Getting Started
25 Essentials for a Short-Term Rental Welcome Book
Direct answer
A short-term rental welcome book should cover 25 essentials from trip planning through checkout. Group them into pre-arrival, arrival, in-stay, safety and contact, and departure sections instead of placing everything on one screen. Exact addresses, Wi-Fi credentials, and entry details should appear only at their appropriate access level.
Create a Free Guest Guide with stayV HostKey takeaways
- Group 25 essentials by the point in the stay when a guest needs them.
- Publish only facilities and operating details that have been checked at the property.
- Keep public guidance, booked-guest details, and entry-only values at separate levels.
What are pre-arrival essentials 1 through 6?
Start with public-safe information that changes travel preparation.
- 1. Property name and booking confirmation path
- 2. Check-in and checkout dates and times
- 3. Public-safe area and transport overview
- 4. The real early-arrival and luggage-storage policy
- 5. Host response hours and contact route
- 6. Public guide link and supported languages
What are arrival essentials 7 through 12?
Place them in the same order the guest moves from destination to door.
- 7. Exact address under the configured disclosure policy
- 8. Map pin and local-language taxi address
- 9. Current building exterior and entrance photos
- 10. Final transit, driving, or parking segment
- 11. Ordered steps from building entrance to unit
- 12. Protected entry information and a real access fallback
What are in-stay essentials 13 through 20?
Use one card and current control photos for each facility.
- 13. Wi-Fi network and protected credentials
- 14. Heating, cooling, and hot-water instructions
- 15. Laundry and other essential appliances
- 16. Kitchen, bathroom, and consumable boundaries
- 17. General, recyclable, and food-waste disposal
- 18. Quiet hours and shared-space rules
- 19. Public-safe local convenience information
- 20. Contact order for damage, loss, or a facility problem
What are safety and checkout essentials 21 through 25?
Publish only procedures and equipment the property has verified.
- 21. Verified local emergency actions and official contacts
- 22. Property evacuation route and safety-equipment locations
- 23. Checkout time and key or card return
- 24. Waste, dishes, heating or cooling, and door-lock checklist
- 25. Lost-property and post-stay contact path
How to apply this in stayV Host
Map the 25 items into stayV Basics, Arrival, Stay information, Amenities, Rules, and FAQ cards, then order them around the guest journey.
Do not activate a title-only card. Publish each item after its property facts and images have been reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Must all 25 items be written on the first day?
No. Start with check-in, address, contact, essential facilities, and checkout. Leave out facilities and rules that do not exist or have not been verified.
Is a welcome book the same as house rules?
House rules are one part of a welcome book. The wider guide also covers arrival, facilities, safety, local context, and departure.
Should a host also keep a printed copy?
A public-safe emergency and facility summary can be printed where useful. Keep frequently changed or protected values in the current web guide and remove stale printouts.
Related free tools
Free Check-in Message Generator
Create a structured check-in draft with safe placeholders and no live entry credentials.
Free Wi-Fi QR Code Generator for Guest Stays
Create a Wi-Fi QR code locally without sending credentials to an external API.
Free House Rules Generator for Short-Term Rentals
Draft relevant property rules without discriminatory, threatening, or unverified legal language.