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- The relationship between the Airbnb's owner and guests tend to be impersonal, but there is an unspoken etiquette when leaving an Airbnb. While some things sound obvious, some small gestures can show the appreciation when staying in a nice place. This list has been updated to include more kind things guests can do when leaving and Airbnb.
When staying at an Airbnb, there are some different expectations that you have as a guest than if you were staying at a hotel. Since you’re often either sharing a space with the owners or taking up their actual home while they’re away, it’s a little more important to be extra courteous of the space.
Contributing to cleaning up and helping to ensure the house remains nice is one thing that enables Airbnb to be cheaper than hotels. So, when you’re checking out of your stay, there are some things you should do that are considered common courtesy. Airbnbs offer some of the most entertaining accommodation in the world - the most popular Airbnb room is in an authentic castle in Ireland while the most popular listing is an eco Mushroom Dome in the mountains near San Francisco.
Here are some things you should do as a courtesy before leaving your Airbnb.
UPDATE: 2023/07/10 11:02 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA
The relationship between the Airbnb's owner and guests tend to be impersonal, but there is an unspoken etiquette when leaving an Airbnb. While some things sound obvious, some small gestures can show the appreciation when staying in a nice place. This list has been updated to include more kind things guests can do when leaving and Airbnb.
17 Take Pictures Before Using The Airbnb
Nothing is worse than arriving at a hotel or Airbnb and seeing that the images don’t match reality. Pictures are decisive when travelers choose their next accommodation, especially when they come from former guests. Therefore, it’s kind to take pictures as soon as someone arrives at an Airbnb when the place is still tied up and clean. Visitors should include the images when doing a review, as it’s an excellent way for future guests to see what they can expect from the accommodation.
Ideally, the images will have pictures of the bed/bedroom, bathroom, living room amenities and room’s view. Of course, it’s also important when there’s something wrong with the room.
16 Water The Plants
Plants help to create a cozy environment and they are rarely present on Airbnbs. When staying in an Airbnb with plants, it’s kind to check if they need watering and take care of them for a few days. It’s not something that takes plenty of time and can also be something relaxing to do during the vacations.
Guests must be mindful of any specific instructions or guidelines provided by the host regarding plant care. By taking a moment to attend to the plants, guests help ensure their vitality and contribute to maintaining a pleasant atmosphere for future guests to enjoy during their stay.
15 Make Sure All Doors Are Closed
Before leaving an Airbnb, it is essential to lock up the property securely, especially if there are multiple doors. Take the time to ensure that all doors, windows, and any other entryways are properly locked and secured.
This protects the property and the host's belongings and provides peace of mind for both you and the host. By taking this simple step, guests contribute to the overall safety and security of the premises, helping to maintain a positive experience for future guests and ensuring that the property remains a welcoming and secure space.
14 Collect Your Trash
While you don’t necessarily have to take the trash out unless requested by the host, it’s nice to gather your trash. You don’t want to leave lots of food wrappers and trash just sitting around. So, the polite thing to do is to collect and put it in the trash cans and bags.
It’s especially kind of you to take the trash out of the cans and set it aside, and, if your host has requested it, put the trash in outside garbage cans. This doesn’t take a long time to do and makes things simpler for your host.
13 Collect Used Towels
Since Airbnbs are run and function differently than hotels, there are likely many more actual items around that your hosts also use. So, it can be hard for them to know which towels, hand rags, and washcloths have been used unless you make this clear.
Many hosts will request that guests gather any used towels and place them somewhere. This makes it easier for them to know which items need to be washed. Plus, even in hotels, they often ask guests to designate which towels are dirty and when they need to be washed, so it’s just the common sense thing to do.
12 Pile Up Unused Sheets On The Bed
Another thing that makes cleaning up easier for hosts is when guests unmake the bed. If you're staying somewhere that has multiple beds, and you didn’t use all of them, making it clear which sheets are dirty can save your host a lot of time.
Unmaking the bed and piling up the dirty sheets is quite a simple thing to do and only takes a few seconds. Since Airbnbs are often hosted by people who only do this part-time, this will make things easier for them while helping to keep costs low.
