Check-in procedure and guidebook pdf

[Shay1]

Hello! 

Brand new host here! I've just had my first booking which will be in two weeks time and wanted to get others' opinions on proper check-in procedure? Also, is there any way I can send a pdf as an attachment through the AirBnB message portal? I'd like to send the guest a pdf of the guidebook I've made for my apartment... Any tips would be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you 🙂 

[Robin4]

@Shay1...Hi there Shay, I send a message of welcome on behalf of I, my wife, and our dog ( most important) when a guests booking is confirmed, and then I leave it at that until two days before the guest arrives! I then send them a 'heads up' to let them know that all is in readiness for their visit and give them a brief outline of the required information for their arrival....pets, kids, car parking, whatever.

Now Shay, you can overdo it by sending masses of information that will make the guest wonder what the hell they have got themselves into!!! Sometimes, less is more! Save that guidebook till their arrival. I can't tell you if it is possible to send a PDF on Airbnb, but I wouldn't! Unless it's about local wineries or restaurants it will probably just annoy them...setting down a heap of rules before they have even got there!!! I have got a fantastic guide book which links with a 6 minute video loop of my cottage, the town and the area including all relevant attractions, and all our guests make comment on it and love it. It's a bit indulgent because I back it with my own piano....but I have played all my life and still play at least an hour a day, so I am not a complete donkey on the keys!!....But they would have possibly resented it if they got it before they set foot in the cottage.

Personal thing Shay...but don't over do it!.....cheers....Rob

[Shay1]

Thank you for your reply, Rob! I definitely don't want to bombard anyone with unnecessary info so will take your suggestion onboard 🙂 

[Marit-Anne0]

@Shay1

You can send info using the link to their privat e-mail, but I agree with Robin here that less is more.  I only send info in those cases when guests need to lock themself into the apartment on their own. Then I have a dessignated document with photos.  I also send map links if the guests want detailed driving or walking directions.  But that is all.  Local info like supermarkets, restaurants and local attractions you can enter into the airbnb guidebook. TripAdvisor is often handy for tourist info and questions.

[Robin4]

@Marit-Anne0....I would love you to see my guide book! I have spent an enormous amount of time on it...and it really does blow guests away. But I figure it is best to give guests all the information they need without them having to ask questions they will no doubt forget the answers to!!! My cottage also has a really, really good video and sound system, and the guidebook links with a video loop I literally spent hundreds of hours putting together! But I wanted it to be spectacular....and it is! Guests say they watched it over and over again, and then they want to see me play the backing track I did for it on my piano. I know it's indulgent but it draws guests into that lovely hosting environment I like to create. Hey, but I am sure you know what I mean!....cheers....Rob

[Nancy2]

@Shay1

I created a Welcome Guide that doesn't really talk about rules, more about how to's which incoporate my few rules.

My table of contents:

Arrival info - Check-In Time, Driving Directions, Parking, Keys

Departure Info - Check-Out Time, Check-out Process

Transportation in the Area

The Pets (I have 2 dogs and a bird.  This is the longest section)

Where to Find Stuff - Towels and Hair Dryer, Washer & Dryer, Ironing Board & Iron, Exercise Equipment, Kitchen, Garbage & Recycle, First Aid Kit

How Things Work - Overhead light/fan, Television, DVD Player, Internet

Places to Enjoy a Meal in the House - Patio, Dining Room, Kitchen Counter

Smoking

Guide to Activities in the Area

Nearby Parks

Where to Eat - Local Restaurants

Medical Help - Location of Urgent Care, First Aid Kit

Under the tab Basics (when you are editing your listing) there is a section for House Manual.  Guests don't see this section until you confirm their reservation so you can put addresses and phone numbers in it.

I say:  Please download my Welcome Guide for detailed directions and important info about my home and the area.  See Google Doc link below.

https://docs.google.com/documento/d/1vs-eJ8.....

When a reservation is confirmed I send them a message telling them to look for this info.  If they are only staying one or two nights I send them directions and brief check-in and check-out info but tell them there is more detail if they look for the link in the information Airbnb sent them when they booked.

And I also have a copy of it in their room.

I used to use Dropbox but so many people weren't familiar with it I changed to Google Docs which has been easier for guests.

I thought about leaving the link complete so you could look at it but then I realized it has personal info that I'd rather not have totally out on the internet!

Wish you all the best,

Nancy

[Shay1]

@Nancy2 

That is fabulous, thank you so much for your time! I was considering using dropbox but felt the same way as you, that not too many people use it. Google docs is a great idea!

[Paul-and-Vicki0]

Hi Nancy

I liked your idea of a googledocs file so clicked the link and got "404 File Not Found".

Have you taken it down?

Thanks for the idea at least.

Cheers

Paul

[Raquel15]

Great question....did you get a response?  I have just about the same situation.