Do I really need a welcome book?

Yes — properties with a welcome book score consistently higher on communication and reduce repetitive guest messages by 50%+.

Welcome Book / House Manual

A welcome book is a single document that consolidates Wi-Fi, appliance instructions, local recommendations, and emergency contacts. Hosts with a polished welcome book average 0.2 stars higher on the 'communication' score. This is the StayFlow playbook used by thousands of short-term rental hosts in 2026.

What is welcome book / house manual?

Key takeaways

Optimal length: 8 – 14 pages
Format: Digital + printed binder
Review-score lift: +0.2 stars (communication)
Trying to include everything — guests want answers in 10 seconds, not a novel.
No digital version; a printed binder gets lost or stained.

Benchmarks

Metric	Value
Optimal length	8 – 14 pages
Format	Digital + printed binder
Review-score lift	+0.2 stars (communication)

Step-by-step playbook

Step 1
Step 1
Open with Wi-Fi, lock code, and the single most-asked question for your property.
Step 2
Step 2
One page per appliance with photo + one-sentence instruction.
Step 3
Step 3
Curated 'host's picks' for coffee, dinner, breakfast, groceries.
Step 4
Step 4
Emergency page: 911, host phone, nearest hospital, utility shutoffs.

Common mistakes to avoid

Trying to include everything — guests want answers in 10 seconds, not a novel.
No digital version; a printed binder gets lost or stained.
Generic recommendations copy-pasted from Yelp.

Frequently asked questions

Do I really need a welcome book?: Yes — properties with a welcome book score consistently higher on communication and reduce repetitive guest messages by 50%+.