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.

[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 😊

[John-C-2]

It's screened out the trouble makers. 😉

[John-C-2]

I place them into the text message and direct messaging into the portal on the day of rental.  It's right in their face then.  I know the mistake I made this time out was to allow 'autobooking.'  That was an oversight I did not initially review and change upon creating a rental profile.  It brought me two bad guest.  

[Paula]

Hello @John-C-2, thank you so much for sharing your perspective.

If I understand correctly, you no longer have instant booking activated, is that correct?

Please keep us updated.

[Kim4599]

Hi Paula, 

I believe that it is important to respond to each booking with a personal greeting (not a standard one) to establish a rapport. I then ask them to let me know first and last names of everyone who is on the reservation and that they have read and agree to the house rules. 

[Paula]

Hello @Kim4599, thank you so much for sharing your experience.

Providing a personalized service is crucial in fostering excellent connections between Hosts and guests. When you inquire about the confirmation of the house rules being read, do guests typically respond?

Looking forward to keep learning from your experience 🌸

[Kim4599]

They do. I believe that it is because they know its a personal message and not automated.

[Nikki584]

Keep your house rules simple and emphasize things you find most important. If you have too many rules, it can detract from the enjoyment of a guests stay. 

If your rules are simple and you are struggling with your guests following them, try sending out messages that highlight the most important or most often missed rules. It may help to explain the importance of the rule and/or how it not only benefits the host but also the guests.

Being friendly and welcoming and always striving to provide the level of professionalism and customer service you would want yourself goes a long way to not only providing an excellent customer experience but also getting the best out of the guests you host.

[Paula]

Thank you so much for sharing this, @Nikki584 

At what point in the booking process do you think hosts should highlight the most important house rules?

Regards,

[Nikki584]

It would make sense to send a copy along with the check-in instructions but I have yet to find it important to have communications about house rules with guests. I have been fortunate enough to have had almost nothing but impeccable guests since I started hosting.

I think that setting the tone of the stay and providing a quality experience and kind but professional tone may have a bigger impact on guests than the list of rules. In the 8 months I've been hosting, all but 1 guest has left my house nearly as clean as it was when they checked in.

[Rose422]

Hi Paula, 

This is a great question. I always wondered if guests did or not without asking them directly. I believe the key is to communicate why you have house rules in the first place. For example, there are dog poop signs saying "Pick up after your dog" then there are signs saying "pet waste transmits disease, please take responsibility" or something like that, you get the idea. If I have quiet hours rule and I feel that there is a possibility guests might not observe it such as spring break etc, I would include a note in the welcome message, sharing how I love hosting and how I want to do it long term in my treehouse boathouse unique listing, that residential apartments overlook the boats and if neighbors are to complain about noise or parties, chances are the management will ban airbnbs or the city will change the zoning or things like that. Then there is always no smoking explanation, if I sense there would be smokers I would say that I have rugs and pillows and all sorts of stuff outdoors on the decks and that I would appreciate if smoking is done off the boat on the dock on stone tables using the dedicated ash trey I provided in the shared area. I even wrote Please Close the Lid on ash trey so Florida winds dont pick things up and all over then place.  I can never say don't do something, well if someone is a smoker, they have to smoke and you have to tell them where to smoke, if they can't smoke in your listing. I would say don't just copy paste things for everyone, it may be irrelevant and take pleasure out of hosting. As a host I would suggest to never say guests have to clean up, or wash dishes or keep your place clean. It is not the right thing to do, especially introducing charges for dirty dishes and broken items and listing in the house rules. This is not professional. I would say overall, we never know if anyone has read the rules or not, but if specific rules are important you have to explain them in a way it makes sense.

Thats my two cents. 

Rose.