Hi @Paras45
1. You need to double check your check in cut off times. I once had someone book at 9:35pm for a 10pm check in and was confused as we usually allow bookings till 9pm but the new release and our new listing had a default of anytime it appeared. Luckily since we live on site we got the place ready (code put in, lights on, welcome board out, as it was already cleaned). I quickly went into settings and made sure the cut off time was reasonable so we wouldn’t have any surprises! Many hosts don’t do same day check ins for this reason. We have had a few same day check ins with no issues though.
2. Toiletries: We put the brands we use so guests have an idea of what we provide. It’s important to change it if for some reason you get a different brand (as some guests could mark you down). I’ve seen hosts say in their listing that bed sheets may be different than the pictures. I mean yeah that’s to be expected unless you only do white sheets (we don’t as I like some subtle colors light gray’s, light blues, light greens, white sometimes). But I wouldn’t have thought to write that in my listing nor to downgrade a host for different linens.
3. I don’t like the today tab as I easily would look at the calendar and see who was checking in or out. The reviews I always stay on top of it so don’t need to follow up on past reviews. So I don’t seen any usefulness of this new feature.
4. We have mini split (temp/fan) controllers on the walls for our suites as we didn’t want to have to deal with a lost controller. We don’t limit the ability to set the temperature but understand why hosts would. I do have an auto setting that people can use that has general times to cool/heat upon waking or leaving or coming home or going to bed but we don’t know their schedule. We do have heated floors and I have those on a schedule to save electricity. A guest could increase the temp and it overrides for up to 2 hours then goes back to the schedule.
I do ask guests to turn down/off the heat or ac when they leave and they have been doing this mostly. It’s just because I had someone cool the space to 62F and leave, while others heated the place to 85F! I guess it’s relative so I put suggested info in the house manual and check out instructions. We have not gotten wifi enabled controls yet but it was considered.
5. For guests who want an early check in we explain something like @Guy991 does. Yes it’s important not to have them drop it off at an unmade listing as I’ve read on the CC here where guests then complained that the room was unmade (hello the hosts let you drop off your things when the cleaning crew was cleaning before your check in time and you knew about this - are you trying to get a discount when this was an accommodation that was allowed).
I’ve recently had a guest asking for a late check out without paying for extra time (like 7pm late and check out is 11am, that’s another day, really; saying that they saw on my calendar that I don’t have someone coming in - that is a bit presumptuous to assume I may let you stay 8 hours later without a fee) or early check in like 11am check in (when check in is 4pm) and I have to explain to them that with cleaning, I cannot allow an early check in but am happy to hold your luggage while you explore the area and if we get done earlier we will let you know.
I’ve also had a guest who booked for a night before and checked in at 6am which is acceptable as if you want the space before 4pm, you should reserve the night before.
Since we had several people ask recently we came up with a policy that we allow early check ins if the space is available and if anything over a certain time, we charge in half day increments. I think it may be because some guests thanked us in their review for an early check in/late check out so now people are asking a lot more 😞
On a different thread I explained to a guest that hotel check ins are 3-4pm and early is like 2pm or if the room is ready. You can get even earlier if you are a VIP of that hotel or pay for early access.
