Hosts are adapting their routines to accommodate guests’ needs as travel returns, and adding self check-in is one easy way to make your space more appealing to travelers. Though guests once appreciated a warm personal welcome, self check-in has become one of the most popular search filters in the past few months.

If you don’t already offer the convenience of self check-in, don’t worry: We’ll walk you through the different options and provide a few examples of popular lockboxes on the market today. We’ll also share some great tips from hosts who have already embraced this method of virtual hosting.

Three popular self check-in options include lockboxes, smart locks, and keypads. Here’s what you need to know about each: 

Lockboxes—storage devices for keys—are simple to set up. Generally an affordable solution, many lockboxes allow guests to enter a code manually to access a physical key. You can hide the lockbox or install it on a door or a wall, and change the code between stays.

We’ve listed a few popular lockbox options, though it’s always a good idea to do your own research before settling on one that best fits your needs.* If you do decide to try one of these and the product links aren’t available in your region, try checking your local hardware store.

• Portable options: Kingsley Guard-a-Key Black Realtor's Lockbox, Master Lock 5400D, and Fayleeko Key Lockbox
• Wall-mounted options: KeyGuard SL-590, Kidde AccessPoint 001015, and ORIA Key Storage Lockbox

Smart locks—which guests can open with a mobile app or keypad—do the work for you. Host Derek of Chattanooga, Tennessee, uses smart locks on all the properties he manages: “We’ve had great success with Schlage Connect touchscreen locks,” he says. “We automate guest code creation—the last four digits of their phone number—with Samsung SmartThings and a third-party automation software. It’s seamless for guests [and makes for] a 5-star check-in experience.”*

You can also sync your smart lock with your Airbnb account using third-party software. “We have an electronic door lock from NUKI that’s linked to Airbnb,” says host Pascal of Brunswick, Germany. “The guest automatically receives an email with the code and an authorization during the stay time.”*

Keypads—when guests open the door with a code—eliminate the need for a key at all. You can share keypad codes with guests before they check in, and they can use the same code for the entirety of their stay. Some hosts offer a keypad as a backup: Though Pascal has a smart lock, he also provides “a numeric pad for those who wish to use it.”

It’s easy to tell your guests exactly where to find your lockbox or how to use your smart lock or keypad—simply add your instructions directly in our app. Learn more

Many hosts around the world already use self check-in. Here are two host tips for connecting with guests beforehand:

• Overcommunicate with guests, so they know what to expect before arriving. Mary Ellen of Merrimack, New Hampshire, sends guests an “extensive check-in message” with the lockbox code a couple days before their reservation begins—and a bonus tip. “We warn them to write all of this down, because they may not get a great signal on the way up to the condo,” she says.
• Create message templates with check-in info to save time. Katrina of Saskatchewan, Canada, sends all her guests the same message before their stay, letting them know she’s always available if any issues arise during check-in or their stay. She also reminds them of where they can find information about self-check-in—in the reservation page in their Airbnb account and in check-in emails from Airbnb.

Providing self check-in can simplify things for guests, but hosts are responsible for creating a safe process. If you use a lockbox, you should update the combination between stays and be sure no one else has access to the keys during the reservation. 

If you use a smart lock or keypad, you should make sure that you change the code after every reservation and remember to add check-in instructions to your listing. It helps to have a system—like Derek in Tennessee, some hosts use the last four digits of guests’ phone numbers as the combination. This makes it easier for everyone to remember.

Once you’ve picked a self check-in option, remember to add this amenity to your listing. Guests can filter search results by the amenities in a listing, so it's important to include everything you offer.

Above all, remember that a little goes a long way here. While you can certainly invest in smart locks and keypads, you may find that a simple lockbox meets your needs. And no matter which self check-in option you choose, you’ll be able to save time—and continue providing great hospitality from a safe distance.

*The listed products are mentioned as illustrative examples. Airbnb is not endorsing, recommending, guaranteeing, or otherwise involved in providing any products mentioned here. All opinions belong to the named hosts and do not constitute recommendations or endorsements by Airbnb.