For some hosts, checkout simply means asking guests to close the door behind them and enjoy their journey home. Other hosts leave detailed instructions for tidying up. Whatever your hosting style, making sure your expectations for guest checkout are clearly communicated is the key to ending their stay on a positive note.

Here are tips for a stress-free checkout:

Late checkouts wreak havoc on your schedule and can interfere with your next reservation, especially if you have back-to-back bookings. Make sure guests know exactly what time they need to check out, and emphasize the importance by explaining why. 

Host hack: Joh from San Francisco uses a smart tactic: “I tell guests the cleaner will arrive at 11:00 AM to prepare the apartment for the next guests, so they understand why it's important to leave on time.”

Hosts have very different expectations when it comes to tidying up—some want guests to do their dishes and start the laundry, while others prefer to save cleaning tasks for themselves or their cleaner (and they might use a cleaning fee to offset this). Whatever your approach, be specific. And consider including this info in your house manual. Many hosts also leave cleaning supplies to make it easier for guests to keep things clean throughout their stay.

Host hack: Chelsea and Kevin from Chicago found a creative way to share their cleanup requirements. “With the help of our adorable dog, I have created an illustrated checkout guide for our guests. So far it has been a hit! Silly, playful, fun, and—most of all—hard to ignore!”

Guests can be confused about how to lock up your space. Leave clear instructions for them. Do windows need to be shut? Certain doors need to be locked? What about turning off the thermostat or air conditioning? And if there’s a key, guests will need to know where to leave it. Again, your house manual is a great place to provide these details.

Even if you’ve provided checkout instructions on your listing and/or in your house manual, it’s a good idea to communicate the must-dos the day before. Guests have likely been busy enjoying their stay, and they may not think to look at checkout details until the morning of their departure. By communicating your expectations the day before—in person or by text, email, or Airbnb message—guests are more likely to follow your instructions and be out the door in time.

Travel days can be stressful for guests. Consider ways you can help ease any anxiety. Some hosts offer to help with airport arrangements. Others provide a space for guests to leave their bags for a few hours while they explore the city. These gestures certainly aren’t the norm, and no guest will be expecting them. But if you’re in a position to go above and beyond, it’s just one more way you can wow your guests.

With a seamless checkout experience, guests will remember all the fun they had in your space instead of the stress of locking it up—and you’ll be ready for your next booking!