Default Guide Template - Automatic Fallback for Properties Without Guides

Overview

The Default Guide Template is a powerful feature that ensures every property in your portfolio has a professional guest guide, even if you haven't created a custom guide for that specific property yet. This template acts as a safety net, automatically displaying whenever a guest accesses a property that doesn't have its own dedicated guide.

Perfect if you have hundreds of properties and don't know where to start, simply create the default template so all properties can start using a guide from day 1; then as you want to customised specific properties, simply copy the default guide and customise it to the property you want to edit.

Key Benefits

• Time-Saving: No need to create identical basic information for every property

• Consistency: Maintain brand standards across all properties

• Immediate Coverage: New properties instantly have a guide available

• Flexibility: Override with custom guides whenever needed

• Easy Management: Update once, apply everywhere

How It Works

When a guest visits your property's guide URL:

1. The system first checks if that property has a custom guide

2. If no custom guide exists, it automatically loads your Default Guide Template

3. If you haven't created a Default Guide Template, it falls back to the system default guide template

4. Property-specific information (address, check-in times, WiFi) is still dynamically inserted

Creating Your Default Guide Template

1. Navigate to Properties

   • Log in to your account

   • Go to Active Properties from the menu
     
     

2. Locate the Default Guide Section

   • At the top of your properties list, you'll see a special red-bordered section labeled "DEFAULT GUIDE"

   • If you haven't created one yet, you'll see a "Create Default Guide" button

   • If you already have one, you'll see "Edit Default Guide"
     
     

3. Create/Edit Your Template

   • Click the appropriate button to open the guide builder

   • Add all the common information that applies to most of your properties:

     • House rules

     • Check-in/out procedures

     • Emergency contacts

     • Local recommendations

     • Company policies

   • Use dynamic variables like {{property_name}}, {{check_in_time}}, {{wifi_password}} to automatically insert property-specific details
     
     

4. Save to Publish

   • Your default template is automatically active once saved

   • All properties without custom guides will immediately start using this template

Best Practices

What to Include in Your Default Template:

• General house rules that apply to all properties

• Standard check-in/out procedures

• Emergency contact information

• Your company's policies

• Generic local area information

• Common amenity instructions
  
  

What NOT to Include:

• Property-specific details (these should go in custom guides)

• Specific directions or parking instructions

• Unit-specific amenity details

• Property-specific house rules

Managing Property-Specific Information

Even when using the default template, property-specific information is still displayed:

• Property name and address

• Check-in/out times (from property settings)

• WiFi credentials (from property settings)

• Property photos
  
  

To set these property-specific defaults:

1. Go to "Property Defaults" from the properties page

2. Set default check-in/out times

3. Set default WiFi credentials

4. These will be used when the information isn't available from your booking platform

Example Use Cases

Vacation Rental Company with 50+ Properties:
Create a default template with your company policies, emergency procedures, and general area information. Each property automatically has a professional guide with your phone numbers and branding while you gradually create custom guides for premium properties.

Property Manager with Similar Units:
Set up a default template with standard building amenities, parking procedures, and house rules. Override only for units with special features or different procedures.

New Property Onboarding:
When adding new properties to your portfolio, they immediately have a functional guide. You can create custom guides at your convenience without leaving guests without information.

FAQ

Q: Will the default template override my existing custom guides?
A: No, custom guides always take priority. The default template only displays for properties without their own guide.

Q: Can I have different templates for different property types?
A: Currently, there's one default template per account. Consider using dynamic content that adapts based on property type.

Q: How do I disable the default template for a specific property?
A: Simply create a custom guide for that property, and it will override the default template.

Q: Can I preview how the default template looks for a specific property?
A: Yes, visit any property without a custom guide to see the default template in action with that property's specific information.