All great vacation rental guidebooks begin with this simple premise: guests want to have an exceptional stay, full of memorable local experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. Chip Conley, former Head of Hospitality at Airbnb, recognized that Airbnb hosts are perfectly positioned to untap these unique experiences. As he told in 2016: “When an Airbnb traveler heads to Hammerbrook in Hamburg or Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, with the help of hosts, they are able to see these places through eyes of a local, and embrace the culture in a completely new way.” The Airbnb Guidebook: What Is It?
Is There a Better Way? From that core philosophy described Chip, Airbnb created its own native guidebook feature, which hosts can use to categorize their favorite local spots right inside their Airbnb listing. But, in our view, the in-app Airbnb guidebooks have some real limitations. I’m a host myself, and I’ve tried it for my guests. On the plus side, it’s powered by Google Places and it’s simple to use.
However, it’s missing the flexibility and well-rounded features of a truly ideal Airbnb guidebook. After all, in addition to seeking the best happy hour spot, guests also ask practical questions: How do I find your place? What’s the Wi-Fi password?
Where do I get the keys? Which college degree is required to operate the smart TV remote? Two separate guidebooks—one for house rules/info, and one for destination tips and info—can get unwieldy and overwhelming for guests. One or the other will end up being ignored or forgotten. And no one wants that.
Alternatives to the Airbnb Guidebook The good news is there are many alternatives to pick from. Our own product, is one option. But it’s not just us! We’ll cover the following 4 options in this post, ranging from dead simple to a little more tech-savvy:. A simple Word document. Custom designed welcome guides from. TINE: Video and audio messages.
Independent digital guest welcome apps If you stumble upon other guidebook options that we should mention here, please let us know in the comments below. We’ll periodically update this post with your additions! Keep it Simple: Word as an Airbnb House Manual Okay, it’s not the most sophisticated option for the 21st century. Nor will it necessarily fit the brand of a trendy loft apartment.
However, a Microsoft Word guidebook is still simple and free to create—and equally easy to share with guests. With a few tweaks, such as fonts and photos, you can have a polished finished product. To help you over that hurdle, we’ve created a free with some simple styling and all the headings your guests might want.
Simply add your own photos and text in the relevant places! Tip: Once you have your Word doc, save it as a PDF and then upload that PDF to Issuu.com for it to be rendered in an easy-to-read, mobile-optimised book. Then simply send your guests your Issuu link.
Custom-Designed Guidebooks If you’re looking for something with more flair, take a look at a custom-designed guest welcome book from (part of, a vacation rental-specific marketing agency). Prices start at $100, and everything is produced in print-ready format, so you can create a physical copy or send it as an email attachment. Bonus: it can also be used to sway guests on your local knowledge before they book.
The downside is that it’s less of a functional welcome book and more of a coffee table area guide. However, it could be printed and placed in the same binder alongside a more more functional “how to” welcome book (like the Word document above).
Tip: You can also mock up something like this (albeit not to the same finish) using Adobe InDesign. It’s not straightforward, but if you have design skills and time (or a friend who does!), you could use InDesign to take your Word doc to the next level. How About Leaving Your Guests a Video or Audio Message? Here’s something a bit different!
The creative minds over at have created a solution that involves placing small QR code stickers around your home. After your guest scans a QR code sticker, they’ll see a video of you right on their phone (or audio of you, if you’re camera shy!). We spoke to Nedda, one of TINE’s co-founders, and her enthusiasm for their product is infectious.
In fact, after the call with her, we had a dozen different ideas of our own for using TINE—and not just for vacation rentals. For example, you can add a TINE tag to precious possessions so that, if lost and then found, the finder can quickly reach you. And in the Airbnb world, hosts you can stick TINE to a coffee maker, washing machine, or remote control and add a video explaining how each item works. Guests will appreciate not having to bug you for instructions, and you’ll appreciate not being bugged! Tip: Place a sticker on the cover of your guest welcome book or house manual to add a personal video or message for each guest—not so much an alternative to a welcome book as a complement!
Independent Digital Guest Welcome Books Seeking a digital option for your welcome book? There are good reasons to go this route: by opting for a digital solution, any changes you make will instantly update on your guests’ devices. It also enables you to make those changes wherever you are, rather than having to print pages and swap the in-home paper book out.