11 Wash Dirty Dishes
This is another simple thing you can do to make things easier on your host and be a good guest. Since hosts also rate guests, you want to leave a good impression, and cleaning dirty dishes is something that shows good manners.
If the home has a workable dishwasher, then that may be an option. If not, a hand wash should suffice. Also, in some cases, the host might not be able to get to the space to clean right away, so doing the dishes will keep things from going bad or being disgusting.
10 Let Your Host Know If Any Minor Damage Occurred
Even if a guest is really great and considerate, sometimes things happen. If you accidentally leave any minor damage, such as scrapes on walls, it’s good to let the owner know.
Frequently, the host won’t expect guests to pay for these fixes, but they will really appreciate the honesty. They are also less likely to give you a bad rating or be frustrated that you broke something if you let them know right away.
9 Follow Any Of The Host's Instructions For Checking Out
This is one of the most important points to take into consideration while staying at an Airbnb. Every space is different. Depending on if you’re renting a whole house or just a room, the expectations will vary.
Each host will have instructions on what to do when you enter the space and leave it. So, it’s important to follow what they tell you as this will make things go more smoothly for everyone involved.
8 Clean Up If You've Left A Big Mess
Some people are messier than others. When some people stay in an Airbnb, they let their stuff go everywhere and just tend to leave a bigger mess than others.
This isn’t necessarily a problem as long as you clean up after yourself. If you’ve really messed up the place, take the time to put things back in order before you leave. Otherwise, do not be surprised if your host gives you a bad review.
7 Don't Worry About Deep Cleaning
On the other hand, this doesn't mean that you are responsible for deep cleaning the place. You are a guest and are paying to stay there, so you shouldn't feel like you should have to clean up everything.
While easy things like collecting garbage and washing dishes are the norm, it’s not fair to expect guests to clean bathrooms or other things like that. So, don’t feel a lot of pressure to do so. Instead, just worry about keeping things generally looking all right when you leave.
6 Empty The Fridge Of Anything You Bought
A person eats a typical Peruvian food anticuchos served with the cocktail pisco sour in Lima, Peru
If you’re staying somewhere for a longer period, or even just for a few days, you likely will have brought some food. If you’ve put anything in the fridge during your stay, make sure to empty it before leaving.
This also goes for any food you put into cupboards. While you might not want to waste food, it’s just better and easier to either take it with you or throw it away.
5 Message The Host When You Check Out
The most important step to not forget before you check out of your Airbnb is to let the host know. Depending on where you’re staying, the instructions for how to check out from the host will vary.
Make sure to precisely follow the instructions they’ve outlined. Messaging your host lets them know that you’re leaving, so they can prepare for the next guest.
4 Leave A Review
When checking out of an Airbnb, it's also a courtesy to leave a review for the host and any future renters. Whether it's a glowing review or a constructive one, it's a good idea to let other renters know what to expect. In addition, this can also help the host to improve on things or to let them know what stood out in a good way about the property.
3 Leave A Thank-You Note
One of the things that brighten everyone's day is a kindly worded thank you note. This is in addition to leaving a review online. Just leave a handwritten note in the Airbnb saying that one enjoyed their place and their hospitality and that one thought they were friendly and helpful.
The note doesn't need to be long; as the adage goes, it's the thought that counts. Many hosts are likely swamped with complaints, questions, and problems that their guests have. So it's nice to get a warm "Thank you" every now and again.
2 Leave A Small Gift
In case one would like to take the thank-you note a step further, one can also leave a small gift with the note. As with most gifts of gratitude, it only needs to be a token gift, like a small box of chocolates or something. While staying at an Airbnb is a business relationship, one should break the ice and make it more friendly and personal.
If one believes in karma, then leaving gifts and notes is a great place to start. Maybe one will never know, but with a simple act of kindness, one can completely transform someone's bad and gloomy day into a bright and happy one.
1 Give Constructive Feedback
Every host wants their guests to have problems or issues. If there are errors with the host's pre-written instructions or if things could work better, then let them know with some constructive feedback. Perhaps one can even send them better and more professional pictures of their listing.
Treat one's hosts well, and for sure, they will look forward to one returning to stay with them again. Maybe they will go out of their way to provide suggestions for places to visit and places to eat. They may put more effort into not only making one's stay more enjoyable but also one's whole vacation.