New Host!!

[Kate3214]

Hi, I'm so glad I found this as I want to introduce myself but also ask a question!  Actually 2 questions.   My name is Kate, and I really need this to work as I'm older and living on a fixed income. I should be retired but don't have enough to live on so am still trying to sell houses.  This occurred to me because I'm not using 1/3 of my house!  I have purchased a table and chairs, a desk, a kitchen, a wardrobe and a chair. He was saying he was hot so I also put a separate expensive A/C in that room.  Went out of my way accommodating him in fact, spent a lot more money accommodating him than I earned!  He just left Monday and he rated me 4 stars.  I couldn't believe it. He was from a foreign country and spoke some English and then deducted a star and said MY communication was a 4!!!!  Should I be worried about this?  I was shocked!  Second question, and I ran into this because of his stay here .... he "worked from home" so in other words, he was here 24/7, which was too much for me for 30 days and I was so excited to have someone staying I didn't notice.  I certainly didn't know he would be here 24/7.  Is there a way to put in your listing somehow that the room rents one week at a time?  Or to find out a person's schedule so you don't accept a stay with someone who will be here all day, every day?  Also, he wouldn't allow me to go into the room to get trash or towels on the occasion that he left to go get food, is that common?  Even in a hotel the maids come in and empty trash etc!  Ok 3 questions:  lastly, where is the section in the editor "about this space" I cannot find it to edit it and it is showing up in the view.  You messaged me at exactly the right time when my questions were swirling and I was trying to find the answers to no avail.  Thank you for checking in and I look forward to hearing your response!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Kate3214 You can set a 7 day max stay if you like but that means someone searching for 10 days won't see you. Perhaps better is to say that a general tidy up and linen change will take place every week for stays of more than 2 weeks so you can keep an eye on the place.

You could switch off instant book so you can question potential guests and see if they are suitable

FYI, in a shared home you can legally and allowably reject men (others will correct me if I am wrong)

4 stars is a 'GOOD' rating in terms review a guest leaves. Strangely an average score below 4.7 can get your listing suspended but don't worry too much at this stage.

[Kate3214]

wow thank you.  I have not seen a place to set a 7 day max can you tell me where?  Also, you're right, that would exclude a 10-day stay.  Is there a way to make it a 2-week max?  This is such a learning experience! I learned the hard way.  This was a foreign single male and I was scared to death. I won't do that again. My settings already have me approving manually b/c I do want to know who is going to be here while I'm here!  A 4 is a good rating?  Wow.  I was a little frustrated b/c I couldn't see how he reviewed me until after I reviewed him!  That seems backwards to me.  Because I gave him 5 starts and said glowing things about him.  I would have been more honest had I seen his.  So you think it is okay to message a potential person and ask about their schedule?  How would you word that without offending?  I seriously don't want to have someone here 24/7 it was super intrusive. We had dual televisions going, I had to ask him repeatedly to turn his down to a normal level so I could hear mine!  It was a long 30 days.  Please let me know where that is to only accept two weeks and answer my other question about how to word the message to potential people about their schedule.  Thanks so much for your input!  

[Lorna170]

@Kate3214  Yes, you can set your listing to a 14 day max in your calendar under availability.  

As a homeshare host, you can also restrict your guests to women.  

[Kate3214]

Thank you!!

[Kate3214]

OK that's good to know!  If I restricted it to women, what happens if a couple wants to stay and the husband is booking in that case?  I definitely want couples .... just not single men!  Thanks!

[EsraandErman0]

I was surprised to read that an average rating below 4.7 can even lead to a listing being suspended. Since 4 stars generally means "good" to most guests, I think many people don't realize how much impact a 4-star review can have on a host. I wish Airbnb made this clearer to guests before they leave a review.

[Kate3214]

Well said and I couldn't agree more!!!  I was disappointed in a 4 star, ESPECIALLY since he was a foreigner and had the communication problems!  He was my first guest so it matters! I will all out for this guy, even put in a $2,000 AC because he kept telling me to turn the air down.  Not kidding.  Lost money on this deal!  Lessen learned.  But question: is there a place where you can make a suggestion to Airbnb that you or I could pose that idea?  Also, can you explain the levels?  It says I am a level one and I notice you are a level 2 ..... thanks!  Kate

[EsraandErman0]

I had a look at your listing and I really liked it. You've clearly put a lot of effort into it.

I think the reason I'm a Level 2 is simply because I've been hosting on Airbnb for a longer time and have had more guests. I currently have 19 reviews on my listing.

I'd be happy to keep sharing ideas and experiences with you. I'm based in Türkiye, but I'm sure we can still learn a lot from each other and help each other become even better hosts.

Looking forward to staying in touch!

[EsraandErman0]

By the way, your Community level goes up as you create more posts and stay active.

[Kate3214]

Thanks for that information!!! Very helpful!!

[Kate3214]

YES YES YES!!!!  I would like that!  I need to have a "go to" person to gain knowledge from.  I was really disappointed with my first guest.  By the way, can I speak openly here and is this just coming to you I hope?  Disappointed because I spent $2,900 trying to accommodate this guy.  Disappointed because I did not know he was going to be a "work from home" guy, so he was here 24/7.  Disappointed how loud he was.  Supposedly working but he was watching the soccer competitions every day, had the volume up loud, and then would start chanting loudly and clapping his hands when whatever happened.  Disappointed that I had no idea I couldn't read his review of me until I reviewed him.  This was my very first host and had I been really honest, I would have said he was annoying, he was here 24/7, never left, he told me not to go into my own room when he would leave for 15 minutes, when he noticed I had gone in to get towels ... honestly he stayed for 31 days and it was hell.  I'm waiting to get a normal stay that I don't feel like I'm walking on eggshells for a review!  He reviewed me first and I couldn't believe he gave me 4 stars .... for "communication" no less!  He was a foreigner and when he did come out of the room I would say something to him and get a deer in the headlights.  He didn't understand, so I would slow it down so he did, yet I'm the one that has a communication problem?!!!  I hope this works for me.  I'm single and he was a single man that was from another country, and I was frightened the whole time .... anyway, sorry for the rant.  Please share your wisdom as you have a lot more insight into it all that I could benefit from.  Thank you!!

[Kate3214]

And congrats on your reviews!  I hope to get some great ones!

[Emiel1]

@Kate3214 

"About this space" is not a separate section in the editor, it just combines everthing you wrote in section "description" (for example  guest access, during your stay, other things to note etc..)

The amenities say there is no kitchen. But description says otherwise.

Houserules:

Quiet hours : 3:00 PM - 11:00 AM   (?)

[Kate3214]

Thank you Emiel1!  I wondered about the quiet hours b/c it says by it "check in and check out".  I thought that was redundant.  I'll change that, thank you.  I've gone through all the places where I've written a paragraph and cannot find the language that shows up as "about" as I said.  I want to take something out of it but cannot find it.  I find this site hard to manage.  I will fix the amenities thanks.  I thought I had that checked.  Thx for pointing that out!!!!

How long have you been hosting and what percentage of the month would you think I could have it rented?  I know that's a subject question but I've spent so much putting extra stuff in there I'm already upside down.  Where is your Airbnb?  Kate