If you list your properties on HomeAway, you might have noticed the new Hospitality Manager feature, a native app that guests can download before their stay. This is one digital option. A brief explainer of the tech lingo: a native app simply means that it is downloaded from the App store or Play store—unlike a mobile web app which connects directly to a website that is optimised for mobile viewing.
But, like Airbnb’s guide book, a listing-site-branded digital guidebook has its limitations—especially if you are listing properties on multiple sites and find the prospect of having multiple digital welcome books a bit maddening. Alternative digital welcome book solutions that are totally independent from the listing site platforms include Touch Stay, Hostfully and Coral (mobile web apps) as well as Hello Here and Criton (native apps). Tip: don’t get hung up on the choice between native and mobile.
You’re far better off basing your decision on ease of use and the feature set that each solution offers. No matter which option you choose, remember the golden rule of any welcome book: If the quality of your content is excellent, your guests will read—no matter how it’s presented to them! If you’re looking to go digital, check out our article comparing a few market-leading digital. The Airbnb Guidebook: Conclusions We imagine the marketplace for personal guidebooks—Airbnb and otherwise—will continue to expand, so we hope you’ll alert us when you discover other alternatives. Share your own creative solutions for communicating with arriving guests, or tell us about what other hosts you know are using.
We’ll update this post with our thanks!. Put down the mimosa and avocado toast! Created a 'brunch index' figuring out different destinations trav. Proud alumni are opting for second homes and vacation rentals in the college towns of their alma maters. Matt Landau from Vacation Rental Marketing Blog offers some excellent tips for effectively using SEO in your vacati. Want to take your vacation rental to the next level? Check out these five tips from Vacation Rental Pros.
Help your guests live like locals wherever they land with features like TripAdvisor suggestions and Google Places i. Can you answer these five questions for your guests? Consumer Reports suggests all traveler. The perfect vacation rental recipe: 1 part (the comforts of) home, 1 part (the standards of) Hilton, 1 part (the ex. The Anatomy of an Awesome Vacation Rental Newsletter- well not that we'd expect anything less but this awesome arti. Do you include a game system in your rentals?.
This year’s Partner Summit will focus on supporting you to reach your goals in the growing vacation renta.
Boost your income by renting out a spare room—or transitioning a second home to a short-term rental—with Airbnb. This detailed course will help new hosts succeed on Airbnb, the rental site with more than 2 million listings worldwide. Christopher Matthew Spencer, a successful Airbnb host, first acquaints viewers with Airbnb and the requirements—both in terms of mindset and property—needed to venture into the Airbnb world. Then you'll learn how to prep a property, stock it with amenities that will garner 5-star reviews, and craft an attention getting listing that covers everything from the headline to property descriptions and guides. The course also explores how to manage guest interactions, deal with housekeeping and maintenance, and promote listings outside of Airbnb. Start watching to learn how you can profit from this great sharing economy platform. Instructor.
Christopher Matthew Spencer is a businessperson, author, educator, and mentor. He was early to embrace the Internet culture. Like many, he saw it as an information highway that could be applied innovatively. Christopher Matthew's focus on entrepreneurs and everyday Internet users derives from his 'roll up your sleeves, hard working mindset' that has led him to his own achievements. Christopher Matthew mentors and educates on a wide variety of essential topics, including sales, retail, payments, as well as real estate and rental properties. He is currently sharing his wealth of knowledge through collaboration with Lynda.com. Christopher Matthew's philosophy encompasses life-long learning and he loves sharing his expertise with those who desire it, just as he did many years ago.
He has consulted to many notable Fortune 1000 companies. In addition to helming his own companies, Christopher Matthew proudly serves on the Global Business team at kathy ireland Worldwide. His mission is education through demonstration. Christopher Matthew attributes his success to happiness and the pursuit of all things he finds fun in life. Related courses.
By: Christopher Matthew Spencer Course. 2h 49m 32s. By: Suzanna Kaye Course.
58m 59s. Course Transcript - A House Manual serves a few essential purposes. It covers the basics about the accommodation, how to operate key features of the space, can also provide recommended local businesses, and serves as a notice of the house rules. There's no one size fits all approach to preparing a House Manual and it doesn't have to be fancy. Here's a complete list of what I cover in mine.
First of all in the heading I put the guest name. This personal touch has been appreciated time and again by guests who immediately feel at home and appreciated. Then I put my full contact details including my name, phone, and email plus a warm welcome message. Then comes the property address so that guests can order delivery or provide their address to local friends or family.
