Guesty is a professional management service for Airbnb hosts. We put together this key exchange series to create a reliable resource for Airbnb hosts who have a particular key-related question or are new to the entire process itself. Within it, we go over everything there is to know about key exchanges. From preparing yourself for your Airbnb guest communication & key exchange strategy prior to guest arrival, to going over number of keys to the various types of smart locks that could revolutionize the security of your Airbnb property and the simplicity of hosting. We even include modes of strategizing and creating back-up plans should anything not go according to plan. Begin here to perfect your hosting experience from that first impression, on. Visit us at www.guesty.com!

1. WELCOME,
AIRBNB
HOSTS… BROUGHT
TO YOU BY
GUESTY
…to everything
you need to
know about the
Key Exchange

2. WHY IS THE KEY EXCHANGE
IMPORTANT?
It’s simple math, really….
SECURITY
+
EFFICIENCY
+
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
=
POSITIVE KEY EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES

3. KEY DETAILS TO CONSIDER
Q: Does your guest have access to all necessary entryways?
Q: What’s an appropriate key:guest ratio?
Let us suggest some friends who can help you out with this
KEYS DUPLICATED KEYME

4. KEY ORGANIZATION
Q: Will your guests be able to keep track of all of the keys you give
them?
Q: Will your guest be able to tell two keys apart?
Let us suggest some pro tips to organize your keys
COLORED KEY CAPSKEY CHAINS

5. PRE-GUEST ARRIVAL EXCHANGE OPTION
MAILING KEYS
pros & cons
√ confirm key exchange prior to arrival
x lost in the mail
x lost prior to guest arrival
x untimely shipment

6. PRE-GUEST ARRIVAL KEY PLANNING
COPYING KEYS
pros & cons
√ cheap: usually between $1.50- $6.00
x faulty copies
KEYS DUPLICATED KEYME MINUTEKEY

7. PRE-GUEST ARRIVAL KEY PLANNING
CHARGING FOR KEYS
√ charge for each extra requested key
√ communicate lost fees beforehand
√ consider adding convenience fee
√ add shipping fee when necessary

8. PRE-GUEST ARRIVAL EXCHANGE
PLANNING
YOUR TIME IS PRECIOUS.
HERE’S WHAT TO ASK GUESTS TO SAVE YOUR TIME…
Q: How will you be arriving (car, plane,
train…)?
√ track flight details
√ stay on top of traffic reports
Q: When is your ETA?
√ plan accordingly
Q: From where are you departing?
√ swoop in with route recommendations
Q: Are you coming from the airport?
√ determine time frame based on car
rental vs. taxi hailing, for example

9. √ 2 lockboxes, 2 codes, 2
locations
√ Keep spare at work
√ Keep spare with neighbors
√ Keep spare with friends
√ Key Cafe
√ City Co-Pilot
√ Proprly
KEY STRATEGIES & BACK-UP PLANS
ALWAYS HAVE PLANS B & C.
HERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL PLANS B & C…

10. WHILE YOU’RE THERE, ARRANGE WITH GUESTS
WHERE TO LEAVE KEY AFTER THEIR STAY…
√ with a neighbor
√ in a mailbox
√ under a plant/ornament
√ under door or doormat
√ with a building official or
doorman
√ with a neighborhood front desk
service
KEY DROPOFF STRATEGIES

11. ALWAYS GREET GUESTS WITH A SMILE
THEN, GIVE THEM A TOUR & GO OVER…
√ how to use the hot water
√ where AC/heaters are located
√ how to use the TV remote
√ WiFI credentials
√ available cabinets & refrigerator shelves
√ preferred check-in & check-out times
√ where outlets are
√ emergency information
√ parking information
GREETING GUESTS

12. LOCKBOX MODELS
PUSH-BUTTON LOCKS WHEEL LOCKSDIAL MODELS

13. BEST LOCKBOX MODELS
SUPRAMASTERLOCKKIDDE
VAULT LOCK
LOOPING ON-THE-WALL
INSTALLING

14. LOCKBOX SAFETY TIPS
√ change the code often
√ keep lockbox inside the building
√ keep lockbox off the main road
√ hide in neighbor’s yard
√ tuck away in backyard or behind
bush
√ hide in plant pot
√ hide under a rock
√ hide in garden ornament

15. √ use gym lockers
√ use airport lockers
√ make sure lockers are accessible for guests
√ make sure lockers can be opened with a pin
or code
√ make sure lockers stay available for guests
x lockers can be a hassle to get to
x locker hours & services are often inflexible
x dropping keys in locker can be a time
commitment
USING LOCKERS TO STORE KEYS FOR GUESTS

16. BUZZER ALTERNATIVES
√ smart buzzer/intercom alternatives
√ allows you to manage guest entry remotely
√ Guesty can buzz guests up for you
x unaccommodating neighbors

17. THIRD-PARTY EXCHANGE ALTERNATIVES
√ communicate
√ compensate
√ charge guests late fees
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN ARRANGING 3RD PARTY
SERVICES…
WHICH 3RD PARTY SERVICES TO CONSIDER…
√ somewhere nearby
√ somewhere serving food/drink
√ somewhere with which you are in good standing
√ somewhere open late
√ KeyCafe
√ City Co-Pilot
√ Proprly
√ property managers

18. BEST ELECTRONIC LOCK MODELS
LAYCOR
SCHLAGE
KWIKSET

19. BEST SMART LOCK MODELS
AUGUSTSESAMELOCKITRON ORACODE OKIDOKEYS
KEVO LOCK GOJISCHLAGE ERENTAL
RESORTLOCK

20. KEY EMERGENCIES
√ keys can’t be located
√ door won’t open
√ keys got stuck in keyhole
√ guests locked themselves out
√ guests lost keys
√ code doesn’t work
√ lock is broken
√ understand guests’ needs
√ solve guests’ needs
√ understand what happened
√ prevent future problems
√ compensate guest if needed
WHAT CAN GO WRONG…
STEPS TO SOLVING KEY EMERGENCIES…

21. √ Guesty handles all guest communication
√ Guesty manages check-ins & check-outs
√ Guesty coordinates with 3rd party services
√ Guesty resolves on and off-the-floor problems
√ Guesty keeps you involved as much as you so
choose
√ Guesty is always working on new features to
help you
HOW IS GUESTY COMPATIBLE WITH THE KEY EXCHANGE
PROCESS?