How do you encourage guests to read your house rules?

[Paula]

Hello everyone 😊

House rules are a key part of creating a great experience for guests and Hosts alike. Many Hosts in our community have emphasized the importance of encouraging guests to read and follow them. Some Hosts have mentioned that, once the booking process is complete, they share this information through a message via the Airbnb app. Other Hosts have preferred to leave a printed copy in the accommodation.

Today, we invite you to share your strategies for encouraging guests to read your house rules. What are some of the most successful strategies you've implemented?🌟

Please share your thoughts in the comments, and thank you so much for sharing.

[Paula]

Hello @Kerri309, this is great.

Thanks so much for sharing 😊

[Craig949]

Since we don’t use instabook specifically for this reason, we get the opportunity to touch base with the prospective guest before they book. In our greeting letter we ask them to verify they have read the house rules to ensure the home will work for their stay. After they have read the rules and confirmed the home will work for them including the house policies they then contact is back with a confirmation statement and we confirm their booking. That encourages them to read everything but does not guarantee they will.

[Paula]

Thank you so much for sharing this @Craig949 

Saludos 😊

[Patricia2526]

Hello @Paula 

We use icons or graphics posted near door entrance  to emphasize important rules, such as no smoking or quiet hours, which can catch the guest’s attention more effectively than text alone.

We meet our guests in person, so we go over the key rules during the check-in process. But If you do self-check-in, consider sending a welcome message that includes a reminder to review the house rules.

And under our listing descriptions “other things to note” we require guests to acknowledge the house rules as part of the booking process.

[Paula]

Hello @Patricia2526, Thank you so much for sharing these great strategies with us.

I love the initiative of using icons or graphics, and I can see how this could be more effective than simple text. Did you implement this strategy from the beginning of your hosting journey?

Regards,

[Steve4385]

I noticed some guests 'broke' our house rules and soon realized that many people simply won't read the house rules before they make the reservation. 

Since I still prefer guests know the house rules before booking, I now include house rules in the response to guest's inquiry and reservation request. I will approve only after they confirm the acceptance of the house rules. 

Obviously, the house rules need to be short and simple. Too many rules can be ineffective. 

[Guy991]

Hello @Steve4385 ,

What do you do when the guest doesn’t reply to the message and the time to accept or decline a request is approaching the deadline?

[Steve4385]

@Guy991 I will let it expire. 

There could be several scenarios when they were asked to confirm the acceptance of house rules: 

1. They made the reservation and thought it is already booked and don't check back. In that case, when it is expired, they will come back to reserve again.

2. They don't like the rules and don't respond. In that case, I don't mind that they look for another lodging place.

3. They may ask for some exceptions, such as checking out late or hosting a visit, etc. When they make effort to communicate on their intentions, I will usually grant the exceptions. 

4. They suddenly know the rules and decided to cancel the request. I think it serves the purpose of blocking someone who plan to do something that is against the house rules. 

[Paula]

Interesting strategy @Steve4385, thank you so much for sharing 😊

[Guy991]

Hello @Steve4385 ,

but if you let it expire, don't you lose your response rate and subsequently the super host ranking?

[Simone1943]

I have them include and on QR code for them to read prior to booking and check-in.

If they haven’t read them, I do kindly ask, especially if it states something specific to their booking - just to confirm. That way there are no surprises and a positive outcome on both sides!

[Paula]

Hello @Simone1943, 

Thank you for sharing this strategy. If I understand correctly, do you have this QR code displayed in your listing?

Best regards,

[Simone1943]

Yes, we’ve created one that we share in our arrival guide section.

[Joaquim125]

Hi Paula,

I prefer to leave a summarized document with key dos and dont’s related to the house  policy.

Joaquim

[Paula]

Hello @Joaquim125, great strategy, thank you so much for sharing.

Does this mean that, in general, your guests adhere to your house rules without any inconvenience?

Best regards 😊