Since there's weekly street cleaning, I explain the parking restrictions including days of the week and times. Then I provide the Wi-Fi login details. Later in the manual I'll discuss house rules but the most common rules are stated here on. Practice while you learn with exercise files. Watch this course anytime, anywhere.
Course Contents. Introduction Introduction.
1. An Overview of Airbnb 1. An Overview of Airbnb. 2. Preparing Your Property 2. Preparing Your Property. 3.
Amenities. 4. Ready, Set, Go! Getting Up and Running on Airbnb 4. Ready, Set, Go! Getting Up and Running on Airbnb. 5.
Service Is Your Brand: Managing Guest Interactions 5. Service Is Your Brand: Managing Guest Interactions. 6. Housekeeping and Maintenance 6. Housekeeping and Maintenance. 7.
Working with Guest Feedback 7. Working with Guest Feedback.
8. Tips for Success 8.
Tips for Success. Conclusion Conclusion.
Intro Guests are a crucial part of the short term rental equation. Without them, you have no one to stay at your home, no one to leave you reviews, and no extra income. Obvious as this may seem, going above and beyond for a guest can really set you apart from other hosts. It doesn’t require loads of additional work or lots of money to really wow your guests., for example, are some ways to get ahead. One of the easiest and most effective ways to set yourself apart as a host is to craft a guidebook to ensure your guests get the most out of their stay. Whether you’re hosting on Pillow, Airbnb, Homeway or Booking.com, your guests will love this personalized touch.
Airbnb has a popular feature that provides a for guests for 23 of their most popular destinations. The Airbnb site describes the guidebook as “a collection of all the best places in every city, as told by Airbnb hosts. Find everything from coffee shops and parks, to secret spots.” We talked to Andrew Carlone, CEO and co-founder of, a tech startup that has developed a personalized, app-based platform, so hosts can create a magnificent guest guidebook and house manual of their own. During their development stage, Carlone and his team stayed in Airbnb rentals to fully understand everything a guest could possibly want or ever need. This is why the Coral team is referred to as “expert guests.” Back to the Basics A local handbook, when combined with a house manual, come together to create the ultimate guest guidebook. Here’s how to do it.
First thing’s first. Assume your guests know nothing. “Because of the amount of growth the rental industry is experiencing, it’s best to assume your guests have never used a platform like Airbnb before,” says Carlone.
“Include check-in times and key and entry information to ensure that guests have all the information they need before they show up. This way, they won’t be fumbling around or asking questions at the door.” Once your guest is able to check-in, details like where to put their shoes, what the Wi-Fi password is, and where to find supplies like dish soap or extra blankets are always appreciated. The goal is to anticipate what your guest would need and curtail them from constantly reaching out for easy answers. Speaking of reaching out – contact information. “You’d be shocked at the lack of information provided by hosts in their house manual,” says Carlone.
Make sure to leave information about how to contact you in an emergency, and ask them for their contact information in case you need to reach them as well. Technology is Our Friend Risking five-star reviews from simple mistakes, like check-in confusion, jeopardize future repeat bookings and occupancy rates. Platforms like Airbnb and HomeAway are experience-driven and you’ll want to make it as stress-free as possible. “The solution is simple – provide access to information,” insists Carlone. The best way to do this is to make it available in digital form so guests can read your rules before they arrive. “A digital house manual is a must-have,” he states.
Lastly, a manual and guidebook available in digital form makes it accessible to guests when they’re not in your home. Maths lab manual class 10 cbse 2015. After a day of sightseeing and adventuring, being able to quickly look up that awesome pizza place you recommended is a huge perk. Timing is Everything Making information available to guests early on can help you. Some customers might expect hotel-style room service or assume you’ll have amenities like hair dryers and ironing boards available. It’s best to nip unrealistic expectations in the bud: A good digital manual is easy to send in advance and will lay down so guests know what to expect when they visit your property – and what you expect of them.
Include the Local Low-Down Including local insider information that guests wouldn’t know is much appreciated by guests and allows them to really experience what it’s like to live in your community. You already know this information – eliminate the hassle of them trying to figure it out themselves. Things like what public transportation route is best from the airport, what day street cleaning is, and what coffee shop does the best latte art are all tips that make your guests’ experience the best. And they really appreciate it. Also, don’t forget to offer something different than you would find in a Frommer’s travel guide. Your guests probably already checked out Yelp or similar sites. Think outside the box.
