For short-term rentals from Portland to Old Orchard Beach, cleanliness is the rating guests notice most and forgive least. One hair in the shower or crumbs in a drawer can cost a star, and in a busy summer, those stars add up.
Write a turnover checklist and photograph how you want each room to look: how the beds are made, where the towels go, how the kitchen is stocked. A checklist with photos makes every turnover consistent, no matter who does it.
Plan for tight windows. Summer changeovers often happen between an 11 AM check-out and a 3 PM check-in. Keep a second set of linens in the unit so beds can be made right away while the first set is washed.
Finally, have your cleaner report issues. A broken glass, a stained towel, or a missing remote is much easier to fix before the next guest arrives than after they message you about it.