Check-in checklist

The night before

• Confirm the cleaning has been completed and send (or receive) a confirmation photo
• Check the booking details again: guest count, arrival time, any special requests
• Send a check-in reminder message with the access instructions and your contact details

A few hours before arrival

• Walk through — or have your cleaner confirm — that heating/AC is set to a comfortable default
• Confirm keys or access codes are in place and working
• Lights on in the entrance if arrival is after dark
• Welcome book visible and up to date

At arrival time

• Be reachable — even with self-check-in, the first thirty minutes after arrival is when most questions come in
• If meeting in person, keep it brief and practical: keys, wifi, checkout time, your number
• Send a short follow-up message an hour or two later asking if everything's working — it catches small problems before they become a review

Have a lockout plan before you need it

Decide in advance who holds a spare key or the smart-lock override, and how fast they can get there. A guest locked out at midnight with no plan in place is one of the fastest ways to lose a good review.

For the mirror-image process at the end of the stay, see our check-out checklist.