What do you think does not belong in a listing and why?

[Jenny]

Hello everyone!

We talk so much about the things that we do have in our listings, whether it’s furniture, or unique amenities.

One thing we don’t really talk about is what DOESN’T belong in a listing.  Those things where you might see them on a listing and say “oh honey, no”.

So, my question to you all is… what do you think does not belong in a listing?

Is there a type of furniture that you think is a complete no-no?  Any amenities which you think are more trouble than they’re worth?  Have you ever added something to your listing and then removed it because it caused problems?  Let us know in the comments!

I’m looking forward to seeing your replies.

Jenny

[Michelle1851]

@Karen114 , 

I once provided sharpies,  but after my first guest, they had to go, black sharpie ended up all over my new white duvet cover, lesson learned. 

I do provide crayons and water color paints, the landscape is so beautiful I just think guests may want to capture it in their down time. 

I also provide lighters for unscented candles in deep glass containers that can’t be removed.  I’m all about ambiance, guests may or may not appreciate it, but I do. 

[Louise0]

1. Typography as artwork.  I do not need to be assailed by the host's banal didacticism.  Exhortations to 'Chase your dreams' or 'Live, love, laugh' are not appreciated and often wildly inappropriate.

2. Walls with no artwork.

3. Towels on the bed.

4. White and black colour schemes with red as an accent colour.

5. Ditto, but with turquoise.

6. All brown/grey interiors.  These make a guest's soul die.

7. Anything burgundy, unless it's a wine or you live in a castle/gothic manor.

8. Trays of shells, bottles of coloured sand.

9. Fake flowers/plants (unless they're ironic fake flowers like the ones on the ceiling of my garage/laundry).

10. Shrink-wrapped, mean little cakes of nasty soap.  If I have to use my teeth to open the soap, then to hell with it, I'm gonna leave bite marks on the headboard.  Try explaining that to your incoming guests.

11. Tiny bottles of shampoo/body wash/conditioner/lotion.  Use full size bottles or dispensers.  

12. Nasty little packets of condiments purchased in bulk from Amazon selected purely on price.

13. That powdered coffee whitening stuff.  (Won't dignify it with the term 'creamer')

14. UHT anything.  The place should be inspected at most 24 hours before guests arrive, and it's then that the fridge can be stocked with fresh milk etc. No excuse for beverages in a box.

15. Giant towels marinated in so much fabric softener that they are rendered almost waterproof.

16. Microfiber sheets.

17. Polyester sheets.

18. Insincere, cloying, twee 'welcome' notes/signs (unless they're written in Comic Sans, in which case I'll assume it's ironic and think the host is hilarious).

19. 'Complimentary' snacks that are mind-blowingly underwhelming.  Either knock them out with the quality/quantity or don't even go there.  Their absence won't be noticed, but a meagre offering of a couple of expired Kind bars and a bag of Aldi crisps would be, and not in a good way.

20. A snoring, sweaty host slumped on the sofa clutching a 6 pack of beer and a crack pipe.

21. Ditto, but naked.

[Jenny]

I am so here for your list @Louise0, but I'm roaring with laughter at 20 and 21.  I really hope you're not speaking from experience!

[Mariann4]

-No airfresheners

-No decorative blankets on bed 🤢🤮

-No decorative pillows in bed 🤢🤮

-No triple sheeting

-No religious decorations or bible etc. in the nightstand

-No tip jar or envelope for tipping

-Nothing microfiber or polyester in linen or towels

[John5097]

- Security cameras.  I'm not sure why Airbnb allows them inside at all. Just really strange to me that any host would be watching guest in a living room.  

- Tons of little sticky notes everywhere from past guest raving about the place that somehow seem fake.

- Polyester sheets, comforters and mattress pads that haven't been washed between guest. 

- Candy on the bedside table with ants crawling on them. 

- Any extra rules, such as having to remove shoes, that wasn't mentioned in the listing. (There was a recent host who was upset at a review, because the host had camera in the kitchen and living room, to make sure guest took off their shoes! This wasn't disclosed in the proper place in the listing but why even allow them inside at all?) 

[Huma0]

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@John5097 wrote:

- Tons of little sticky notes everywhere from past guest raving about the place that somehow seem fake.

