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Congratulations on becoming an Airbnb host! Whether you’re a seasoned host or just starting, you’ve come to the right place. I am a top-rated Airbnb host with 4 beach rentals on 30A, and my blog is full of FREE Airbnb tips and hosting strategies. One question I get asked often is whether to provide a physical Airbnb guest book or printed house manual in your short-term rental.
So, in this Airbnb hosting blog post, we’ll quickly explore the advantages of going digital and why you might not need a guest book or printed manual. I will also include a section on purchasing a guest book for those who still wish to have them in their rental.
Short on time? I do not provide them in my vacation rentals. But make sure to read on to learn why!
Airbnb Guest Book, Welcome Packets, and House Manuals
As a new host, you probably immediately dream up a beautiful Airbnb welcome book full of restaurant recommendations, house rules, property information, fun places to go, and more! You are eager to host guests at your home or condo and want to give them a warm welcome. I get it! I was the same way, and I also planned beautiful and elaborate welcome baskets.
But, when it came down to it, neither was a good idea for my properties and my workflow, and I am glad I recognized that early. Today, I am going to share my experience and insights with you. Because I don’t think you need a printed house manual, welcome packet, or even an Airbnb guest book in your rental!
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The Digital Difference: Why You Really Don’t Need An Airbnb Guest Book or Printed House Manual
Physical Airbnb guest books and house manuals often have limited space for information. They may not allow you to present your content in the most organized and user-friendly way. They have the potential to get dirty and disorganized quickly.
In contrast, digital formats offer flexibility in formatting and allow you to provide as much information as needed without constraints. Plus, you can easily update the information at any time!
My opinion is that the reviews section of your Airbnb is basically a guest book. My amazing Airbnb guests leave such thoughtful reviews for my Airbnbs. I know my future guests appreciate the ability to read through those before booking and before their visit to 30A. There isn’t anything that a physical Airbnb guest book would add to the experience.
The Drawbacks Of Using A Physical Airbnb Guest Book and House Manual
Here are some of the circumstances you should consider before purchasing a guest book for your Airbnb or designing a custom house manual.
Physical Airbnb Guest Books And Manuals Are Prone To Damage And Wear
Physical guest books and house manuals are vulnerable to wear and tear, especially when used frequently. They can get dirty, damaged, or even lost. This can lead to a less-than-ideal guest experience and added costs and headaches replacing them. But more than that, it makes your place feel unkept.
Essentially, these physical items are only as clean as the last guest leaves them. I take the same approach here as I do when I recommend a wooden mini crib over a fabric pack-and-play in my Baby Friendly Airbnb post. Like it or not, people will not leave your place and the things inside in the best condition. If you often host parents with young kids as I do, you have to be prepared for dirty Go-Gurt hands to be flipping through and possibly scribbling in your guest book and house manual.
Additionally, I have been at a few rentals and noticed some borderline inappropriate messages from what I assume were teenage or preteen kids. As unfortunate as that is, it’s unavoidable and something you may not catch until your next visit to your short-term rental. Funny or not, I would rather not provide that opportunity for them. These are the things I think about as an Airbnb superhost!
Outdated Information vs Real-Time Updates
One of the most compelling reasons to go digital is the ability to keep your information up-to-date in real-time. In the ever-changing world of Airbnb hosting, things can change quickly, from check-in procedures and pool codes to local restaurant recommendations.
When you have a digital welcome book and house manual, you can make instant updates, ensuring your guests always have the most accurate and current information.
I provide this information to my guests in two ways.
First, after an initial Airbnb welcome message, I provide detailed restaurant, shopping, activity, and area recommendations curated specifically for their stay within a week of booking. I make sure not to mention seasonal restaurants if they are closed during their visit. All of the information I provide is useful, and they don’t have to sort through anything.
Second, I have a detail-oriented house manual in my Airbnb listing that they can access anytime. I also send this through our Airbnb messages 1-3 days prior to their visit when I touch base about check-in. This ensures that important information is at their fingertips leading up to arrival.
READ: Steal My FREE Airbnb House Manual Template
The alternative printed house manual or binder will likely become outdated fairly quickly. At most short-term rentals that I have stayed in as a guest, these were stuffed full of menus and crumped-up brochures, had notes from guests and details scratched out, and required me to dig for the information I needed. When I found it, it was outdated 50% of the time!
Accessibility Through the Airbnb App
All of my Airbnb guests use the Airbnb app to communicate with me and access important information. As I have mentioned in other posts, I exclusively host on Airbnb because my time is money. I live by the 80/20 principle, and having one point of contact saves me an incredible amount of time and keeps me organized.
When you train your guests to know that everything is accessible in their Airbnb app from the beginning, you can create a streamlined experience for everyone involved.
By keeping your welcome book and Airbnb house manual digital, you’re making it incredibly convenient for your guests. They can access all the information they need without having to search for a physical book or sort through out-of-date content. This makes their experience more seamless and enjoyable.
I also have an Instagram account for our rentals and use the story highlights as a virtual guidebook. This allows guests to visualize the area. In addition, I link to events, menus, special events, and more from within each of these Instagram Stories. You can continuously update these as well!
A Section for Those Who Prefer Guest Books
If you’re still inclined to offer a guest book for sentimental or personal reasons, you can find a variety of attractive and well-designed guest books for your Airbnb rental either online or at your local bookstore. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to replace them periodically to maintain their quality and cleanliness.
Purchasing an Airbnb Guest Book
Here are some Airbnb guest books that I think you will like:
Tips for Using a Guest Book
For hosts who choose to use a guest book, here are some tips:
- Encourage guests to write messages and share their experiences.
- Provide clear instructions on how to use the guest book.
- Regularly check and clean the book to maintain its quality
One More Consideration
Real quick, I want to point out that my four 30A condo rentals are all small and cater toward two adults and up to two kids. So, the adults have all of the information easily accessible in their app.
There are occasions, especially when you rent out a very large home to a dozen or more guests. This is a situation where the other guests may not have access to the Airbnb app. In that case, it may be best to have printed materials available to ensure everyone understands the rules.
Digital House Manuals and Resources
Also, I want to mention that there are a number of online platforms in which you can create a digital house manual or welcome packet. Many of these are very nice looking! You can even create yourself in Canva using free or paid Canva templates.
However, once again, your time is money. The ability to update and curate the content you send your guests is invaluable and the easiest approach. Work smarter, not harder.
What Do You Think? Is An Airbnb Guest Book Or Printed House Manual Necessary in 2023?
In the age of digital technology, it’s clear that opting for a digital house manual is the more practical choice for Airbnb hosts. Real-time updates, app accessibility, and streamlined content make it a smart decision. Furthermore, reviews provide everything a guest book does.
However, for those who still have a soft spot for physical guest books, I did make sure to include a section on purchasing and using them effectively.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but remember that a seamless and updated guest experience is essential in the world of Airbnb hosting.
What do you think?
More Airbnb Hosting Resources
My FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide organizes all of my Airbnb hosting content in an easy-to-access manner. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, leave me a note! That is what prompted me to write this blog post, and it helps me know what you are looking for from me.
Furthermore, I have a brand new 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Facebook Group. Feel free to join! As it grows, it will be a safe place to ask questions and have direct access to me!
Happy hosting!
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