To help your guests have a great stay, you want to make sure they can make the most of all the appliances and amenities in your home. And for your own peace of mind, you want to make sure they know how to operate those features correctly. Airbnb’s house manual tool can help you do both.
You can write clear, step-by-step instructions in your listing profile, so guests have access to these details at all times and use amenities the way they were intended. You won’t need to rewrite or resend emails to each guest. Creating this manual once can help you save time and protect your property.
“I have provided a house manual. It works out well for the most part, [especially for guests who are] into tech and not into paper,” said New Mexico Rebecca, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I personally do not use signs or tape or anything like that, as I live here and just do not want the visual clutter.”
The feature also allows guests to access the house manual on their smartphones, throughout their trip and even without a local data plan. That way, you can remind guests to check the manual and hopefully avoid “sending late night texts, frantic calls, and the worst: bad reviews,” said Neil, of Mountain View, California.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make the most of Airbnb’s house manual tool, as well as some tried-and-tested tips from hosts like you.
How to create a house manual
On the web:
- Go to your listing(s)* on Airbnb.com
- On the listing you want to add a house manual to, click “Edit listing”
- Click “Listing details”
- Next to “Guest resources,” click “Edit”
- Under “House Manual,” write a description, instructions, or other information you want your guest(s) to know about your listing and its amenities, and then click “Save”
On the app:
- Go to your listing(s)* on the Airbnb mobile app
- Click on the listing you want to add a house manual to
- Under “Guest resources,” click “House manual”
- Write a description, instructions, or other information you want your guest(s) to know about your listing and its amenities, and then click “Save”
*If you’re a host managing six or more listings or using Airbnb’s professional tools, you have the ability to update your house manual across multiple listings and all at once on your listings page.
5 house manual tips from hosts
- Start with the wifi code
Wifi codes are often the first thing guests ask for when they arrive, so many hosts put it at the top of their house manuals. “They all want the wifi code, so that is my trick for having them open the house manual and hopefully read it,” said Marit Anne, of Troms, Norway.
- Include parking information
Street parking rules and signs can be confusing, especially if guests speak another language. Some hosts offered up examples of their instructions:
- You're welcome to park in front of the white picket fence on the right side of the driveway, near the hedge.—Ben and Angel, Wellington, New Zealand
- Parking is not provided on the property, but is available a ½ block from the apartment on [street name]. Please do not park in front of the unit, as permits are required and you’ll likely be ticketed or towed.—Jann, Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A.
- Tell guests where to find things and how to use fixtures
After a long journey, it can be difficult to find and use some home essentials. Hosts Joh and Gian, of San Francisco, California, offer up these examples:
- Heater: You will find the thermostat on the wall, close to the TV. Please remember to turn it off when you leave.
- Toilet: Please, nothing but toilet paper should go in the toilet. There’s a little trash bin for everything else.
- Kitchen items: Dishes and cups can be found in the upper cabinets on either side of the microwave. Silverware is in drawer on the left side of the oven, and pans are in the cabinet. Feel free to use any of this as needed to prepare your delicious meal. When you’re done, you can put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. When we have a full load, we’ll start the machine.
Hosts with remote properties also recommend including instructions about trash, water, and other details unique to the area:
- Trash: Place your trash in the 33-gallon trash can in the basement. Please do not put trash outside or on the porch, where birds, raccoons, and other creatures can get into it.—Kim, Upson, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
- Water & Power: Please be conscious of the amount of water and power you use. Hot water is limited.—Fred, Placencia, Belize
- Wildlife: Keep your dogs on a leash. We have a lot of wildlife in the area.—Christina, Nevada, U.S.A.
- Finish with step-by-step instructions for appliances and electronics
Hosts like Jessica and Henry, of South Korea, want to make it simple for guests from other countries to use their household items: “We give information on how to use my microwave, coffee machine, washing machine, and water dispenser because it's all in Korean!” Detailed instructions are key, add hosts Joh and Gian:
- How to connect to Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming services:
- Turn it on the TV in the bedroom and wait a moment. During this time you’ll only see snow
- After one minute, press the multi-colored, diamond-shaped button
- Choose the app you wish to connect to and press the main button. For Netflix, we invite you to use the “Guest” account we created just for you
- Washer and dryer are inside the closet near the entrance of the apartment:
Washer (lower)
- Load it with clothes—only to the halfway point of the machine’s maximum
- Fill up half a lid with detergent, and pour it on the top of the dirty laundry. Optional: fill up half a lid of softener, and pour it inside the receptacle at the center of the machine.
- Pull the far left knob and turn it clockwise to choose the program. Typically, we use the ‘normal regular’ mode
- To start the washer, push the knob. You’ll hear the water filling up the tank. It usually takes 30 to 40 minutes for the ‘normal regular’ cycle to finish.
Dryer (upper)
- Before putting laundry in to dry, remove the filter and clean up any lint before putting it back. Never turn on the dryer without properly placing the filter
- Use the far right knob to set the program that you want. Turn it clockwise. Typically, we use the ‘very dry’ mode
- Press the “on” button and the cycle will start. You will hear a loud beep when the cycle is done
- Keep it brief & friendly
Lastly, many hosts stress the importance of keeping your house manual short and to the point. “You don’t want it to make a guest feel like they have to walk across a minefield to make sure they keep the host happy. Find the right balance between your needs and making your guests feel welcome in your home,” said Tina, of Nanaimo, Canada.
Once you’ve published your instructions, confirmed guests will be able to access your house manual on their smartphones. Creating this manual once will help save time, protect your property, and pave the way for a five-star stay.
