Why a template
Why an airbnb house manual template beats a custom one
Hosts who build a house manual from scratch over-explain. The wifi section runs three paragraphs; the check-out section forgets to mention dishes. A template imposes the discipline the host’s hospitality instinct undermines: short sections, one job each, in the order a guest will ask.
The other reason: consistency. A host running two or more units wants the same structure on every property. The template enforces that without the host having to remember.
The eight sections
The eight sections every airbnb house manual template needs
1. Wifi (first, always)
Network name, password, and which router to power-cycle if the connection drops. Print this in 18pt on a card by the kitchen counter. It is the single most-asked guest question and the only one with zero ambiguity in the answer.
2. Check-in
Door code, where to find the key if there isn’t a code, parking instructions, and what to do if the code doesn’t work. Three sentences. The host’s phone number is the safety net, not the primary instruction.
3. Check-out
Specific tasks: dishes in the dishwasher, trash to the curb (or wherever), towels in the tub, lock the door. Phrase as a checklist. The clearer the list, the more turnover-ready the unit gets.
4. Appliances
Coffee maker, dishwasher, washer-dryer if applicable, thermostat, smart TV, anything non-obvious. One photo per appliance plus two lines on how to use it. Skip the appliances that work normally.
5. Trash and recycling
Where the bins live, when pickup day is, what goes where. This sounds trivial; it is the second most common message guests send.
6. Neighbourhood
Three to five picks: closest decent coffee, closest grocery, one restaurant the host actually rates, the nearest pharmacy, one weekend activity. Specific, named. Generic “great restaurants nearby” gets ignored.
7. Emergencies
Plumbing leak, power out, smoke alarm, lockout. Two-line instructions per scenario plus a number to call. This is the section guests hope they never read but read first if something fails.
8. Host contact
Phone number, preferred channel (Airbnb message, SMS, WhatsApp), and a sentence on response time. Set the expectation honestly. “I respond within an hour during the day, longer at night” is better than “always available” that you can’t keep.
The house manual gets read on a phone in the first five minutes after arrival. Anything not scannable in that window doesn’t exist.
Format
Where to put it: printed, digital, or both
| Format | Wins on | Loses on |
|---|---|---|
| Printed binder on counter | Read in the first five minutes; survives offline; replaces 11pm messages | Goes out of date if not refreshed quarterly |
| PDF emailed pre-stay | Guest can search; lives on the phone | Read in 30% of stays at best |
| Listing’s built-in house manual (Airbnb) | Pre-booking visibility; helps the listing rank | Hard to format; guests don’t return to it once booked |
| QR code to a hosted page | Easy to update; analytics | Requires phone, depends on wifi |
The host setup that works best: printed binder on the kitchen counter, plus the listing’s built-in field filled in with the same content. Skip the PDF email; it gets ignored.
Everything you hand a guest, matched and priced to move together.
Voice
The voice the house manual should be in
Plain. Direct. Short sentences. Address the guest as “you” (Airbnb guests are reading it on a phone, half-tired). Skip emoji; they read as marketing. Skip exclamation marks past the welcome line.
One example of the voice we mean. Bad: “Welcome to our beautiful home! We hope you enjoy your stay! The wifi password is amazing!!!” Good: “Wifi: network ApartmentA, password 12345. Router is in the hall closet; cycle the power if the connection drops.”
The second one cuts the 11pm message. The first one is what most house manuals sound like.
The print-ready house manual pages now ship inside the Airbnb Superhost Bundle, alongside the printable signs and the host spreadsheet. The eight sections above plus the voice rules will still get you ninety percent of the way if you would rather write your own.
If you’ve got a manual that works well, drop a sample in the comments. We’re collecting examples for the bundle, with hosts credited.
If writing one from a blank page feels like a chore, our Airbnb welcome book template carries these house manual sections in eight designs, with the structure already laid out to fill in.
FAQ
Common questions, answered briefly
What should an airbnb house manual template include?
Should I print the airbnb house manual or just put it in the listing?
How long should an airbnb house manual be?
What’s the most common house manual mistake?
Should I include house rules in the airbnb house manual template?
If yours isn’t above, drop the question in the comments and we’ll add it.
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