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!

[Emiel1]

@Kate3214 

I saw you already updated the quiet hours, now 11:00 PM - 8:00 AM, which is more normal for guests....😊

I also noticed you now allow a maximum stay of 2 weeks.

Not sure for me if you offer cooking facilities, i see a kitchen (or kitchenette)  on the "dining area" photo, but there is no cooking facility available ?

Amenities still say kitchen is not included (guest can filter on it when searching ! 😞

I can not answer your question about "percentage of the month to be rented". The future will show how many people will book your listing ! I am located in The Netherlands, which is a totally different area then where you are (hosting for more then 10 years).

Happy hosting !

[Kate3214]

Hey there, your feedback is so appreciated and thank you for actually giving me your thoughts!  I have two jobs trying to make ends meet as I am 68 and needing extra income, so sorry for my delayed response.  Addressing your comments, please help me adjust what needs to happen with my listing as you have already given me insight!  I'm so confused by the rules and restrictions of AirBnB and so I'm dependent upon people like yourself to guide me through and answer my questions.  I cannot thank you enough!   You are in the Netherlands?  Amazing! So there is a time differential - Ok by mean.  Please keep feeding me with your knowledge ... I so just winging it and need to be the host that gets 5 stars - not sure what I need to do/change to make that happen?  Thanks for looking at my listing and giving your insight!  It's late here so going to bed now, but please enlighten me with your wisdom as you have time.  🙂

[Emiel1]

@Kate3214 

There is no age limit to be a good host, i am even older..

If the kitchen has no running water and has no cooking facilities, then it is not a complete kitchen.

Maybe call it a kitchenette, which is also an option on the platform.

[Kate3214]

Thanks so much again for pointing out my issues!  I've edited it so many times now I'm not even sure what it says!  Let me pick your brain on something again .... about the kitchen.  Do you allow your guests to use your kitchen whenever they want?  I'm somewhat uncomfortable with that, because I have a house with the open concept and I'm usually working in my living room and watching t.v. right there.  Just wondered what your opinion is on that.  I did purchase a "kitchen" for the AirBnB that has salt & pepper, coffee machine, plates and silverware and a lot more.  There is no running water though, except for the attached bathroom.  My first "guest" who was here for 30 days too long, was washing his one plate and fork that he used for every single meal in my shower!  I didn't like that at all.  He was a foreigner and I tried to ask him to give me his dirty dishes and don't wash in the shower, but he did anyway.  All in all, I did not have a good first experience hosting.  I could not wait for him to leave!  He "works from home" meaning he was here 24/7, which I did not know ahead of time -- and he was super loud.  He complained a lot about the air conditioner and I turned it way down to accommodate him, and I'm worried about my next electric bill it's been over 103 degrees every day.  I spent $2,900 and had a wall unit A/C in that room basically to stop his complaining.  Anyway, any insight you have would be appreciated with my specific issues.  Thanks so much!

[Frances3408]

@Kate3214 . Welcome Kate. There is so much information here on Community Centre so spend as much time as you can here, reading other posts, its how we all learnt ;).

Especially have a read of the Host Guides section. Also you can join a local host club here as well as check for Airbnb updates. Go through your hosting profile and check all settings including notifications, then look at your Calendar to streamline your availability. You can split your calendar into as many different periods as you like and name each one differently with different rules: do this once you get more familiar with hosting. There is also a search facility for any topics already written about using the magnifying glass icon top left of screen.

Note that unless you are using Host Circle I believe all other sections (including this one) the posts can be read on the web. Host Circle is a specific host only section which is only answered by other hosts and the moderators, from around the world. 

Good luck. 🙂