As the short-term rental market becomes increasingly competitive, the ability to deliver impeccable guest experience is a make-or-break factor. Stellar reviews, repeat bookings, and word-of-mouth referrals all hinge on how smoothly your guests’ stays unfold. And the very first touchpoint that sets the tone? The pre-arrival period, which culminates in the check-in.
But here’s the truth: for an experience that should feel seamless, check-in often feels anything but.
The rise (and roadblocks) of self check-in
Self check-in is fast becoming the gold standard in the STR space. Guests love the flexibility. They don’t have to coordinate arrival times or wait around for someone to hand over keys. It’s modern, efficient, and increasingly expected.
But as any property manager knows, what’s convenient for the guest can be a logistical headache on the back end.
A typical self check-in includes multiple steps:
- Filling out check-in forms
- Signing rental agreements
- Verifying ID
- Receiving door codes
- Accessing stay info and local recommendations
When these steps are scattered across emails, PDFs, links, and third-party tools, it creates a fragmented and frustrating experience for both sides. Guests are confused. Property managers are buried in manual follow-ups. Mistakes happen.
Check-in chaos is annoying and expensive
Every missed form, unsigned document, or late-night “how do I get in?” text creates extra work and opens the door (literally and figuratively) to potential compliance issues.
Without the right tools, property managers end up juggling systems and struggling to track who’s completed what. It’s operationally inefficient, and it makes scaling harder than it needs to be.
One app to check them all in
The future of check-in isn’t cobbled together. It’s centralized.
Guest apps are quickly emerging as the must-have solution to streamline check-in from end to end. By consolidating key steps into a single, branded experience on the guest’s device, they remove friction and build confidence from the moment of booking.
Some of the biggest benefits of guest apps include:
- Branded check-in forms that look professional and feel seamless
- Built-in rental agreements and ID verification
- Access to property info, lock codes, Wi-Fi, and house rules
- Integrated guidebooks with local recommendations
- Multi-language support for international travelers
- Timed, automated messages that guide guests through every stage
Less stress for guests, more efficiency for managers
While the front end delights your guests, the back end makes life easier for your team. A well-designed guest app allows you to:
- Automate data collection and compliance
- Track check-in status in real time
- Reduce the need for staff intervention
- Collect marketing consent and upsell opportunities
- Screen guests proactively
- Store rich guest profiles for future personalization
It’s not just smoother. It’s smarter.
Elevate the experience with Guesty’s new Guest App
If you’re already using Guesty, our new Guest App brings all this functionality into one upgraded platform. You’ll see a sleek new UI, smarter flows, and customizable features to match your brand and operations.
From digital check-in and rental agreements to the upcoming guidebooks and credit card collection, everything lives in one place — making the experience more intuitive for guests and more efficient for you.
Because when check-in is flawless, everything that follows has a better chance to shine.
A B2B marketing professional with deep familiarity in the short-term rental industry, translating complex ideas into clear, engaging content. Writes blogs, web copy, and industry reports that inform and inspire. Uncompromising on the Oxford comma.
