The property manual is a vital component to any property and
the content of which can significantly improve the quality of your
guests' stay.
Whether you’re supplying your guests with a hard copy ringbinder or a
digital guestbook, you’ll
undoubtedly have a lot of information to share with your guests. What to
include in your property manual is one of the most commonly asked
questions from short stay and hosts, so if you too are
questioning your content, we are here to help with our ultimate property
manual checklist:
Begin with your contact details (name, address, phone number, email address) in a prominent position within your guestbook. If your guests need to contact you they may need to do so quickly, so don’t want to be scrabbling around for a phone number in a time of need.
‘What time is check-out?’, is one of the most commonly asked questions
from guests, so placing this information early on will be appreciated.
If necessary, also include any further information about a possible late
check-out (another very common request!).
You can also include details on what parking is available here, giving
specific details if necessary, so guests feel comfortable leaving their
vehicle during their stay.
Also, any instructions around how to open the door (if electronic), or
where to collect the key is essential and ideally sent to your guests
prior to their stay if you are providing them with an online manual.
Another area worth including early on is your house rules. You may want
to detail your rules around pets, smoking, shoes, visitors and ‘quiet
times’ in this section.
We recommend you try and word this section carefully so not to appear
too constricting whilst making your rules clear and concise, to help
protect your property.
Some of the key points to include in this section are:
Other useful information to include in this section would be details around how any electrical appliances work:
It’s also good to cover any equipment left for children, if applicable.
Guests arriving with a small child don’t want to be hunting around for a
crib or highchair, so make sure you leave clear instructions on where to
find them.
Safety and security is a good area to cover here too, with details on
where to find fire extinguishers, a safe or simply how to open locked
doors and windows.
Finally, don’t forget to tell your guests where they can find extra
linen, towels, toilet roll etc, if applicable.
One section in a property manual that guests really appreciate is tips
and recommendations around the local area. If you know your area well,
personal recommendations on restaurants, pubs and local attractions are
encouraged as this gives the guests confidence when exploring the local
area.
Be sure to include details on where they can find local amenities too,
such as
And remember to leave any numbers for local takeaways and taxi numbers which are also really appreciated.
Finally, how your property manual is presented is an important
consideration. Some opt for the more traditional ringbinder whilst
others choose to build it
online, giving them the
option to send information to their guests prior to their stay and allow
them to take the manual out with them on their phone when exploring the
local area.
In more recent times, hosts choosing to go online are also appreciating
the hygiene benefits of a digital manual, instead of having to clean and
manage a well used hardcopy after every stay.