A new listing launch clean is a one-time deep clean of a short-term rental before its first guest or listing photos — cabinet interiors, appliances, baseboards, and every amenity tested, not just guest-facing surfaces. Tampa STR Cleaning, rated 4.9 from 37 Google reviews, books these around your photographer's schedule out of its Bruce B Downs Blvd base.
A launch clean happens once, before the first guest ever books, and it catches things a routine turnover skips entirely — packing tape residue on a new mattress protector, sawdust left in a cabinet after installation, a dishwasher that's never run a full cycle. Tampa STR Cleaning treats it as a punch-list job as much as a cleaning job: every faucet, remote, and lock gets tested, not just wiped down, because the first bad review a new listing gets is almost always about something broken on day one, not something dirty.
Timing matters more here than on a normal turnover. Most owners want the property photographed within a day or two of the clean, so the listing shows the space before guests put their own wear on it. The crew works out from the Bruce B Downs Blvd base to any of the six areas the business covers, and hours run 8 AM–6 PM Monday through Friday, 8 AM–4 PM Saturday, closed Sunday — so a Friday photo shoot needs a Thursday or Friday-morning slot, not a weekend booking that doesn't exist.
What does a launch clean cover that a regular turnover doesn't?
A turnover clean resets a property between guests who've already been living in it. A launch clean starts from zero — nobody has used the space as a renter yet, so the job is closer to a final walkthrough than a reset.
- Cabinet and drawer interiors, wiped out before the first towel or dish goes in
- Appliance interiors — oven, fridge, dishwasher, microwave — run and checked, not just fronts wiped
- Baseboards, window tracks, light fixtures, and ceiling fans, which a routine turnover doesn't touch on every visit
- Manufacturer stickers, tags, and packaging pulled off new furniture and appliances
- Every lock, remote, and smart-home device tested so the first guest doesn't find a problem first
Is it worth adding carpet or window cleaning before the first guest?
For a brand-new or freshly renovated unit, usually yes — those are the two surfaces that show up edge-to-edge in listing photos. Local carpet cleaners in the Tampa market typically charge $25–$200 depending on square footage and stain condition, and window cleaning services in the area typically run $150–$425. Those are market figures, not a quote — Tampa STR Cleaning prices add-ons after seeing the property, since a unit coming straight out of construction needs more work than one that's just been repainted.
Deciding before the shoot, not after, is what actually saves a reshoot.
How far ahead should I book a launch clean before my listing photos?
Book at least a day before your shoot, two if the unit is coming straight out of construction or a full renovation. Hours run 8 AM–6 PM weekdays and 8 AM–4 PM Saturday, closed Sunday, so a weekend photo session needs the clean finished by Friday.
How much does a new listing launch clean cost?
STR cleaning across the Tampa market typically runs $75–$225 per visit, and a launch clean usually prices above a standard turnover because it covers cabinet interiors, appliance detail, and a full amenity check that a routine turn skips. Tampa STR Cleaning quotes each launch clean after seeing photos or walking the property, not off a flat rate, since a new-construction unit and a lightly refreshed one aren't the same job.
Do you check for existing damage or missing items before the first guest checks in?
Yes — a launch clean includes testing locks, remotes, and appliances and flagging anything chipped, scratched, or not working, since that's the last chance to document the property's condition before a renter ever sets foot in it. That baseline matters if a damage question comes up after the first stay.