Early check-in/late check-out

[Leah502]

Hello all, I am new to hosting and this is actually my first post in this community.  I have found alot of helpful advice on this forum but haven't been able to find the exact answer to this question so my apologies if it has been asked already.  I have been asked several times already for an early check-in/late check-out.  Where exactly would this fee be added if a guest requests it?  Can it be added AFTER a guest has already booked/paid and if so how do they pay it?  I see several fees that can be added but those are not listed.  

TIA!

Leah

[Leah502]

@Sybe Thanks!  Learning my around for sure and everyone is very helpful!

[Gillian166]

@Leah502  welcome!

Although many will say you should charge for early check-in I never do. If I can offer it, I will, but i only confirm it the day before arrival. So i let the guest know that the cottage is booked before them and I have to do the turnover to prep for their arrival. (this is really just to remind them that my place isn't sitting empty, and I only have the one cottage to offer them, cos we aren't a hotel).

I call it "complimentary early arrival"

1) this lets them know they are getting some extra, for free, yay. 
2) i use 'arrival' instead of 'check-in' because i try to get away from hotel language. It's just a subtle way to train guests into the notion that STR are different. 

how much would you reasonably charge a guest for early check-in? $25-50? is this worth it? oh and remember there'll be a guest surcharge on that fee. I'd rather give the guest this bit of extra value and hope it gives me a good review. 

Another option:  (never had any takers though), I've offered them a 50% discount on the night before their reservation date (if available).

The majority of guests who ask for early check-in never make it here early anyway. It's usually further to drive than they think, and they take it slow enjoying the countryside, and stop for lunch. Happens so much i will often grant early arrival to guests who are arriving by plane, hiring a car and claiming they'll be up to us by midday (it's a 1 hour drive). LOL. So I say 'sure' and so far 100% of the time they arrive late in the afternoon.  

[Jeremy100]

Depending on how busy I am I will sometimes allow an early in, late out.  Sometimes I will charge, sometimes I won’t.  I sometimes offer late out without being asked.   Some guests are nice others have taken advantage.  I play it by ear on a case by case basis.  One guest asked for an extra 1/2 hr to go for a walk and came back 2 hrs later another gave me a poor review because I could not give them a later out.  On balance check in between 2 and 10, check out at 11am.