Credit: Build STR Wealth
The Build STR Wealth Guide
This guide is Build STR Wealth's House Rules Playbook (part of their Super SOP Library), used with permission. The framework, the 11 steps and the principles are theirs; we've added notes for Tahoe owners.
Download the full guide free from Build STR Wealth: live.buildstrwealth.com/house-rules-playbook
The short version
Anything you need guests to follow goes in Airbnb's 7 standard house rules. Everything else is a light request a cleaner wouldn't be paid to do. If it isn't on the listing before the guest books, you can't add it later. Finish before November 20.
8 principles
- Rules are enforced, requests are encouraged. If you truly need it, make it a rule.
- The listing is the contract. Nothing new by message, sign or in person after booking.
- If a cleaner does it, the guest doesn't. Beds, laundry, dishes and hauling trash are turnover work.
- Advertised means included. Any fee for a listed amenity goes in the price at booking.
- AirCover, not fines. Damage goes through AirCover; rule-breaking goes through Airbnb support and penalty-free cancellation.
- Collect the minimum. No ID copies, phone numbers or emails unless the law, your HOA or an allowed contract requires it.
- Local context earns exceptions. Bear country is Airbnb's own example.
- Keep guests on Airbnb. No off-platform reviews, surveys or sign-up walls.
Before you start, gather
Listing editor access, your current house rules and checkout list, house manual and guidebook, photos of every sign in the home, every saved and scheduled message in your software, any rental agreement or waiver, HOA rules in writing, your smart lock's backup entry method, and your cleaning fee and turnover checklist.
Tahoe: add your county permit (occupancy, parking, trash), your Good Neighbor flyer or contract, and your hot tub and snow-parking instructions. Rules hide in all of these.
The 11 steps
- Inventory every rule you have. One list per listing, word for word: house rules, description, manual, guidebook, signs, saved and scheduled messages, contracts, and anything your cleaner tells guests.
- Sort each item into one of four buckets: standard rule, reasonable request, rewrite, or delete (fines, hidden fees, amenity limits, data grabs).
- Set all 7 standard rules on purpose: max overnight guests, quiet hours, events, pets, smoking (includes vaping), commercial photography, lock up at checkout.
Tahoe: set max guests to your permit's occupancy, and quiet hours to your county's hours (Washoe: 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. inside the TRPA boundary). Use the Events rule for "no parties."
- Rewrite requests with three questions: Would a cleaner be paid to do it? Does it limit an advertised amenity? Does it threaten a charge? Any yes means rewrite or delete.
Tahoe: hot tub safety wording is fine; restricting a listed hot tub, or charging extra for it, isn't.
- Rebuild checkout. Five items: used dishes in the sink, gather used towels, sort trash and recycling into the indoor bins, turn off heat and lights, lock up (set as the rule). Talk to your cleaner about the extra time and adjust the cleaning fee, not the guest.
Tahoe: "Use the bear box for all trash" is Airbnb's own example of a reasonable local request. Tie it to the reason: bears.
- Remove fines and hidden fees. Search everything for $, fee, charge, fine and deducted. Fines go; fees for listed amenities go into the price; optional add-ons can stay as described requests.
Tahoe: list your county's fines for occupancy, parking, noise and trash in the local-rules section, so guests know before booking. If a guest causes a county fine, you can request reimbursement through Airbnb's Resolution Center. Firewood or hot tub fees on a listed amenity go in the price.
- Retire contracts you don't qualify for. Allowed only if required by law or HOA, for an optional amenity, for 28+ night stays, or Luxe. If you keep one, upload it under Contracts, disclose it, and keep proof.
Tahoe: El Dorado, South Lake Tahoe and Douglas code text calls for a written agreement or signed acknowledgement; Placer, Truckee and Washoe text doesn't. See your county's tab, and get it confirmed in writing.
- Stop collecting guest data (phone, email, address, ID copies) unless an exception applies. You can look at ID in person if you disclose it under Requests, but don't keep a copy.
Tahoe: Douglas code requires a driver's license copy and a guest registry; South Lake Tahoe requires identity and age-25 checks at check-in in residential areas. Collect only what the code asks for and disclose why.
- Fix apps, Wi-Fi and off-platform asks. Keyless entry needs a non-app backup. No Wi-Fi pages that collect email, no Google review asks, no off-platform surveys.
- Clean up signs, manuals and messages so they only restate what's on the listing. Brief cleaners and co-hosts so nothing new is told to guests.
- Republish, then watch for flags. Save, read each listing in guest view, watch email for Airbnb notices, fix or appeal, and re-check monthly and after any software change.
When things go sideways
| Situation | What to do |
|---|
| A guest breaks a house rule (extra guests, a party) | Confirm it's a rule on the listing, message through Airbnb quoting it, document it, contact Airbnb support, and cancel penalty-free if it continues. No fine threats. |
| A guest ignores a request (dishes, towels) | Let the cleaner handle it. AirCover for real damage, an honest review. Don't send a "you forgot" list. |
| Your listing gets flagged | Read Airbnb's tip, then rewrite, delete or appeal with the local reason. Check guest view. |
| HOA or county requirement | Get it in writing, disclose it under Requests, collect only what's required, keep the paperwork for Airbnb. |
| Direct-booking habits | No Wi-Fi email capture or gated guidebooks. A guidebook anyone can open, and your own website, still work. |
| Local exceptions (bears) | Put the reason in the wording, keep the request small, keep the county or wildlife guidance on file, appeal if flagged. |
Timeline
| When | What |
|---|
| Now | Inventory every rule, sign, manual and message (step 1) |
| This week | Set the 7 rules, rewrite requests and checkout (steps 3 to 5) |
| Next week | Fines and fees, contracts, guest data, apps (steps 6 to 9) |
| Before Nov 20 | Signs, manuals, automations; republish and check guest view (steps 10 and 11) |
| Monthly | Re-check listings and templates |
Bookings made before Nov 20 stay under the old rules. Tell your cleaners which chores now come to them, and tell owners why the cleaning fee may change. If you use connected software, check with your software company before changing automations; OwnerRez and Hostfully have both said updates are coming.
The Build STR Wealth Guide is based on The House Rules Playbook by Build STR Wealth, used with permission. Get the full playbook free at live.buildstrwealth.com/house-rules-playbook. Not legal advice.
