Sorry I wasn’t clear enough. He asked for an early check-in in his inquiry (more than 1 month before his arrival). I answered that an early check-in could only be guaranteed if he paid a supplement of 20€ (équivalent to half the price of the night rate in low season now) or he could drop off their bags from 11h15 onwards after the check-out time. He asked to book anyway without mentionning the supplement nor the early drop off of their. It was when he arrived at the airport around before noon that he asked to drop off their bags.
Actually all guests who entered into our apartment from the cold outside around 16h or after found it (at 18°C) very warm with their coats on and when I told them how to set the temperature to their preference they always answered that it was already warm enough. But I told them that when they took off their coats or when they were static in they would need to adjust the temperature.
How can I let guests drop off their bags earlier? It is a service highly appreciated. Obviously the girlfriend didn’t know it wasn’t check-in time yet. She was already in the city when her boyfriend arrived.
They offered to “put them to wash” and I interpreted that as simply putting them in the washing machine. I asked guest not to strip bed linens because I need to remove stains if any before washing them. Most guests who stained bed linens strip them and they still do so even though I had clearly asked them not to. A few went further to put the stained linens in the machine. And few had actually run the washing machine and after they cycle I found the stained linens still stained and once a washed sanitary napkin and a pair of underpants.
True, but then the stains didn’t come from an accident.
Done already yesterday with RiverRock’s review.
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He texted me when he landed.
I don’t need to test that because countless couples have already done in my listing.
I would estimate that I offer the service to about 20% of my guests. However, it’s easy for me because my own home is steps away from the rentals. I put their luggage in my own place.
If I can’t do so, then I tell them about the two places locally which will look after their bags free of charge. One is a local hotel that offers the service to non-residents and the other is a local UPS store.
I’ve had guests who have knocked on the door wanting to leave their bags while I’ve been cleaning. Sometimes I ignore it, other times I will take in their luggage but never let them in. (One or two have said that they want to use the loo but I don’t allow it.)
There have been many discussions about this issue here and I recall one member who used a dock box (with padlock) and others who let the guests put their bags in the garage or even garden shed.
Hosts should always put a message in the Airbnb system to let the guests know that they are leaving their belongings at their own risk. Imagine guests checking in and asking “where’s my laptop” or “where’s my expensive camera?” They could say anything and you’ve no way to deny it.
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Very precious advice. Will definitely add that message. Thank you very much!
If a guest wants to go into the rental, one way to stop them is simply stand in the doorway but another is to check your insurance which may say that your STR insurance only kicks in a check in time.
I don’t know your neighbourhood of course, but I’ve known hosts who have arranged with a neighbour to take in luggage (a neighbour with a garage or similar) and hosts also use coffee shops, bars, etc., although a business might have a fee.
Remember too that railway stations, airports, coach stations and so on usually have luggage facilities so you can find out about all the options and if a guest asks to drop off bags you can tell them how to find those places and what they charge. That way, you’re being a lovely helpful host. 
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I actually don’t mind letting guests into the rental to drop off their bags (to go to the toilette sometimes) and to pick their keys up as long as the previous guests have checked out and I’m on premises. This way when I finish preparing it, I can leave without waiting for their check-in. So far all the guests were very happy and grateful. I just need to add the disclaimer on my listings.
It was the first time I got fussy comments from guests coming to drop off luggage earlier than check-in time. That’s also why I found them inconsiderate. (Anyway the girlfriend was inappropriately dressed for the cold weather, she had a knee-length thin coat, 4-inch high-heels and back-seamed tights. She was holding the collars of her coat together with her hand when they were in front of our building. I know this is none of my business and I shouldn’t judge from appearance but she was obliged to feel cold because she didn’t dress herself according to the weather. Besides, she is from Russia… She should have the warmest clothes of the world.)
Thanks a lot for those tips which can be useful to me in the future. But right now I don’t intend to stop guests coming into our rental before check-in time to drop their bags off, to go to the toilette and to pick the keys up. It’s a service that I provide and I find it practical for me to give them the keys, to talk with them and not have to meet them again for the check-in.
I find the talk about what indoor temperature is deemed very cold, very interesting !
The UK health departments (including NHS England & the UK Health Security Agency) generally recommend maintaining a minimum bedroom temperature of 18°C (65°F) at night during the winter to stay warm and well esp if you are elderly or unwell. Fuel prices are pretty horrendous in the UK -the cost of heating the house is a 'hot ’ topic- pardon the pun😁 but I think the ability to choose how warm your bedroom is, is vital.