Maintenance checklist for your vacation rental on Bonaire

A vacation home on Bonaire needs more maintenance than a regular house. The AC runs for every guest, there's more showering and cooking, and salt and sun do their work even when the house is empty. With a fixed checklist per guest, per month and per year, you prevent most problems.

I'm Andres, a plumber, electrician and handyman on Bonaire. With vacation rentals I often see the same thing: a small problem nobody notices turns into a guest complaint or a bad review. This checklist helps you avoid that.

Why maintenance matters extra for rentals

Guests expect everything to work. An AC that doesn't cool or a shower without hot water gets noticed within an hour. And guests don't always report a problem right away: sometimes you only read about it in the review.

On Bonaire, the climate adds to that. Salt, dust and heat wear out ACs, taps, locks and outdoor lights faster. If you stay on top of it, you have fewer emergency jobs and fewer empty nights.

Checklist at every guest changeover

1. Air conditioning

Clean the filters of all ACs. Switch each AC on for a few minutes and feel whether it blows cold. Check that no water drips from the indoor unit.

2. Water and bathrooms

Briefly open every tap and shower. Check that there's hot water and that the toilet doesn't keep running. Look under the sink to see if it's dry.

3. Electrics and lighting

Test all lights, outside too. Check that sockets and switches are intact and that the wifi router works.

4. Kitchen and appliances

Check that the fridge is cold and the stove or induction hob works. Check that the washing machine doesn't leak.

5. Doors, windows and locks

Check that all doors and windows close properly and that locks and padlocks work smoothly. Salt makes locks stiff.

6. Outside and pool

Check that the garden gets water, the outdoor lights work and the pool is clean. Remove loose items that can blow away.

Every month

• Gently rinse the AC outdoor units with fresh water, with the power off.
• Do the meter test to find a hidden leak. Here's how: High water bill from WEB? How to find a leak
• Check the AC drains and the drains outside.
• Lubricate locks and hinges with a product that resists salt.

Every 3 to 4 months

• Have all ACs serviced. Read why: How often should you service your air conditioner on Bonaire?
• Check the sealant around the shower, bath, windows and doors.
• Have the RCD in the breaker panel tested.

Every year

• Have the breaker panel and grounding checked.
• Check the roof, gutters and drains before the rainy season. Read: Rainy season on Bonaire: get your home ready
• Check that the water heater works well and doesn't leak.
• Plan exterior painting where sun and salt have damaged the paint.

Tip: keep a log

Write down per date what was checked, fixed or replaced. That shows you what often goes wrong and lets you plan maintenance ahead. A simple shared document or a WhatsApp group with photos already works fine.

What can I do for you?

I can work through the checklist for you, between two guests or at fixed times. For gardening and cleaning just message me too: my wife does the cleaning and I arrange the rest. Bigger jobs like painting I do together with my team.

I charge USD 25 per hour, with a minimum of 2 hours. An AC service costs USD 45 per AC. You always hear the cost first.

Frequently asked questions

How often should the ACs in my vacation rental be serviced? Every 3 to 4 months, because in a rental they're almost always on. Clean the filters at every guest changeover.

Can you come between two guests? Yes. Let me know when the home is empty and I'll schedule the work in that gap. That way your rentals keep running.

I don't live on Bonaire. How does that work? We agree on WhatsApp how I get in and what I'll do. Afterwards you get photos of the result.

What if a guest reports a problem? Send me a WhatsApp with what the guest says and a photo if possible. I'll take a look as soon as possible.

Can you arrange the cleaning too? Yes. My wife does cleaning work. Message me and I'll arrange it.

Need your vacation rental maintained?

Send me a WhatsApp with the address or neighbourhood, the number of rooms and ACs, and when the home is empty. Then we'll make a plan. I work all over Bonaire.