Be Five Star Ready

Create a 20 minute to-do checklist to get your pool ready for each booking

Written by: Sabera Husain, Maryland host

Like any other business, repeat customers are what makes a great business. And it’s no different with Swimply swimmers. As a Swimply host, you're not just handing over your pool to swimmers, but you’re responsible for shaping their entire experience in your backyard.

The Swimply day-of hosting experience starts off with a to-do checklist. As a host, creating and sticking to a prep checklist is essential for turning your first-time swimmers into repeat swimmers. Your prep checklist should include the physical things you should be doing before your swimmers arrive. This way, your pool is ready for a top notch experience and you’re guaranteed a 5 star review!

What should you put on your to-do hosting checklist?

1. Be sure to keep your pool crystal clear for each swimmer

• Skim, skim, skim your pool so that the bugs, leaves, and dirt are nowhere to be found.
• Empty skimmers.
• Balance pH level and chemicals as needed.

2. Spruce up area around your pool

• Pick up any litter around your pool.
• Empty outdoor trash bins.
• Whether you have landscaping, hardscaping, or turf surrounding your pool - be sure it’s spruced up so that everything’s in its place and clean (don’t forget to pull out those pesky weeds!). And don’t forget the front of your home as well, curb appeal is huge!
• Open up the sun umbrellas during the day and turn on the lights for the evening.

3. Make a bathroom check

• Be sure there’s extra toilet paper.
• Place a dry hand towel out. Paper towelettes are amazing!
• Refill hand soap as necessary.
• Empty trash bins.
• Wipe and sanitize the bathroom so it’s clean and dry.

4. Have your amenities accessible

• Check the booking to ensure that the amenities requested by the swimmer are accessible and ready to go.
• It’s always nice to set up a basket of “extras” in case your swimmer forgot to pack an essential like sunscreen, water bottle, wipes, goggles, etc. Place the basket on a nearby table or lounge area so that your swimmers catch a glimpse. Bonus, leave a laminated sign with your rules and helpful tips like your wifi password or directions on how to pair your device with your speaker.
• Refill your first aid kit to ensure there’s plenty of bandages.
• Top off those floaties so they don’t go flat mid-swim! Place them somewhere where swimmers, especially children, can help themselves.
• If you’re providing a heated pool, be sure it’s set at the temperature indicated in your listing.
• Firewood for the firepit? Propane tank for the grill? Towels folded in the bathroom? Complimentary water bottles over ice?

Every pool is different, so of course, you’ll need to customize your prep checklist. All in all, it should take you 20-30 minutes to complete all the items on your prep checklist before each guest arrives. Here’s a quick checklist you can use and customize! You’ll find that after a few bookings, you’ll become more efficient in checking things off and may even have time left over to kick back until your swimmers arrive.