“Most hosts only include restaurants and bars,” Carlone laughs. “What about tourist attractions, special events, concerts, grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and hiking trails as well? The list is endless! Don’t just write about your local restaurants.” Curate Experiences for Your Guests When making local recommendations, think about the type of guests you attract – Couples? Business travelers? – and what they want to see and do in the local area, rather than including just your own personal preferences. “Not all recommendations are created equal,” warns Carlone.
“A 65-year-old host isn’t necessarily going to enjoy the same activities that Millennials do. Try to curate experiences for your specific guests.” Making arrangements with nearby businesses can work wonders, too. “Tell your local bartender to take care of your guests if they visit their establishment or add recommended menu items from your favorite restaurants in your guidebook.” Use the Right Tone and Keep Your Manual Concise. If you want your guests to read your manual, make it engaging.
“The best house manuals and guidebooks are those where the host has injected their personality,” Carlone emphasizes. Using your own unique flare does the same for your guidebook as it did when you decorated your rental.
Write like you would write to a friend. Maintain a fun, charming tone throughout to keep guests hooked. Guests remember this and it makes their experience memorable. A manual also needs to be clear and concise. Carlone recalls seeing, “a number of long-winded house manual and really brief ones.
Guests need to be able to digest critical information, otherwise, they’re not going to read it – plain and simple.” Make it Fun Everyone appreciates good design! Go the extra mile when creating your guest handbook and make it visually appealing. Use a site like Snappa or Canva to add quality graphic design elements to your manual. You don’t have to be an expert to use these sites, and the finished product will look that much more polished. Take Note of Building Rules More than half of all Airbnb rentals take place in multifamily buildings.
If you’re listing your unit for a short term rental, make sure to include any building policies in your guest guide. Are pets allowed? Does your landlord enforce quiet hours or a smoking ban?
These are all good things to note in your guest guide to keep out of trouble! Delivery is Key You put in all the work to perfect your beautiful guest manual. Make sure that guests can get the most of it! Send your manual to guests as soon as they book the reservation, and consider re-sending it 24 hours before check- in as well so that it’s nice and fresh.
House Manual For Renters
Consider printing a copy and leaving it in an easy to spot location like the kitchen counter so that guests have a visual reminder when they arrive. A guestbook is only valuable if guests actually read it! Conclusion So what are the key takeaways, here?
Creating a house manual can boost your credentials as a host and build trust with your guests. Make information available as early as possible and in a digital format. Include local recommendations and curate a wide variety of choices targeted at specific guests. The right tone can both help take the stress out of the vacation rental experience and cement your status as, “the host with the most.” About Pillow is solving short-term rentals for multifamily properties, allowing building owners and property managers to have control and transparency over short-term rentals while enabling their residents to rent their units short-term on Airbnb.
Pillow is the official and exclusive multifamily housing partner for popular short-term rental listing platform Airbnb. Pillow takes a complicated, time consuming process for multifamily building owners and created a solution that greatly benefits Multifamily operators and residents alike. If you own a multi-family complex or management company and are interested in providing short-term rentals, email [email protected] or visit www.pillow.com. Follow us on and for short-term rental insights for the multifamily industry. Or subscribe to our blog! Written by July 1, 2018 Read these posts for more insights:.
Having a good guest information book with lots of valuable information for your vacation rental guests is important. When your guests arrive they often won't know anything about the area. Including basic things like where to eat or grocery shop.
They certainly won't know the quirks of your property. And you can help them get started having a great time more quickly by sharing your own unique knowledge of the area attractions and restaurants. Here's a list of the things that we include in the guest information books at our vacation rentals.
For us these are 3-ring binders with clear plastic envelopes in them, making it easy to slip things in and out. Emergency numbers. Our contact information. Other useful phone numbers (e.g. Beech Mountain club). Association (HOA) rules.
House Manual For Air Bnb Stay
House rules. Maps of the local area and trails. Grocery Stores, Hospitals and Churches. Newspaper clippings with timeless local info. Restaurant recommendations and menus.
House Manual For Guests
Leaflets for Local Attractions. Coupons or Coupon Books (that don't expire soon). Instructions on how to operate things like fireplace, video games. List of TV Channels and DVDs.
Bird watching guide.