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LEPUS

Guide for hosts

What to put in a welcome book

The same questions come up every stay. Answer these eleven and most of the late night messages stop.

The checklist

  1. Welcome. A short hello in your own words, who you are and how to reach you.
  2. Arrival and getting in. The address, parking, check-in time and the door steps in order: key safe code, which door, which light switch.
  3. Wi-Fi and TV. Network name and password, plus a scan to join QR code. Which remote does what.
  4. Heating and hot water. Where the thermostat is, how to boost the hot water and what to do if the boiler stops.
  5. Kitchen and appliances. The oven, hob, dishwasher and washing machine, with the one setting guests always get wrong.
  6. House rules. Five or six, kept short: quiet hours, smoking, pets, shoes, guest numbers.
  7. Bins and recycling. Which bin is which, and which day they go out.
  8. Local tips. Your own picks for coffee, a pub, a walk and the nearest shop. This is the page guests remember.
  9. Emergency and safety. In the UK: 999 for emergencies, NHS 111, the gas emergency line 0800 111 999 and power cuts on 105. Where the stopcock, fuse box and first aid kit are.
  10. Check-out. The time, and a short list: dishwasher on, bins out, keys back in the safe.
  11. Thank you. A warm goodbye and a gentle line inviting feedback.

Five things that make it work

  • Put getting in first. It is the question guests ask most, usually standing at the door.
  • Use your own photos. Guests want to see the real place, not a stock beach house.
  • Add a Wi-Fi QR code. One scan beats a long password typed wrong.
  • Keep house rules short. Five clear lines get read. A page of rules does not.
  • Check it each season. Bin days, opening hours and heating change through the year.

A template that does this for you

I made The Stay Guide around this checklist: a 17 page phone guide with tap tiles and a 20 page printed book, edited in Canva with a free account, in a UK and a US edition. Every detail you change is marked in gold brackets, and a worksheet gathers your details first.

The Stay Guide welcome book, template preview

The Stay Guide welcome book

Template for holiday let hosts
UK and US editions
£12.99 on Etsy
Guest Guide Kit, template preview

Guest Guide Kit

Template for holiday let hosts
UK and US editions
£17.99 on Etsy
15 house signs, template preview

15 house signs

Template for holiday let hosts
UK and US editions
£5.99 on Etsy

Questions

Should a welcome book be printed or digital?

Both work best. A phone guide opened from one link answers questions before guests arrive, and a printed copy on the coffee table helps once they are inside.

How long should it be?

Long enough to answer the common questions and no longer. One short section per topic, with the door steps and Wi-Fi easiest to find.

Does this work for Airbnb?

Yes. The same checklist works for Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo or a direct booking holiday let. Lepus is not affiliated with any booking platform.

House rules and safety notes here are general examples. Check the rules where your property is and adjust them for your home.