RESOURCES · GUIDEBOOKS
The complete vacation rental welcome book checklist
Use this checklist to build or audit your welcome book. Not every property needs every item, but every item here has generated a guest message for some host somewhere, and answering them in advance is cheaper.
& Access
Manual
Favorites
Rules
Arrival and access
Driving directions and what GPS gets wrong. Door code and how the lock works. When the code activates. Parking: where, how many cars, and where never to park. WiFi network and password, plus where the router is when it needs a restart.
House manual
Coffee machine and what it takes. Thermostat location and limits. TV inputs and streaming logins. Washer and dryer quirks. Trash and recycling days, and which bin goes out when. Grill, hot tub, or pool procedures. Anything with a non-obvious switch.
Local recommendations
Two or three genuine favorites per category beat long lists: coffee, dinner, groceries, a pharmacy, and one thing guests should not miss. Include full addresses so they land on a map. Note the one local tip that never makes review sites.
Rules, quiet hours, and safety
The short version of your rules: smoking, pets, parties, occupancy. Quiet hours and why they matter. Emergency contact, the property address as guests should read it to a 911 operator, and where to find the fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
Checkout
Time, and no more than five tasks. Dishes, towels, trash, thermostat, lock the door. More than five reads as chores and shows up in reviews. End with a thank you and, if you take direct bookings, the link for next time.
Keep it current
A welcome book with last season's restaurant hours is worse than none. Digital guidebooks earn their keep here: change the WiFi password once, and it is correct on every guest's phone immediately.
Build a guide guests actually open
Tabellara turns this advice into a working guidebook: app-style guides, area maps, and page-level analytics.
Create your guide