"Share more about your backyard" and on and on ad nauseum

Ann72
Level 10
New York, NY

"Share more about your backyard" and on and on ad nauseum

"Private or public, fully fenced or not fully fenced."   It's too reductionist too give just two irrelevant choices, fenced or not fenced.  It's surrounded by twelve acres of woods and fields.  I've indicated it's private, but I won't answer the question about fencing, so this question keeps coming back.

 

"Does your place have beach access?"  No.  But if I say that, will guests think there's no place to go swimming?  My property is not listed as "waterfront," but I let guests know where all the nearby beaches are.  

 

"Tell us more about your dryer access."  Really?  It's literally right inside the laundry room.  It's clearly stated elsewhere that it is not shared or locked.  What other challenges do you think guests face around finding and using the dryer?

 

Can we have an option where we don't have to answer every one of these questions?  I X them out, but if I haven't checked off all the irrelevant choices, they come back, along with the note about hosting longer stays.  I allow people to inquire about longer stays and they do.  But in reality I don't want to come up on a search for longer stays.  So once I've cleared that off the screen, don't let it come back.  It's just one more way my time is wasted.

 

27 Replies 27
Kitty-and-Creek0
Top Contributor
Willits, CA

@Ann72 

I agree and sympathize! One example: our 180 acres are not fenced! We do not have security cameras, but we have trail cams in the deep woods to observe our local wildlife - so yes, we have cameras. With so many unique properties, what can we do to fit into the boxes? Only our best. I, like you, explain it all in the listing, and hope folks will read it. Thanks for brightening my day! Kitty

@Kitty-and-Creek0  "With so many unique properties, what can we do to fit into the boxes?"  Exactly!  And isn't that just what Airbnb loves to promote - unique listings?  

Laurelle3
Level 10
Huskisson, Australia

@Ann72 Sadly, we have a cottage on a shared house block near the beach but as you say we are not water front and dont have access. So have added we are 600metres from the beach and hopefully guests look at the map plus it is written in the introductory of our Airbnb cottage. Yes, I have a quandery about this. I have ticked the box then goneback and unticked it. Now have box ticked with the 600 metres. Yes it is unclear and it would be the same as a fence if you had a rural property. Good question.

The other point about the promotion of unique accomodation, we can't all build a tiny house, own a castle or live in the wilderness or a remote island or have a yurt or provide a glamping experience. I think Airbnb has forgotton the grass roots of how they started, sharing ones home, ajoined unit or property without competing with hotels, motels and large companies that want to make fast money without having a shared relationship between guest and host.  

 

 

@Ann72 . Sounds amazing 

Colleen253
Level 10
Alberta, Canada

VOTE. FOR ALL OF IT. YES. YES. YES. THIS DRIVES ME INSANE.

Amanda660
Level 10
Auchenblae, United Kingdom

I jeep getting prompts telling me that adding Air Conditioning will

attract more guests.  

 

Good grief, we’re in North East Scotland not the Tropics. 

Haha. I’m in south Australia and I feel the same way ! But then you get a guest who thinks 28* is “boiling” …. I am from the tropics so I laugh at the dry heat. 

 

@Amanda660 

HA! I can imagine your climate. Having A/C around here is unheard of, but we have it anyway, solar, off grid, and all. 

we actually do have air con in one of our cottages, the previous owner installed it, just one of those boxy ones. actually there was one in our darling Butlers Cottage too but it was so ugly we took it out. We might get about 5 hot days up here where inside gets hot too. 

Gillian166
Level 10
Hay Valley, Australia

Yes and yes. Same thing here, the whole property is fence but the bit of garden around the house isn’t. 

Yes please to permanently turning some of these questions OFF 

 

Even in the calendar... this week we are closed for a private function and i keep getting pop-ups urging me to open up the calendar. 
respectfully, buggar off ABB and stay out of it!! 

@Gillian166 We have the landscaped garden bit mostly fenced for deer, it is a "garden tour" botanical garden, and "fragile". The bears, mountain lions, foxes, skunks, opossums and all the birds get in easily. The wilderness part is steep to treacherous, thus would be ridiculous to fence, and unkind to our wildlife whose home it is. 

do you also have to put in a warning about "unfenced ledges" or whatever that is, I do because we aren't on flat ground either. yes, nature, is random.  It seems city people are likely to trip over a pebble unless there's a warning.... 

 

@Gillian166 

Yes, we checked off the warning box. In our description we are also clear that sturdy enclosed shoes are necessary, and walking sticks advisable. I also mention that it is appropriate to not reach into vegetation as one might frighten a snake. As far as transportation, it must b e reliable and in good repair. We are surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of wilderness which is a splendid view but very much off limits.

We do see the ocean in the distance. I am puzzled by what is an ocean view vs a sea view. Do you have a clue? 

@Kitty-and-Creek0  The view is another thing that stumps me, too!  We have a distant view, but it's a very beautiful view that all guests love.  However, to say "distant view" sounds more like something you can't quite see.  I just can't bring myself to answer that question!