House Rules

[Max3058]

Do you send your house rules to guests prior to checking in?

[Lorna170]

@Max3058   Yes.  As the host, it is your responsibility to ensure that your guests are aware of your house rules prior to arrival.  Guests DON'T READ beyond making their reservation.  

[Max3058]

Thank you @lorna170.  I just started doing this noticing the same thing.  I guess we have been lucky up to this point and haven't had any guest issues.  But recently, it became clear that we needed to make sure guests were looking at them.  We recently had a group of young guys stay at our place and we sent them the house rules and asked them to acknowledge before sending check-in instructions.  They dinged us for it in their review.  I think we may have too many rules.  Would you be willing to share yours with me or maybe I could send mine to you for your two cents? @Lorna170 

[Lorna170]

@Max3058  I would be happy to review your rules -- DM me.

Rules are specific to each property and property type, but every host should be able to expect basic human decency and respect from their guests.  

My properties are whole house rentals and I live nearby. My rules fall within things I can reasonably direct -- how to use the kitchen appliances and property amenities and my expectations that trash hits the can and the guest knows how to wash a dish.  Some guest demographics have no trouble with these basic rules, but there are always those who feel that they "have rented this AirBnB and can do as they please".

The key is communication.  When a guest books, I acknowledge their booking and send them a Rental Agreement (as required by my state) which reiterates the house rules that are posted on the AirBnB website.  When I send the guest their Welcome Package with the door codes and driving directions, the house rules are again included in that document.  

[Max3058]

Do you ask them for an email address for this correspondence? Or do you message throught ap?

[Lorna170]

@Max3058   I ask the guest for their email address as my contract is too lengthy to send via messaging.  My house rules are on the air website, but the guest has ignored them or is not aware of how to find them and read them.

[Elisa]

Hi @Max3058   😊, 

Thank you for asking this question here!

Did you have time to read @Lorna170 ’s comment?

Do you have a better idea of what to do now?

I'm also tagging a few hosts to see if they’d like to share how they manage this: @Angela1056, @Beverley120, @Bob297, @Brian2659, @Calvin173, @Chamitha0 and @Dave1388.

Thank you in advance, everyone!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Warm regards 🌻

[Angela1056]

Yes @Max3058 , as soon as a booking is confirmed we send the House Rules together with the Short Term lease agreement which is mandatory if you do STR in Italy. 

[Joelle43]

Absolutely @Max3058!  I presume that guests won't have read them on the listing itself so I send it via Airbnb message when I receive a request to book and ask my guests to take a few minutes to read them and to let me know if they are OK with them so that I can go ahead and approve their booking.

[Bob297]

@Max3058 
Mu house rules are on the airbnb website.
I also send a confirmation after they book

[Ahmed1087]

It is available 

[Elaine701]

@Max3058 

"House rules" are in most practical senses, unenforceable anyway. And I only have a few. The most important one is no smoking in the house. Of any kind. And it's clearly posted. 

There's ashtrays outside, so if people by are going to smoke, I've made it easy for them to follow that rule. 

I shouldn't need to tell them to wash the dishes,  or not to throw food at the TV or don't throw liquor bottles into the pool. 

If you have to create a long list of behavioral rules and make them sign or something, then you may be attracting the wrong type of guest. 

It's important to remember that you're in the hospitality business. You might think your competition is the other Airbnb down the street, but in the big scheme of things, you're actually competing with hotels. They too are in the hospitality business. Professionally. 

What if when you check in to a hotel, they hand you a long list of rules and make you agree to every one of them? How would you feel about that? Hotels have learned how to "guest proof" so they can deliver a more "hospitable" product with minimal burden on the guest. That's your competition, not the other Airbnb down the street.

Run your business as a hospitality business, and the last thing you'll be competing with is the other Airbnb down the street. But they'll be competing with you.

Good luck and happy hosting 😃 

[Max3058]

Thanks I like where you are coming from.

[Kathy134]

Yes @Max3058 , I always send my house rules to guests prior to check-in. I believe it's important to set clear expectations from the start to ensure a smooth and respectful stay. I share the house rules in my pre-arrival message, along with other details like check-in instructions and any relevant information about the space. The most important house rules are also included on a welcome card at the entrance of my listing, so guests can easily refer to them during their stay. This way, they have all the information they need before they arrive, and it helps avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.

[Ivan2229]

It's too much to read; guests may not read it. Instead, maybe add a welcome message, wishing them safe travels, and remind them to review the house rules upon entering.