we take on a home, we ask where the water shut-off, electrical panel and furnace filter are, and for appliance model numbers and warranty details.

When a guest causes damage

Damage is documented with photos at the turnover, before the next guest checks in, so it is tied to the stay that caused it. The details go to you. Booking channels set their own rules and deadlines for damage claims, so we act quickly through the channel the guest booked on. Optional guest screening, ID checks and a security deposit through Truvi add another way to recover costs.

Damage that can't be recovered from the guest is an owner cost. Normal wear, like a scuffed baseboard, isn't damage; we flag it so you can plan replacements. Parties and events are never allowed at the homes we manage.

Keeping safety equipment in order

Guests sleep in a home they don't know, so smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and a fire extinguisher have to work the first time. Between stays we look for:

• Smoke and CO alarms that are chirping, missing or past the replace-by date printed on them
• A fire extinguisher in its usual spot, with the gauge in the green
• A first aid kit that has been used and needs restocking
• Nothing stored in front of doors or exits

Guests on premierstays.ca see your home's listed safety equipment before they book, so it has to be there and working. For what your city's licence asks of you, see licensing and compliance, which links each rule to its official source.

A seasonal checklist for Alberta homes

This is the seasonal care we think every Alberta short-term rental needs. Treat it as good practice, not a fixed schedule: timing depends on the home and its calendar. Some items need a licensed trade, like servicing a furnace, and are an owner cost we arrange with your approval.

Fall and winter

• Furnace serviced before the heating season, with the filter changed as the manufacturer recommends
• Thermostat never set low enough between stays to risk frozen pipes
• Outdoor taps shut off and drained, hoses disconnected
• Furnace and water heater vents on outside walls kept clear of snow
• Snow and ice cleared from entrances, steps, walkways and parking before arrivals, with ice melt on hand
• Keypad and smart lock batteries checked more often, since cold drains them faster

Spring and summer

• Air conditioning tested before the first hot weekend, with a fresh filter
• Eavestroughs and downspouts cleared so meltwater and rain drain away from the house
• Yard kept up: lawn, weeds, patio furniture and the barbecue
• After a hailstorm: roof, siding, eavestroughs, windows and screens checked, with photos kept in case you decide to make a claim

Where this fits

Maintenance and inspections are part of full management, which is 15–25% of revenue, depending on the package you choose; our pricing page explains how that works. We look after homes in Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere, and guests report problems to our team through 24/7 guest communication. To see how your home would run, start with a free revenue assessment.