A house manual guests actually read is short, organised by what guests need when they need it, and shared in the places they look: your Airbnb listing, a message before arrival, and a printed page in the home. Put Wi-Fi and the things that aren't obvious at the top, and keep the rest to one page.
Most house manuals are written for the host: ten pages of rules and appliance instructions that nobody opens. A good one is written for a tired guest who just walked in and wants to know three things: how to get online, how to get hot water, and where to eat.
What to put in it, in order
Order matters. Put things in the order guests need them.
1. The first ten minutes
- Wi-Fi network and password, at the very top.
- Hot water: where the switch or geyser is, and how long it takes.
- Air conditioning or heating: where the remotes are and which button does what.
- Lights and power: any switch that isn't where guests expect, and where the fuse board is.
2. Living in the home
- Kitchen: what's provided (oil, salt, tea, coffee), how the stove and any filters work, and where the drinking water is.
- Washing machine and where to dry clothes, if guests can use them.
- TV: which remote, which input, and the streaming apps that are logged in.
- Rubbish and recycling: where it goes and on which days.
- Pool, garden or terrace: hours and anything guests should know.
3. House rules, briefly
Your listing shows your house rules already. In the manual, remind guests of the ones that matter during the stay, in a friendly tone:
Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 7 am, as our neighbours are close by. Smoking is welcome on the terrace, not inside. Thank you!
4. Checkout
- Checkout time.
- What to do with keys, towels, dishes and rubbish.
- Whether to message you when they leave.
5. Help and emergencies
- Your number, and a second contact if you're unreachable.
- Local emergency numbers.
- The nearest hospital and pharmacy.
- Where the first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are.
6. Local tips
Three to five places you'd send a friend: a breakfast spot, a dinner place, a grocery shop, the nearest ATM, one thing worth seeing. Add map links. Guests trust a host's personal recommendation more than a search result.
Keep it to one page
Guests skim. A one-page manual with clear headings gets read; a booklet doesn't. Tricks that help:
- Headings that match questions: "Wi-Fi", "Hot water", "Checkout", not "Section 3: Utilities".
- One line per item. If an item needs a paragraph, it needs a photo instead.
- Photos for the hard parts: the geyser switch, the fuse board, the key box.
- A second page for details: appliance manuals, long instructions and anything most guests won't need.
Where to share it
Guests look in different places, so put the manual in three:
- Your Airbnb listing. Airbnb listings have a house manual section. Fill it in with the same text.
- A message before arrival. Send the manual (or a link to it) with your check-in details, or soon after the guest arrives. See the check-in message every guest needs.
- A printed copy in the home, on the kitchen counter or by the door, plus the Wi-Fi details on a small card by the router or TV.
If you message guests on WhatsApp, a PDF or a short message with the essentials is easy for them to find again later. See WhatsApp for Airbnb hosts.
A template you can copy
Welcome to {home}!
Wi-Fi: {network} / {password} Hot water: {where the switch is, how long it takes} AC / heating: {where the remotes are, any tips} TV: {which remote, which input}
Kitchen: {what's provided; drinking water} Washing machine: {how to use, where to dry} Rubbish: {where it goes, which days}
Please remember: {2 or 3 house rules that matter most}
Checkout: by {time}. {Keys, towels, dishes}. A quick message when you leave is appreciated!
Need help? Message or call {your name} on {number}. If I'm unreachable: {second contact}. Emergencies: {local number} · Nearest hospital: {name, map link} · First-aid kit: {where}
Our favourites nearby:
- Breakfast: {place, map link}
- Dinner: {place, map link}
- Groceries: {shop, map link}
Enjoy your stay!
Keep it up to date
Your guests write your manual for you. Every time a guest asks a question, ask yourself whether the manual should have answered it. If it should, add one line. After a few months the questions mostly stop.
Also update it whenever something changes: a new Wi-Fi password, a new TV, a new restaurant you love. An out-of-date manual is worse than none, because guests stop trusting it.
Why it matters for reviews
Every question a guest has to ask is a small moment of friction. Clear Wi-Fi, hot water and checkout details mean fewer of those moments, and a smoother stay shows up in the categories guests rate, like check-in, communication and accuracy. A good manual also saves you time: fewer late-night messages about the AC remote.
How Prohostings helps
Prohostings keeps your home's details (Wi-Fi, appliances, checkout, nearby places) in one place and uses them to answer guests on WhatsApp at any hour, so the house manual becomes something guests can simply ask. You can fill it in from a house manual you already have, as a PDF, document or photo. Start with the free listing report.
FAQ
What should an Airbnb house manual include?
Wi-Fi, how to use anything that isn't obvious (hot water, AC, TV, washing machine), house rules, rubbish and recycling, checkout steps, emergency contacts and a few local tips.
How long should a house manual be?
One page for the essentials. Put the details guests rarely need, like appliance manuals, in a second section or a folder in the home.
Where should I share the house manual?
In your Airbnb listing's house manual section, as a message or PDF before arrival, and as a printed copy in the home. Guests look in different places.
Should I include house rules in the manual?
Yes, briefly. Your listing already shows your house rules; the manual is a reminder of the ones that matter most during the stay, like quiet hours or no smoking indoors.
How often should I update it?
Whenever something changes, and every time a guest asks a question the manual should have answered.