Check-in gets most of the attention in a vacation rental, but check-out is where small misunderstandings turn into extra cleaning, lost keys and awkward messages. Clear check-out instructions tell guests exactly what is expected before they leave, and they give the host a consistent starting point for the next turnover. This guide covers what to include, how Airbnb handles the feature, and how guests can find the instructions for their own stay.
Why check-out instructions matter
Most guests want to leave a place in good shape. What they often lack is information. Does the host want beds stripped? Should the dishwasher be run? Where do the keys go? Without answers, guests guess, and different guests guess differently.
Written instructions help in three ways:
- They set expectations before arrival. Guests who read the list early can plan their last morning.
- They reduce repeat questions. One clear list replaces a string of last-minute messages.
- They make turnovers predictable. Cleaners know what state the home is likely to be in.
Instructions should ask for small, realistic actions. A long list of chores can read as unfair, particularly if a cleaning fee is already part of the booking.
What Airbnb offers hosts
Airbnb's Help Center says hosts can add check-out instructions in the Listing editor, under the Arrival guide. Airbnb states that the check-out instructions are available to guests prior to booking, so they are part of what a guest can know before deciding to reserve.
The tool gives hosts a set of common options to choose from:
- Return keys, with a note on where to leave them.
- Lock up, asking guests to lock the doors or close the windows.
- Turn things off, such as lights or heating.
- Throw trash away, explaining whether trash needs to be sorted.
- Gather used towels, explaining how guests should handle them.
- Additional requests, for anything specific to the property.
Hosts can add up to 140 characters of optional detail. That limit forces concise wording, which is usually a good thing for a final-morning checklist.
Where guests find the instructions
Per Airbnb's guest-side Help article, guests can find check-out instructions in their reservation details. On desktop, the path is Trips, then the reservation, then Your stay, then House manual, then Before you leave. If the host added instructions to the listing, they appear there.
Airbnb also says that guests who have the app installed and push notifications enabled receive a reminder the day before check-out that includes the check-out time and the instructions.
Hosts should not rely on the platform alone. A short message on the morning before check-out, repeating the time and the main steps, covers guests who never opened the app.
A practical check-out list to adapt
The following list is a starting point. Trim it to what matters for your property.
- State the check-out time. Put the exact time at the top.
- Say what to do with keys or codes. Name the location, or confirm that a smart lock needs no action.
- Lock up. Doors, windows and any gates or garage entries.
- Turn things off. Lights, fans, stove, and any thermostat instruction. If the thermostat has a preferred setting, say what it is.
- Handle trash and recycling. Explain where bags go and whether items must be sorted. Local pickup arrangements vary, so be specific about your own.
- Gather towels and linens. Say whether to pile them, bag them, or leave them where they are.
- Dishes. State whether the dishwasher should be started or whether dishes can simply be left in the sink.
- Report damage or missing items. Invite guests to message you about anything broken, so it is not a surprise later.
- Say thanks and invite feedback. One friendly line is enough.
Wording that works
Short, direct sentences are easier to follow than paragraphs. Compare these two versions of the same request:
- Weak: "Please be mindful of the property and make sure things are tidy before leaving."
- Better: "Please start the dishwasher, put used towels in the bathtub, and lock the front door when you leave."
The second version names the actions. Guests do not have to interpret anything.
Tone matters as well. A list that sounds like a warning can leave a poor impression right as the stay ends. Phrases like "if you can" and "thanks for helping" are polite without weakening the request.
Match instructions to your cleaning model
Check-out instructions should reflect how the property is actually turned over. If professional cleaners handle everything, the list can be very short: keys, lock up, trash. If the property is self-cleaned between guests, the list may need more detail. Either way, avoid asking guests to do tasks the cleaners will redo anyway, because it adds friction without any benefit.
Instructions for guests: how to leave a rental well
Guests can help the process by doing a few simple things regardless of what the listing says:
- Find the check-out instructions in the booking details the day before you leave.
- Confirm the time, and set an alarm that gives you room to pack.
- Walk through each room for charger cords, toiletries and children's items.
- Take the trash out if the instructions ask for it.
- Message the host about any damage or a spill, even a minor one.
Common mistakes hosts make
- Burying the check-out time. Put it first.
- Writing in long paragraphs. Guests skim on their last morning.
- Asking for too much. A long list can feel like unpaid work.
- Using different instructions in different places. The listing, the house manual and the message should agree.
- Forgetting to update after changes. If a key lockbox is replaced by a smart lock, update the instructions the same day.
Bottom line
Good check-out instructions are brief, specific and consistent. Use the platform's built-in tool where it exists, repeat the key points in a message, and keep the list matched to how the property is actually cleaned. A guest who knows exactly what to do on the last morning is more likely to do it.
Sources
- Airbnb Help Center, "How-to: Home host" (adding check-in and check-out instructions in the Arrival guide; 140-character limit; instructions visible before booking): https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1644
- Airbnb Help Center, guest article on finding check-out instructions (House manual, Before you leave; reminder notification): https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3501
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