What to Put in Your Guest Guidebook
Your short-term rental or vacation rental needs to have a guide for your guests. This guide will help guests navigate rules, and will help you with any potential issues that could arise with platforms like Airbnb.
So what should your guest guidebook include? The obvious things like what the WIFI name and password are, what you expect your guests to clean up (example: take out the trash), explain with details and photos about the building access, any amenities they can or cannot use (example: an apartment building's swimming pool), laundry and how to use the machines and where the detergent is located.
But what are things that you should really explain in detail? I have found over the years that I get the same questions for the same properties, so I have expanded my guest guidebook to include these is details that my guests will understand. I send guests the PDF of this ahead of their stay in the property so they always have it accessible. Here are a few things I highlight with more details:
What the property already includes and what they should bring
I give guests a list of things that I provide, like coffee, iron, hairdryer, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, etc, so they are well aware of what they should pack. I include a list of what they should bring with them, like personal toiletries, battery chargers, Roku stick for the TVs.
Check the weather
This is usually handy in properties where the weather changes a lot, like Seattle. I provide a link to the local weather (since guests get this guide via PDF ahead of time), to let them know that they should bring a raincoat for Seattle because it will rain.
Parking Parking Parking
After several disagreements with neighbors because people were parking in the wrong spot, despite instructions, I made it very clear with photos where guests should park their cars. Guests are coming to a new city, and they can get it wrong, and be confused. But to alleviate disrupting the neighbors, the easiest way to make sure everyone is happy and knows where to go, is to literally show pictures.
Digital keypads
This calls for a photo and extremely detailed explanation. As previously explained on why it's better to have smart locks, it's actually easier and safer for you and your guests. But in case they aren't as familiar or technologically savvy, I provide photos and explain in the guidebook how to open the door.
Remote control and television
Most people have televisions, but they're not the same. Even I get confused when I go to new places and see a crazy looking remote control. So this is an easy one to explain, include the remote control, and where guests should navigate to on your TV to watch either streaming or cable. It will make their stay more enjoyable if they actually know how to use it.
Local area restaurants, bars, coffee shops, hikes, etc
Every city, town, village is different, and identifying your favorite places in the neighborhood or city is very helpful to guests. Make sure you also let guests know if they can drive or walk there. I once had a couple from New York City try to walk to a restaurant that wasn't far, but wasn't accessible by foot. They laughed about it but I should have just made it clear that they shouldn't walk. If your property is in a small town where things tend to close early, like access to food, make people aware so they can plan accordingly.
What every little gadget is, so they don't unplug them
Especially the WIFI box! I provide photos and identify gadgets so guests know what they are, to not unplug them, and that it's not a camera spying on you but a C02 monitor for example. I once had a guest get upset because they thought the WIFI extender was a camera so they unplugged it, and then complained about the WIFI.