Preparing an apartment for its first guest

Losing the first booking is easy. The apartment has not yet been tested by a guest, and the first review often sets the tone for those that follow. Most problems are small, and dealing with them in advance costs far less than dealing with an unhappy guest.

Start with the things guests cannot overlook: hot water that lasts through the shower; heating and air conditioning that work in every room; a strong Wi-Fi signal in the bedroom; and a bed you can genuinely sleep comfortably in.

Then focus on the details that make an apartment feel well-kept and comfortable: two complete sets of bed linen and towels for each bed, blackout curtains in the bedroom, a kettle, pans that work with the hob, and enough hangers. Remove any personal or easily breakable items from the apartment.

Decide in advance how guests will access the apartment. A keypad lock or key box eliminates the problem of handing over keys at night, especially when a flight is delayed. It also gives guests the impression from the start that the apartment is professionally managed.

Finally, write down the house rules and keep them as short as possible. Noise, smoking and rubbish are the issues neighbours in apartment buildings complain about most often.