Looking for Support from other Hosts

[Kira357]

Are there any Airbnb host groups in the Orange County (CA) area? 
I’ve had five challenging guest situations in a row and am quite discouraged. 😞

[Helen3]

Oh dear @Kira357 what created your five challenging guest situations?

hosts don't need to be from your location to offer you support so do feel free to post here and we can try and help/offer support.

Or join your local host group (normally on FB)

[Kira357]

Thank you @Helen3 . I didn’t know how to access these responses. Forgive my lapse in responding back.
I haven’t yet found a group near me, but sharing this will help. I think we have some specific abuses due to the area here. I’m not quite sure. My Airbnb new host mentor has been AMAZING, but I almost feel bad sharing so much when she has so many people. She thinks it could be the area also. And I’m super remote. 
I gave specifics in my response to Rob. If you have any advice, I would love to hear….🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼

Many Thanks,

kira

[Helen3]

If you have a host to mentor you they really should be advising you on this @Kira357 . What does she mean when she says it's 'your area'.

From your listing it appear you live at the location so can easily be on hand to sort out issues including people bringing in more cars then allowed.

You have a lovely place but unfortunately if you don't vet your guests properly you will continue to have guests that abuse your hospitality.

Do not feel held to ransom by bad reviews. Guests will quickly see through them if they are out of kilter with your other reviews. (I hope you are leaving honest reviews for these bad guests to warn your fellow hosts)

In your situation I would;

1. Turn off Instant Book until you become more experienced

2. Have vetting questions to make sure guests are a good fit - how do you currently vet your guests?

3. Improve your house rules 

4. Consider CCT

6. Don't take shorter stays for younger locals - often a party risk

With your previous guests if you know someone used their parents account report them to Airbnb and insist Airbnb cancel their bookings.

You should keep cleaning supplies locked away.

[Kira357]

Oh Helen,

Your response is just amazing!!!!  I  have already done the first three things you mentioned. I had  been advised by the site to do shorter stays and instant book to get more bookings before reviews.
I never considered a co-host. What a great idea. I’m going to carefully go through each of your suggestions.  
you are truly the best. Thank you endlessly,

kira

[Helen3]

Thank you @Kira357 

Very pleased to be able to help. 

I didn't actually suggest a cohost as your listing indicates you live on the wider property.

I did suggest CCTV as a good way of ensuring only those booked (including cars) are at the property. 

and another tip - do have a look at the Airbnb Help website it's has FAQs on most aspects of running your STR business on Airbnb. 

[Mary5479]

What situations are?

[Kira357]

Please see my reply to Rob. I detail them there…. 
Thank you for responding. 🙏🏼

[Robin4]

@Kira357 

Hi Kira, you might need to elaborate a bit more as to what has lead to your discouragement!

I just checked you profile and in your 3 months of hosting you have 10 reviews gaining a straight 5 star rating for each of them. 

That's the sort of start off most of us would have never dreamed of and, if there's a downside to that, we would love to hear about it.

Cheers........Rob

[Kira357]

Hi @Robin4 !

So sorry for my delay in responding. I’m still not sure where to find everything on this site. Only now seeing these responses. 
I had a review removed for being retaliatory. 😕Thank goodness. She damaged a new large chair and I’m still trying to fix it. I think I’m almost out of time.  You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find a cleaner to even take the chair, let alone then write up a notice saying they can’t clean it on letter head. 
I took it the first time and it almost broke my back. This time, I disassembled it. Had to find a temporary replacement. And all while the unit is rented and I work far away. This guest even cleaned out every extra supply I had in the unit. I went so above and beyond, while she broke every rule. Waited til I told her every effort didn’t remove the red staining, that I’d be submitting a claim to Airbnb and then she submitted the review and suddenly said she would work with us. This was the same week I had a 20 year old use his father’s account and leave bodily fluids all over every piece of fabric in the other unit. Even the blinds. Airbnb did pay to replace a great deal of stained items that  I couldn’t bare to leave even after laundering. I replaced everything. 
I guess I just got discouraged. It’s only about a fifth of my guests who are disrespectful, but it’s been a challenge. 
I have pulled many of the “extras” I had in the rooms, put up house rules in two places, marked everything. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice. 
It seems the kinder or more accommodating I am, the worse the abuses. I get this is Southern Cal, but it’s a lot to process. 
Lastly, I live in the actual forest. And no one seems to read the directions/description on the site. They bring extra cars, don’t print directions, smoke, garbage everywhere, bring extra guests. Literally everything is mapped out in bold and then they show up upset about things that were 100% clear if I mention them. I even send them all a detailed reminder before they check in. I feel if I say more, I will get another bad review. Like the reviews are holding me hostage and they know it. I even had a guest prematurely leave because I wouldn’t let him have my part of the residence exclusively for he and his girlfriend and then ask for a refund because they chose to leave early. 
So sorry this is so long. I’m barely touching the surface. Any advice would be so very appreciated. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

ManyThanks, 

Kira

[Robin4]

@Kira357 

I am sorry that you have struck a couple of poor guests in quick succession but unfortunately they do come with hosting......but fortunately not often.

