Having a house manual is essential for any Airbnb or VRBO host. It provides your guests with all the information they need to have a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Most people are familiar with the traditional house manual that sits in a binder on the entry table. But more and more AirBNB hosts are switching to a digital house manual that can be accessed on phones, computers, tablets and more.
Digital house manuals offer a number of advantages over their paper counterparts. For starters, they’re more accessible. Guests can access the manual before they arrive, so they can start planning their trip and familiarize themselves with your house rules. Plus, digital manuals can be easily updated, so you can keep the information current without having to reprint everything or visit the physical vacation rental.
But the benefits of digital house manuals go beyond just convenience. With a digital format, you can include all sorts of extras that wouldn’t be possible with a paper manual. One example is the use of video in a digital guidebook. A video showing how to use a coffee maker or operate the smart thermostat can oftentimes be much more helpful than still pictures with written text.
Before we dive into more benefits of the digital house manual, let’s take a look at what you should include in it. The below information is a template for a house manual that you can tweak to your liking. It can also be used for printed house manuals should you prefer that route or do a combo print & digital.
House Manual Template For AirBNB Hosts
Introduction
Welcome to [Your Property Name]! We are delighted to host you during your stay and want to ensure that you have a comfortable and memorable experience. This house manual is designed to provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your time here.
Check-In Instructions
Upon arrival, please follow these simple steps to check-in:
- Key Access: [Provide instructions for accessing keys, whether through a lockbox, keyless entry system, or in-person handover. Include any codes or special instructions.]
- Parking: [Outline parking options available to guests, including any designated spaces or street parking regulations.]
- House Tour: [If applicable, offer a brief overview of the property layout and highlight important features or amenities.]
House Rules
To ensure a pleasant stay for all guests, we kindly ask that you adhere to the following house rules:
- No Smoking: Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the property.
- Pet Policy: Pets are not allowed unless otherwise specified.
- Noise: Please be mindful of noise levels, especially during quiet hours from [specify hours].
- Guest Limit: The maximum occupancy of the property is [specify number]. Additional guests are not permitted without prior approval.
Amenities
We want you to feel at home during your stay. Here are some amenities available for your use:
- Kitchen: Fully equipped with appliances, cookware, and utensils.
- Wi-Fi: Complimentary high-speed internet access is provided.
- Entertainment: [List available entertainment options such as streaming services, board games, or outdoor activities.]
Local Recommendations
Explore the best that [Your Location] has to offer with these local recommendations:
- Dining: [Highlight nearby restaurants, cafes, and eateries known for their exceptional cuisine.]
- Attractions: [Recommend popular attractions, landmarks, and points of interest.]
- Outdoor Activities: [Suggest outdoor activities such as hiking trails, parks, or beaches.]
Emergency Contacts
In case of any emergencies or issues during your stay, please contact the following:
- Host: [Provide host contact information, including phone number and email.]
- Emergency Services: Dial [Emergency Number] for immediate assistance.
Feedback
We value your feedback and strive to continually improve our guests’ experience. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to enhance your stay or if you have any suggestions for future guests.
Thank you for choosing [Your Property Name]! We hope you have a wonderful stay.
[Your Signature]
[Your Name/Property Management]
5 Reasons To Switch To A Digital House Manual
We’ve shared with you a template to get started creating your house manual. Now let’s talk about going digital. Here at GoGuidebook, our specialty is digital house manuals for vacation rentals and hotels. We’ve created an all-in-one system that makes creating, updating, sharing, and tracking your manual simple and affordable. You can click here to see all the features of our digital house manuals. We’ll also delve into the benefits below:
1. Update Your House Manual From Anywhere
If you’re an experienced AirBNB host, you’ve likely had the urge to update your house manual with a new restaurant, bar, coffee shop, attraction, etc. that just opened up in town but cringe at the thought of updating your printed house manual, printing off a new copy, going by the vacation rental in-person (even worse if you live in a different state) and swapping out the binder with the new information. What if there was a better way? With a digital house manual, you can update your guidebook from anywhere at any time. Simply login to your dashboard and add that new restaurant. The time savings is immeasurable.
2. Guests Have Access Ahead of Time
As an AirBNB host myself, I always get asked the question, “Can you recommend some local restaurants or attractions so we can make reservations ahead of time?”. It’s a very valid question and one that we need to provide a great response on to provide the 5-star experience we strive for. Before our digital guidebook, we either emailed back a large list in an email or had to go through the time-consuming process of a personalized response. Not anymore! With our digital house manual, we simply send them a link. They access it from any computer, mobile phone, etc. and it has all of our up to date recommendations laid out in a beautiful format and perfectly categorized.
3. Videos, Voice Recordings & More
There’s are some things that words on a page simply can’t explain very well. Like using a smart thermostat or a fancy espresso machine. What if you could incorporate videos into your house manual? Now you can! Digital house manuals bring the magic of video and other multimedia into the realm of possibilities. Simply upload a video to YouTube and embed it directly in your guidebook. Want to take it a step further? GoGuidebook offers QR codes for each topic meaning you could print a QR code, attach it to your espresso machine with a note that says, “Scan this code to view a video on how to operate”. Guests will be taken directly to the topic with the video after scanning the code. Magic, huh?
4. Make Your House Manual Multilingual
Hosting guests from all over the world is a great privilege. Making them feel at home when visiting from overseas is something all AirBNB hosts should strive for. Making your house manual multilingual is a great way to accomplish that. With GoGuidebook, our system automatically translates every house manual topic into over 12 languages. Guests can select their preferred language when visiting the digital house manual. No extra work from you but you can take all the credit.
Creating a digital house manual is as easy as creating a printed one. Simply go to GoGuidebook.com/signup and start your free trial. We offer templates you can utilize that will automatically import the most common topics. You can then tweak those topics & content for your specific needs. You can also create your own topics, add video and so much more.
