Hi @Ashleigh166 ,
As a host I have some additional insight. While not the outcome you anticipated (the decline), here's some thoughts:
- as hosts we have little to no support, power, recourse if there is an issue in our homes. The only tool we have is to vet guests in a way that helps anticipate issues and prevents fraud or loss of income or damage to our property, damage to an online presence, loss of insurance, loss of a permit, etc. The stakes are high on the host side as for most, a property represents a significant personal investment. On the guest side there are no stakes. If something is a miss you have the full support of AIRBNB (a host does not) and can just go stay elsewhere. Inconvenient but not a devastating personal loss.
- guests have lots of information to make an informed decision about a host and a listing: photos, reviews, a list of amenities, details. For a host there is only the info in the profile of a guest.
- a red flag for hosts is a new profile, just created and host is first reservation. Given the direction of AIRBNB I would suggest that this type of profile will struggle to use the platform as this type of guest just represents too large of a risk for a host. It is extremely nerve wracking and it is on the hosts shoulders to be the punching bag that needs to communicate how things work. For many, it just isn't worth the risks.
- You were lumped into all of this as you noted and not given the benefit of the doubt. In many cases hosts no longer have grace to give, they have been proven otherwise. Given all of this I still totally understand your side, it doesn't make it feel any less insulting. I get it! I really do.
- so here's some general advice on approaching a listing no matter if you are new or not:
*when you message a host about a listing include a comment that mentions their house rules: "we read the house rules and will be sure to follow, we also take our shoes off at home" or whatever! Show that you read the house rules and will follow. We are no smoking and will only have 2 cars (or whatever) and appreciate the parking info (or whatever!)
*compliment/mention the listing and read the whole listing! Make sure it is a good match for your group. Mention why it is a good match in your message. "We are coming with 4 children and appreciate the sleeping offered for kids in your home, or whatever. "we picked your home as it really suits our needs and thank you for sharing! Love the photo of the 'whatever' or loved the fact that it's close to a park or whatever.
*describe your group: we are two adults and children ages X & Y. We are coming to celebrate a birthday and will be taking the children to 'here' and 'here' and would love some additional recommendations or insight on these places.
*I would NOT do this on an initial message: ask for an early check in or late check out, ask for leniency on any of the house rules (says no pets but I want to bring my pet, then you should find a pet friendly place), says up to 4 adults but you need 6 so you should look for a place that takes 6, and so on.
*and since you have a new profile you can just acknowledge that you are new and recognize the host may want to ask some additional questions or ask to verify ID and so you would be happy to address.
*and finally, you may have done some/all of this and still have this outcome. It could be that the host just had some children in the listing and had a terrible outcome or they just had a guest that was also a new profile and had a terrible outcome.
just some food for thought and hoping the next reservation goes smoothly!