In over 800 guests stays here Kira there is less than a handful I would not like to see walk up my driveway again.

You have to look at it as an averages game Kira, my lovely guests so far outweigh the not so good ones that I am prepared to wear that odd one that comes along as part of the territory.  I build a little bit into my listing amount to allow for something that is going to get broken, damaged or stolen and sure, it does happen but, generally only once in 50 guests and I just allow for it.

I like to give each guest a block of chocolate. One guest found her way into the restock cupboard and.......

My 24 blocks of chocolate turned into 15! At least she wasn't a complete pig, she left something behind for someone else. I have had the medicine cabinet cleaned out, even books for the bookshelves disappear.

We don't live in a perfect world but Kia, I value my review record more than what a few medial aids and a few blocks of chocolate might cost.

I have only once had a bed linen damaged to the point where I have had to replace it and the thing you have to realise most of these things are accidents, the guest didn't set out to screw you, you learn after a while to make your listing guest proof!

I had one guest who gave me a 3 star for cleanliness! Her statement was...."The rug looks old and shabby"! That rug was a triple knotted Turkish silk rug and was probably worth more than the late model car they pulled up in. I promptly solved that by nipping into IKEA and grabbing a $80 bit of synthetic nonsense........and I have never had a complaint since.

Guests don't look on your possessions the same way you do. They don't reward you for your great taste......so keep it simple but functional.

Don't put in a Barista coffee machine, put in a pod coffee maker, they know how to work that, they will in all probability break your $2,000 Barista piece of coffee making excellence!!!

Kira, I just use Airbnb as a booking platform, nothing else, I do pick my guests pretty well, I all the time have my radar turned on for red flags and I do decline a few I don't feel will be a good fit for what I offer. 

Don't be too disheartened by a couple of poor guests Kira, there are plenty of great ones out there to compensate.

Cheers........Rob

[Kira357]

Oh my goodness Rob! This response is priceless!!!!!! You are so right. About everything!!! The guests who have been wonderful have been SO wonderful. And I do need to stop with the white fur rugs and the gorgeous white tufted chair that was destroyed. Guest proof. That’s how I need to think. 
And I’ve pulled all the extras. I almost felt bad, but one greedy guest can really make us not want to be so generous. I need to protect against that feeling by removing the temptation. Your rug story made me laugh. It’s time to adapt. Thank you so much for this guidance. All of these responses were exactly what I needed. My guests who just checked in are so quite, and I feel like I’m ready to look at this in a more realistic, healthier way. 
So Thankful,

kira

[Robin4]

@Kira357  Kira, I supply plenty of extras but, they are extras that I am prepared to loose.

Every guest gets a $25-$30 cheese plate, even overnighters. Many of them can't understand how I can afford to do this.....

I have an agreement with the manager of one of the local supermarkets. When perishable articles get with a week of the use by date or get a bit scruffy in the display cabinet they either go in my box out in the warehouse or they go in the rubbish dumpster. I never pay more than 50c for a wrapped cheese or a small pack of sealed bacon, nuts, fruit, milk.....any perishables. They are all in date and subject to health regulations but, Kira, guests are not expecting it.

I scored 3 large cartons on Dove boxed soaps on EBay, about 600 individual soaps, cost.........15c per cake!

The guest gets the choice, they can have the supplied liquid soap or they can have their own full size boxed cake. 

You have to be streetsmart and it's easy enough to make deals with retailers.

The other thing I do is make the cottage as homely as possible. Lots of books, DVDs  interesting but inexpensive things to make them feel like they are home.....

It's not how much money you have spent that makes you successful, it's how they perceive what you offer.

Cheers.........Rob

[Kira357]

Brilliant!!!!! Can I come stay???☺️☺️☺️ Yes, I’m trying and learning every day!!! I love the market idea!!!! You are so creative!!!! 
this is what I wanted my experience to be also. I guess I just got discouraged. Last night, I heard my new female guest cooing when she walked in. I love that. I light the room with twinkle lights and always have cooking or brownies waiting. It’s so nice when they notice….❤️ I love putting books in and journals, even cards I pull for spiritual seekers. I’ve even placed mediation tens outside for guests who come alone for sanctuary. I just really think I must screen more…. Be smarter. All of this incredible advice is helping me so much. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[Kira357]

 

 

 some of the special things I do….❤️