Cleaning between guests in Nessebar: schedule and checklist

Photographing the kitchen against a checklist before the next check-in

Nessebar lives on short lets, and short lets live on the two hours between check-out and check-in. Everything has to fit into those two hours: the bathroom, the kitchen, the bed linen, a check on the supplies and a photo for the owner. This article is about organising that process — not about how to mop a floor, but about how not to find yourself at three in the afternoon with an unmade bed and a guest at the door.

What the real schedule looks like

The standard check-out is 11:00 and check-in is at 14:00 or 15:00. Three things sit in between: the cleaning, the laundry and any small repair that turns up. The practice on the coast is simple:

Two sets of linen per bed. One on the bed, one clean in the cupboard. The laundry is never on the critical path.
Clean straight after check-out, not just before check-in. If a guest has left you a problem — a broken glass, a stain, a damaged appliance — you have three hours rather than twenty minutes.
A buffer in peak week. In July and August one provider looks after several apartments, and half an hour's delay spreads right down the chain.

A checklist for cleaning between guests

Agree the list in writing — then there are no arguments about what is included:

Change of bed linen and towels, beds made.
Bathroom: toilet, shower, mirror, hairdryer, supplies topped up.
Kitchen: sink, worktop, hob, microwave, inside of the fridge, dishwasher.
Floors and dust on every surface, including the balcony railings.
A check of the terrace: chairs, washing line, ashtrays.
Rubbish taken out, along with any food guests have left behind.
A check of the appliances: air conditioning, water heater, television, Wi-Fi router.
Photos once the cleaning is done — your insurance in a dispute with a guest.

What to agree with the provider in advance

The supplies. Soap, toilet paper, towels, sponges, bin bags. Either you provide them and leave them in a cupboard, or the provider brings them and invoices for them — both work, but it has to be decided.

The access. A key, a code safe or an electronic lock. In the cobbled Old Town this matters for parking too: the provider walks in from the nearest street.

Who reports problems. A broken glass is minor; a burst hose on the washing machine is not. Agree the format: a photo and a message straight away, with no waiting until the end of the day.

The response time. If a guest leaves earlier or later than expected, who tells whom, and how far the visit can be moved.

What the price depends on

Providers on Helply state their price in the offer. The main factors:

The number of beds and bathrooms — the volume of linen matters more than the floor area.
The window between guests — two hours on a peak day costs more than a quiet day with no check-in.
The frequency — for a steady flow through the season, a price per visit or a subscription is usually agreed.
Extra tasks — windows, the terrace, upholstery cleaning, a deep clean at the start and the end of the season.

You can compare several providers' quotes on the cleaning in Nessebar page.

How to check the quality from a distance

Most owners do not live in Nessebar and cannot drop in before every check-in. Control that actually works is simple and needs nobody on site:

Photos from the same angle. Bathroom, kitchen, beds, terrace — from the same spot every time. The difference then shows up immediately, with no comparing of memories.
A short list of points to tick off. The provider marks what has been done and what they have noticed — it takes a minute and saves arguments.
The first reviews after you change provider. If the word "cleanliness" starts appearing in guest ratings, the feedback has arrived faster than any inspection could.
One in-person check at the start of the season. Once, with you there, sets the standard for every visit that follows.

If a guest complains, ask for the photos from that check-in before you react: in half the cases the problem arose during the stay, not before it.

The start and the end of the season

Before the first guests and after the last ones, a deep clean is done: inside the cupboards, the oven, the window frames, the tiles and the grout. An apartment that has stood shut by the sea all winter often needs airing and treating for damp before it is opened up. And after building work it needs post-renovation cleaning, which is a separate and much heavier job.

How to secure someone for the season

The most common mistake is looking for a provider in July. Sort it out in April: explain how many apartments you have, what the usual schedule is and how many check-ins a week you expect. Providers on the coast plan their season in advance, and there are few people free at the peak.

Book a cleaner

Describe the apartment, the number of beds and the usual window between guests — offers usually arrive within 5–15 minutes:

Have a look at all services in Nessebar too.