5 Things Guests Check in the First 10 Minutes (And How to Have Answers Ready)

I've checked into a lot of short-term rentals, and I've noticed something about my own behaviour. In the first 10 minutes, before I've even unpacked, I do the same five things in roughly the same order.

I think most guests do. And I think those first 10 minutes have a disproportionate effect on how the rest of the stay feels.

1. WiFi

This is always first. Always. Before anything else, guests want to connect their phone. It's not just about browsing — it's about feeling settled. Once the WiFi is connected, you're home. Until then, you're just in someone else's house.

If the password is written clearly on the fridge or the welcome folder, great. If it's buried on page 4 of a PDF, you've already created a tiny moment of friction.

2. Temperature

If it's cold, guests want to know how to turn on the heating. If it's hot, they want the air conditioning. This is usually the first interaction with an appliance they've never seen before.

And here's the thing — heating systems are not intuitive. Heat pumps, underfloor heating, gas fires, smart thermostats with screens that need a degree in engineering to operate. Every property is different, and guests are usually standing there pressing buttons and hoping for the best.

This is one of the questions I see guests avoid asking because it feels like it should be obvious. It's not obvious. Every system is different.

3. How to get in (and out)

Door codes, key locations, deadbolts, security systems. Guests need to know they can leave and get back in. If there's a tricky lock or a gate code, this becomes a source of low-level anxiety until it's resolved.

Hosts usually cover this in the check-in message, but guests often forget the details by the time they need them. "Wait, was it the top lock or the bottom lock? Do I turn it left or right?"

4. Parking

If they drove, this is immediate. Where exactly do I park? Is it assigned? Can I park on the street overnight? Do I need a permit? Is the garage door manual or automatic?

Getting this wrong can mean a parking ticket or — worse — blocking in a neighbour. It's stressful when you're in an unfamiliar area.

5. Checkout

This might seem early, but a surprising number of guests want to know checkout time and expectations within the first hour. It's a planning thing. If checkout is 10am and they have a noon flight, they're already thinking about logistics.

"Do I strip the beds? Take the rubbish out? Leave the key somewhere specific?" Knowing this upfront removes background stress for the entire stay.

The first 10 minutes set the tone

Here's what I've learned as a guest: if I can answer these five things within 10 minutes of arriving, the whole stay feels smooth. I stop thinking about logistics and start relaxing. The property feels well-organised, the host feels competent, and I'm much more likely to leave a great review.

If even one of these things is hard to figure out, it creates a little grain of frustration that sits there for the rest of the stay. It might not ruin anything, but it colours the experience.

Have answers ready before they ask

The easiest way to cover all five is to make sure the answers are available the moment guests walk in. Not in an email they received three days ago. Not in a PDF they need to find and open. Right there, in the property, accessible in seconds.

That's why I built StayAnswered around a QR code that guests scan the moment they arrive. WiFi, heating, parking, checkout — all answered instantly, in their language, without messaging you.

Your first 10 minutes are your best chance to set the tone. Make them count.

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