Overview

Creating a checklist in ArrivHQ defines the steps your team or guests follow for a specific operation -- a turnover cleaning, a maintenance inspection, a guest departure acknowledgment, or any custom workflow.

How it works

Create the checklist

  1. Navigate to Checklists from the Properties sidebar.
  2. Click New Checklist.
  3. Enter a name (e.g., "Standard Turnover" or "Monthly HVAC Check").
  4. Select a type that describes the workflow:
    • Reservation Created -- tasks for new bookings
    • Pre Check-In -- preparation before guest arrives (auto-triggers 24h before check-in by default)
    • Check-In -- tasks at guest arrival
    • Check-Out -- tasks at guest departure
    • Pre Check-Out -- reminders before guest leaves (auto-triggers 24h before check-out by default)
    • Turnover -- cleaning and reset between guests (auto-triggers at check-out)
    • Maintenance, Inspection, Inventory, Safety, Seasonal, General -- manual or recurring schedule
  5. Choose an audience: Host only, Guest only, or Both.
  6. For reservation-linked types, the trigger auto-sets based on the type -- no manual configuration needed. A timing offset lets you adjust when the checklist fires (e.g., 2 hours after check-out, 24 hours before check-in).
  7. For non-reservation types, choose Manual (create as needed) or Recurring (weekly/monthly schedule).
  8. Optionally add a description and estimated duration.
  9. Click Create checklist.

Add sections and steps

After creating, you land on the checklist detail page. Sections and steps are managed together on the same page:

  1. Type a section name (e.g., "Kitchen," "Bathrooms," "Living Areas") and click Add.
  2. Each section appears as a card with a [+ Add step] button.
  3. Click [+ Add step] in the section where the step belongs.
  4. Enter a title (e.g., "Vacuum all floors").
  5. Choose a step type:
    • Checkbox -- simple done/not-done
    • Note -- requires a text note
    • Photo Required -- not complete until a photo is attached
    • Numeric -- requires a number with an expected range (e.g., 68-72)
    • Text Input -- free-form text entry with an expected answer
    • Photo Upload -- optional photo attachment
    • File Upload -- attach a document or file
    • Info -- read-only instruction, no action needed
    • Agreement -- legal agreement with e-signature (simple acknowledgment or full ESIGN Act-compliant signature)
  6. Mark the step as required or optional.
  7. Add an optional description.
  8. Click Add step to save.

Only fields relevant to the selected step type are shown -- a checkbox step does not show an "expected value" field, while a numeric step does.

Limits and requirements

  • Only owners and admins can create checklists and manage steps.
  • A checklist name is required.
  • Guest-audience checklists require the Host or Portfolio plan.
  • Photo upload steps require the Host or Portfolio plan.
  • There is no limit on the number of steps per section or sections per checklist.

FAQ

Can I change the type or audience after creating? Yes. Update both from the Settings tab on the checklist detail page. Changes do not affect existing runs.

What is the difference between Photo Required and Photo Upload? Photo Required blocks completion until a photo is provided. Photo Upload allows but does not require a photo.

Can I add steps to a checklist that has active runs? Yes. New steps only appear in runs created after the change. In-progress runs are not affected.

How do I delete a checklist? Open the checklist detail page, go to Settings, and use the delete option in the Danger Zone section.

Want a visual walkthrough? See our blog post: Setting Up Checklists & Turnovers