How to Write Check-In Instructions Guests Won't Text You About

Most "I can't find the lockbox" messages aren't caused by missing information — they're caused by vague information. "The code is on the door" and "enter 4521# to open the lockbox mounted on the railing to the left of the front door" contain the same facts, but only one of them actually works standing outside at check-in time.

Be specific about location

Name the exact spot — which railing, which side of the door, which gate — rather than describing the general area. If the entrance isn't obvious from the street, a photo helps more than another sentence of description.

Number the steps

A numbered list is easier to follow under mild stress (new place, unfamiliar door, maybe kids or luggage in tow) than a paragraph. Five short numbered steps beat three long sentences almost every time.

Say what's next

Once they're inside, tell them the next thing they'll want — usually WiFi. Answering the next question before it's asked is what actually reduces check-in messages, more than any specific wording choice.

Send a link, not just an email

A one-time confirmation email gets buried by the time check-in actually happens. A link guests can reopen — from a text reminder, a QR code at the door, or a digital guestbook — survives the gap between booking and arrival much better than an email does.