How to Create a Vacation Rental Welcome Book: Tips and Tricks
How to Create a Vacation Rental Welcome Book: Tips and Tricks
Today’s vacation rental guests are a sophisticated bunch. They expect a high-end experience when they stay on your property, and they won’t hesitate to book another rental if yours doesn’t meet their standards. Creating a welcome book is one of the best ways to ensure that your guests have an exceptional stay from the moment they arrive until the moment they depart.
A well-designed welcome book will answer any questions your guests might have about the property or its amenities, preemptively solve potential problems (like an overflowing trash can), and provide helpful tips for their time in your home. Let’s take a closer look at exactly why you need a vacation rental welcome book, what it should include, and how you can create one for your property.
Why You Need a Vacation Rental Welcome Book
The importance of a welcome book has far less to do with your guests’ appreciation of your efforts, and far more to do with the role it plays in increasing their satisfaction. When your guests arrive at your property, they’re likely going to be tired from their journey. They’ll be eager to get settled in, maybe unpack, and then just want to rest.
As soon as they sit down to start reading through your welcome book, it’s going to be like a shot of caffeine that’s been injected directly into their bloodstream. It will keep them focused and alert, yet relaxed enough not to be jittery. After all, you’ve just provided them with a wealth of information about your property, including details about the area, instructions for using appliances, and even things like local events and attractions.
It’s like having a friend there to greet them, but without any of the hassle of actually having to be there in person.
The Best Parts of a Great VR Welcome Book
- Simplicity – Part of the reason your guests may have been put off by a traditional printed guide is that it’s often far too wordy. You may have taken the time to write out an exact description of every detail of your property, but your guests probably don’t want to read it all. They just want answers to their questions, and they want them now. A welcome book should be as easy to navigate as it is to read.
- Organized – Some of your guests may want to start reading your welcome book from the very beginning, while others may just want to skip to the section that covers the appliances. You need to create a system that allows for both types of readers.
- Up-to-date – A printed welcome book is static by nature. You may have created it months or even years before your guests’ arrival, so it’s almost guaranteed that it’s going to be out-of-date. The information in your welcome book should be current and fresh, including even the most basic of details.
How to Create a VR Welcome Book
If you’re not particularly creative, don’t worry. Creating your welcome book doesn’t have to be a stressful, agonizing process. First, start by gathering the items that you’ll need to create your book, including pens and markers, paper, and a computer with access to a printer. Then, create a rough outline that covers all of the topics that your guests may want information on.
For example, you may have a section for “Getting to the Property,” a section for “The Appliances,” and another for “The Neighborhood and Getting Around.” Once you’ve created your outline, the only thing left to do is to start filling in the details. You can also check Canva for beautiful vacation rental welcome book templates.
What Should Be Included in Your Welcome Book
Welcome Message
Start your welcome book with a message from you to your guests, welcoming them to your property and thanking them for choosing your listing. Even though your guests wouldn’t normally consider this to be part of the welcome book, it’s a great place to start because it makes it obvious that the items that follow are part of your welcome book.
Basic Property Details
Cover the basics, like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether or not the property has a washer and dryer, and whether the property has internet access.
Local Information
This is where you let your personality shine through. Your guests will likely appreciate it if you take the time to add a few tidbits of local information, like details about nearby attractions, restaurants, and shops.
Tips and Tricks
This is probably the most important section of your welcome book. After all, what’s the point of having a welcome book if it doesn’t solve any problems that your guests might have? You may want to consider a few different categories for tips and tricks, including “For When You First Arrive,” “For When You’re There,” and “For When You’re Leaving.”
If you’re not sure of what information or questions your guests may have, check this article on what guests want to know about your vacation rental.
3 Important Tips for Creating a Great VR Welcome Book
Use simple language
Even though your welcome book is a printed guide, don’t try to use overly-complex language. You want your guests to be able to understand what you’ve written, even if they’re a bit tired from their travels.
Put yourself in your guests’ shoes
This is the best way to get a sense of what they might want to know and what they might need. Their questions might be different from the ones that you have, but it doesn’t matter. Write down their questions, and then answer them in your welcome book.
Don’t try to cover everything
It’s important to remember that your guests only have a finite amount of time, even when they’re on vacation. They can’t spend all day reading your welcome book, so don’t add topics to it that they won’t have time to fully explore.
Bottom line
If you want to ensure that your guests have an exceptional experience from the moment they arrive until the moment they depart, then you need to create a welcome book. Start by gathering the items that you’ll need for the book (like pens and paper), creating an outline, and then filling in the details. Use simple language, put yourself in your guest’s shoes, and don’t try to cover everything. Once you’ve created your welcome book, you’ll be able to provide a level of service that few other vacation rental hosts can match.
