Airbnb Self-Check-In: No More Waiting for Your Guests’ Arrival

Providing your Airbnb guests with a great experience from start to finish is essential, which means ensuring a smooth check-in process. The best solution is to offer them a self-check-in option where guests can access your property using a key lockbox, smart lock, or keypad.

All you have to do is attach a lockbox or key safe to your door handle or wall, or install a smart lock. Your guests will only need to get a code to let themselves into your property.

The self-check-in process benefits both guests and hosts, as it saves time for everyone, particularly for those with early or late arrivals. Additionally, this approach allows you, as a host, to demonstrate your trust. You show your guests you’re confident that they will take care of your home and that they don’t need your supervision or micromanagement.

Here’s everything you need to know about preparing an Airbnb self-check-in process for your property.

Airbnb Self-Check-In: Choose Your Method

Self-check-in is one of the most popular amenities on Airbnb, and guests often filter their search results for vacation rental properties that offer it. Adding a check-in method, such as a lockbox or smart lock, can help your Airbnb listing stand out.

Lockboxes are the simplest solution for the dilemma of check-in key exchanges, although this option is somewhat outdated. Lockboxes come in various shapes and sizes, and they can typically be operated using a keypad or smart lock. You can provide the Airbnb lockbox code to your guests, allowing them to open the box and retrieve the keys. Then they come and go when they like.

Lockboxes can be installed inside or outside the house, on the wall, or at the door; the wall installation is more secure. If renting out private residences, it’s better to install weatherproof lockboxes that are durable against impact and dust. You can choose between mountable lockboxes installed on the wall with screws and padlock-style lockboxes with a metal loop around a door or railing.

Don’t want to deal with lost keys in your short-term rental? There is a better option to control who can access your vacation rental home.

Smart locks allow you to lock and unlock your door without using a regular metal key. They are installed on a door and are one of the most secure and convenient door locks because, instead of keys, they require only a secret code to open the door. And the best thing is that smart locks integrate with property management systems like Hospitable, making it easy for hosts to automate the entire check-in experience for the guests.

Home smart locks with various functions and options are becoming increasingly popular among vacation rental property owners. They operate by connecting to your home’s WiFi network. WiFi-enabled smart locks are a good option for those seeking integration capabilities because the lock’s functions are further enhanced when connected to the Internet.

Benefits of Smart Locks for Your Vacation Rental

Simplified check-in and checkout process. Smart locks provide a convenient solution for people managing Airbnb properties remotely, ensuring a seamless yet secure entry for guests. You can use them to facilitate self-check-in and check-out for your guests by using passcodes that expire when they check out.

Improved guest experience. Guests have the freedom to arrive at the property without needing to coordinate a specific time to pick up keys, and they can enjoy privacy from the moment of arrival. They don’t have to worry about losing keys during their stay.

Enhanced security. Some advanced smart lock models make your Airbnb rental more secure. They connect to your smartphone and smart home devices. For example, some smart locks can integrate with security cameras, allowing you to monitor who comes in and out of your rental.

Integration with property management systems. The best thing about smart locks is that they integrate with other vacation rental apps, making them very easy to manage. For example, Hospitable supports the best smart locks for Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms through direct integrations with popular smart lock systems.

We are also continuously working on adding new smart lock integrations. Check out our help article to view a list of all the locks we can connect to via direct integration or through our partners.

Airbnb Self-Check-In: Communicate Your Instructions to Guests

After you install a smart lock or lockbox at your STR property, remember to add self-check-in to your listing. You will need to select the method by which your guests will access your house or apartment and add Airbnb check-in instructions to share tips on how they can gain entry.

It’s better to include photos for each step of the process. Make sure that each picture is self-explanatory. You can also add text to each image to describe it or add more detailed instructions.

What information should be included in check-in instructions?

• The address of your property.
• Photos of the front of the property and entranceway.
• Information on where the key is hidden if you are hiding a key.
• The combination to gain access to the key, if you are using a lockbox.
• Access codes to gates and doors that are opened with a code.

Remember that it’s essential to change the door or the lockbox passcodes between guests to improve security.

Airbnb will automatically share your instructions with confirmed guests 24 to 48 hours before check-in. They’ll be able to access check-in instructions on the Airbnb app throughout their trip, even if they don't have a data plan on their phone.

It’s also a good idea to send your guests a personalized message with your check-in instructions, letting them know that they can easily reach you during self-check-in and throughout their stay.

Communication with guests is a crucial aspect of hosting, but it can be time-consuming if you have to create and send each message manually. The good news is that with Hospitable, you can automate 90% of guest communication with the help of AI, providing them with the necessary information at the right time and saving a significant amount of time.

And if your guests have any questions, you can use Suggest with AI and Improve with AI tools available in your Inbox to quickly draft and correct personalized responses to guest messages. You can also create a digital guidebook and add it to the Knowledge Hub to educate the AI about your property and policies, enabling it to generate more relevant messages.

Conclusions

Guests appreciate the ease and convenience of a casual check-in process, making it a valuable feature to offer if you are renting out your property on Airbnb. Airbnb self-check-in will free up your time, while also giving your guests the opportunity for much-needed privacy after a long day on the road.

However, you should provide your guests with clear self-check-in instructions, accompanied by numerous photos, and update your Airbnb vacation rental with a secure lockbox for keys or a smart lock.

Check-in automation will save you a significant amount of time. Make sure to read our list of Automation hacks that will boost your revenue.