Good Airbnb checkout instructions for a Calgary rental are short, specific and limited to steps that help the next guest, such as gathering towels, closing windows and locking up. Skip anything that feels like a chore list. Send them in your house manual and a pre-checkout message, and keep the tone friendly, not strict.
What Good Checkout Instructions Do
Good checkout instructions reduce cleaning time and damage by telling guests a few simple things that make the next turnover easier. They are a short, friendly request, not a rulebook.
The aim is small: fewer surprises for the cleaner, fewer items left behind, and a clearer signal that the stay is over. Instructions that ask for too much get ignored or earn resentment, and that can show up in reviews. They work best when paired with a cleaner who follows a full process, such as our Airbnb turnover checklist, because instructions do not replace professional cleaning.
Think of checkout instructions as one layer of protection among several. The cleaner, the checklist and the photo record do the real work, and the instructions simply remove small obstacles. Guests who know when to leave, where to put towels and how to lock up are less likely to leave items behind or cause confusion.
What to Ask Guests to Do
Ask for steps that take under a minute each and help the next visit. These are the requests that make the most difference:
- Check out by the listed time so the cleaner can start on schedule.
- Gather used towels in the bathroom or on the floor of the tub so they are easy to collect.
- Put dishes in the dishwasher or the sink, and start it if you want to.
- Close windows and blinds, and turn off lights, fans and the thermostat if you want it set.
- Take out food from the fridge and any trash that is easy to bag.
- Lock up, return keys or fobs, and message you if anything was broken or lost.
Pick the three or four that matter for your unit. A shorter list gets followed more often. For timing, see how checkout fits into how long an Airbnb turnover takes.
What Not to Ask Guests to Do
Do not ask guests to clean the unit, strip beds, scrub or mop, because it invites complaints and does not replace a proper turnover. Guests are paying for a stay, not for housekeeping, and a heavy checkout list can make the stay feel like work.
There is also a nuance about chores. Booking platform rules on required checkout tasks and extra charges can change, and we do not cite a specific rule here. Check Airbnb’s current host terms yourself before you present any task as required or tie it to a fee. When in doubt, keep requests light and phrase them as a favour, not a condition.
- Do not ask for deep cleaning, laundry or floor care.
- Do not threaten fees in the instructions message.
- Do not ask for tasks that need supplies guests do not have.
- Do not send a long list. Five lines is better than fifteen.
Template Wording You Can Copy
Use this wording as a starting point and cut it down to fit your unit. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details.
- “Checkout is at [time]. Thank you for staying with us.”
- “Please leave used towels in the bathroom.”
- “If you can, put dishes in the dishwasher and take out any food from the fridge.”
- “Please close the windows, turn off the lights and lock the door behind you.”
- “Leave the keys [or fob] in [location].”
- “If anything broke or went missing, let us know and we will sort it out. No stress.”
- “There is no need to clean or strip the beds. Our cleaning team will take care of it.”
Guests tend to respond well to a clear, warm tone, and a thank you at the end costs nothing. Add a line with your contact details so a guest with a problem can reach you before they leave.
That last line often gets a good response because it tells guests what they do not need to do.
An Airbnb Cleaning Checklist for Guests
If you want to offer an Airbnb cleaning checklist for guests, make it a short, optional tidy up list, not a cleaning duty. It should help guests feel organized and help your cleaner start quickly.
- Gather towels in one spot.
- Dishes in the dishwasher or the sink.
- Food and drinks out of the fridge.
- Windows and doors closed and locked.
- Keys returned and any issues reported.
Present it as a thank you, not a requirement. If you want a full printable list for your cleaner, not your guests, see our Airbnb cleaning checklist template.
Where to Put Checkout Instructions and When to Send Them
Put the instructions in three places so guests see them without hunting: your house manual, a message the day before checkout, and a small note near the door. Keep the wording the same everywhere.
In a Calgary winter, add a short line about boots and wet coats, such as leaving boots on the mat and hanging wet items to dry. Condo guests may also need a note about garbage and recycling rooms, parking and fob returns, and you should confirm your building’s rules. Our guide to winter Airbnb cleaning in Calgary covers the entry routine. If damage or a mess is left anyway, follow the steps in how to document Airbnb guest damage.
What We Do at CleanStays
Instructions help, but the turnover itself protects your reviews. CleanStays follows the 33 point room by room checklist on every Airbnb turnover cleaning, arrives within 30 minutes of checkout, changes and makes the beds, checks restocks and flags damage or maintenance issues. Time stamped photos of every room are filed before the next guest arrives. Guests do not need to clean, because we do. If guests leave a larger mess than expected, we flag it and photograph it so you have a record. Get an instant estimate at our booking page. To protect ratings further, read about the Airbnb cleanliness rating.
Sources: CleanStays methods and rates are our own published practice. Platform rules on required checkout tasks can change; check Airbnb’s current host terms. Not legal advice.