---

Who does this?! That's a new one to me. A guest book is the appropriate place for complimentary notes and messages from guests. If a guest gives me a card or leaves a note thanking me, I just stick in the guest book. Guests can choose to look in it or not. A lot of people seem to enjoy browsing through it though...

I also use nice comments from reviews as the captions for my listing photos, which was a tip I got from other hosts on the CC. It's much easier to let the guests do the talking for you!

If one does want to stick up complimentary notes, I would suggest people get creative about it rather than just sticking them up around the listing, which is just plain weird. For example, one could have a nice map on the wall pin pointing the different cities/countries where the guests came from and attach then nice little notes to that, i.e. make it into an artwork! I think guess might enjoy that (providing the notes aren't fake).

[John5097]

@Huma0 It really didn't bother me when I was staying there, but for some reason when thinking about what to post for this topic that popped into my head. I wouldn't complain about it or any kind of artwork or whatever. I only expect the place to be clean. I like the notes also when guest leave them, and who knows maybe its a good way to help get better reviews. About 40 of these were plastered all over the fridge, though. I recall reading them over wondering if they were real. The thing is that it was the same listing with polyester sheets that were so course I have no idea where someone could even find sheets that terrible. I mean someone would need to search hard to find sheets that bad. The mattress was also as bad as it gets, the host check out included stripping the sheets and the topper had other guest hairs on it. No telling when the last time the bed spread, topper and shams had been washed. I'm not that fussy but was worried I'd be bringing back some hitchhikers back to my house and listing, so made sure all my stuff went straight into the wash. I recall I left it in my car in the sun on a hot day so it would have gotten up to like 150 degrees first before washing. Just thinking back I recall all of the notes  jumping out. I've also thought of a caulk board where guest could post notes or business cards but it would look tacky in my listing. I also din't leave this host a negative review. It was kind of awkward because it was so hot when I arrived and had to message her for instructions on how to use the remote for the ductless AC. She came rushing over, said it was freezing when she was cleaning, but agreed it had gotten really hot and showed me where the instructions were in a drawer. It was odd because there was no guest guide, no suggestions on anything. She was very helpful when I asked where a trail close by was, and it was a great trail. I thought it best to not leave reviews as she seemed kind of put out that I messaged her about the instructions for the AC. So should have put a bit more effort into the listing instead of all the notes. Although agree those could be an asset and other guest might like it think all the notes posted all over the fridge is kind of homey. They all kind of praised her also, while guest rarely mention me at all, but love the place, rave about clean it is, stylish, well maintained. In a way its good. Some guest say, "If you are looking for a private place with easy check in this is the place for you. While the host was very responsive, we didn't see each other the entire stay!"  🙂 

[Mark116]

@Huma0  Question, did you ask the guests if you could use their review comments as pull quotes or assume since they were public anyway there was no need to ask for any permission to use them in a different way?

[Huma0]

@Mark116 

No, I didn't ask for permission. Actually, I never thought about that. As they are public and on both my profile and the listings, I didn't think that would be an issue... I've certainly not had anyone complain about it.

[Laura2592]

I have what will probably be an unpopular one-- no overstuffed recliners.  I am sure they are comfy but they just seem very dated and unattractive to me. If I see one in a listing I  skip it. 

[Gwen386]

@Jenny What a great post. I loved reading everyones responses. 

My pet peeve is clutter. I absolutely abhor looking at a listing with stuff everywhere, 

and don’t even get me started with the clutter being personal stuff.

There does not need to be a piece of furniture occupying every space in the rental. There does not need to be dishes already on the dining room table. There does not need to be more than a lamp, remote, or coaster on a coffee or end table. There does not need to be anything on the top of a dresser—for goodness sake—leave an area for guest to put their watch, eyeglasses, meds, or whatever. Every kitchen appliance does not have to be displayed on the kitchen counter. 

Then, there’s the other end of the spectrum—rental so bare, it’s laughable. Bedroom with bed but no end table/no lamp. Bed with only sheets and one or two very flat pillows. And, as someone else said, bare walls throughout the space. 

Okay, thats enough of my rant. 

[Jenny]

I'm so pleased that you like the post, @Gwen386!

There's a balance, isn't there, between clutter and a bare listing!  

I really love to see unique things in a listing, but not to the point where I feel like I can't put my stuff down without moving things around!  On the other hand, if a room is bare, I might as well stay in a hotel.  Minimalism can be done very well, but I do prefer a bit of personality!