What Is Advance Notice and How Does It Work?
Learn what advance notice means, how it affects last-minute bookings, and how to choose a setting that works for your property's operations. Advance notice controls how much time must be available between the time a guest makes a booking and the guest's arrival. It is useful for hosts who need time to prepare the property, coordinate cleaning, arrange keys, or communicate with a caretaker. For example, if your advance notice requirement prevents same-day bookings, a guest may not be able to book a property for an arrival later that same day.
Why Advance Notice Matters
A shorter advance-notice period can help you accept more last-minute bookings. However, it may leave you with less time to prepare.
A longer period gives you more preparation time but can prevent legitimate last-minute bookings.
Before Setting Advance Notice
Consider:
- How quickly the property can be cleaned and prepared.
- Whether you have a caretaker or on-site team.
- How frequently you receive last-minute bookings.
- Whether your destination has strong same-day demand.
- How much preparation is required between checkout and the next check-in.
Example
A property that can be prepared quickly and has reliable on-site support may be comfortable accepting bookings closer to check-in. A property that requires advance coordination may need a longer notice period.
Tip
Choose advance notice based on your actual operational capability rather than using a long restriction simply to avoid last-minute work.