Three properties in Austin, all self-managed. The number one message I used to get after 9pm on check-in day was some version of "where do I park?" or "what's the WiFi password?" — stuff that was already in the listing, already in the message I sent earlier.
The fix was dead simple: I send one consolidated message exactly 48 hours before check-in with every single detail in one place. Door code, parking instructions with a photo, WiFi network and password, trash day, and my number for emergencies.
Key thing: I put it all in ONE message, not spread across the listing description, house rules, and a check-in guide. Guests don't read three sources. They read one message.
Since I started doing this, my after-hours messages dropped to almost zero. Maybe one a month across all three properties.
I also moved my check-in message to the morning of arrival instead of the night before. Guests don't retain info they read 18 hours ago. Morning of = they have it fresh when they actually need it.
Small operational stuff like this made a bigger difference to my stress levels than any pricing tool or listing optimization. Happy to share more if anyone's interested in the messaging side of things.