How can I remove reservation request pre approval requirement?

[Edward582]

Ad just posted, first reservation at end of month.  Every reservation requires guest inquiry and me offering a pre approval.  Have already lost four inquiries due to people not responding to my pre approval.  How can I disable the pre approval step and auto approve all reservations?

[Joan2709 · Accepted solution]

@Edward582 

You have Instant Book turned on already. A guest will automatically be booked without you doing anything if they choose to book.

An Inquiry is just a guest asking a question about your listing. You can answer the question and send a pre-approval, but the guest doesn't need to to accept the pre-approval and book. Perhaps they were just asking for some information. You have not "lost 4 bookings" as the guest was just asking a question. Pre approvals expire in 24hrs. 

Inquiry & Pre Approvals

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/237

[Joan2709]

@Edward582 

Airbnb displays 3 options when a guest sends an inquiry (asks a question). You don't need to select any of the options if you don't wish to. You can pre-approve if you like...but as @Patricia2526 says, you don't have to. Just send a message back to the guest and answer their questions within 24hrs.

The reason you are most likely getting a lot of inquiries is because your listing is a bit incomplete. Most travelers looking for an RV site would want to know the maximum size rig they can park on your lot, are there 30amp or 50amp hookups? Are there water/sewer hookups? Do you charge extra for any of those? Any restrictions on use of a portable generator if no electrical hookups are available? What if they don't need any hookups, but just want to use the other amenities? Do you offer a discounted nightly rate? I don't see you have mentioned any of that in the listing description? I also suggest adding captions to your photos so guests know what they are looking at and if any of the spaces are shared with you or other guests at the property. Guests also want to know about privacy. Do you or others live on the property? Are there shared spaces (pool, driveway, yard). 

Have you checked campgrounds in your area that offer similar amenities? Is your price competitive (with markup for added privacy of course).

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Edward582 

Your calendar isn’t automatically blocked when you send a pre-approval. Sending a pre-approval simply encourages the guest to confirm their booking with you. If you receive another inquiry for the same dates, you can also send that guest a pre-approval. The dates will remain open to everyone until one guest actually completes the booking at that point, the calendar will automatically update and block those dates for the confirmed reservation.

[Edward582]

Thanks for the reply @Patricia2526 .  So can a prospective guest book a reservation directly without going through the pre-approval process?  Not sure if it's a settings issue, but all five inquiries I've received for a booking come with a pre-approval message.  So just wonder if 'book now' isn't an option for them or it's just ironic that they've all sent a pre-booking message on purpose.