Self checkin

[Jo620]

I have to know. I've set up self check in to my property. Now, What control do I have If I become too busy ,can I  cancel or do I have to go with it? I've got a back to back guests staying with me less then 48 hours between them,worried I won't get the sheets dry in time. 

[Emiel1]

@Jo620 

If you cancel, you will receive penalties from Airbnb.

Maybe buy an extra set of sheets....

[Sarah977]

@Jo620  As Emiel says, you should always have at least 2 sets of sheets for each bed. 

And what does self-check in have to do with cancelling or not getting the laundry done on time?

[Jo620]

How can someone have a confirmed booking when I haven't had chance to except it .I have this guy who has booked on someone else behalf which makes it that I can't see who is actually arriving.This person has not been vetted by Airbnb? What can I do.?

[Lisa723]

@Sarah977 @Emiel1 

@Jo620 do you mean "instant-book" rather than "self-check-in" by chance?

"Self-check-in" means the guests check themselves in via a lock-box or similar and you do not meet them at the premises at arrival. "Instant-book" means the guests can make a reservation without your explicit approval.

[Lisa723]

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1510/how-to-use-instant-book

[Lawrene0]

It sounds like you are a little overwhelmed, @Jo620 , so first thing to do is to get control of your calendar. Add prep time between reservations, block off any days you cannot host, and maybe switch off Instant Book while you get the hang of things. And, yes, buy an extra set of sheets. 

It is really awful to cancel on someone. Think of how it affects the guest. That's why the penalties.

Once you have the calendar sorted, read through the Help Centre. Other things are going to crop up that will be a shock if you don't know about them ahead of time. 

It is great that you asked here rather than just up and cancelling. This forum has loads of information (and cautionary tales) for you!

[Lawrene0]

Oh, and, @Jo620 , the upcoming booking looks like it is a third-party reservation, which isn't allowed. If it wasn't someone in a company booking for an employee, you can indeed get that one cancelled. Call Airbnb and they will help with that. 

[Sarah977]

@Jo620  Turn off Instant  Book, which is turned on by default on new listings. Then guests will have to send you a booking request which you can accept or decline. 

And as Lawrene advised, contact Airbnb customer service to cancel that third perty booking. The personwho books has to be among the guests who stay. 

Spend time looking through all your hosting settings to familiarize yourself with them. Set a prep time that works for you ( days between bookings so you have time to clean and do laundry) and advance notice days, so you don't get bookings that want to come tomorrow.

[Jo620]

@Sarah977 I've  got 24hrs notice b4 I can cancel He has not answered my question. Asked him who is coming  Heard nothing. He has 24 hrs b4 3pm this afternoon b4 I cancel without penalties. 

[Jo620]

@Sarah977 Thanks for your input. My response to paragraph 2, just as I thought that's how I saw it too!. I don't really want to turn off Instant book because I read if I did that I would lose my Superhost title which I'm trying hard to achieve. Customer service on this occasion have been amazing,i have learnt a lot in a space of time.

[Sarah977]

@Jo620  Superhost has nothing whatsoever to do with using Instant Book, I don't know where you got that notion.

I have never used Instant Book  and have almost 4 years now as Superhost.

[Jo620]

Hi everyone,

I managed to get hold of Airbnb to look at it for me, I found that business guests can identify a reservation as a business trip by selecting 'Business travel' on the checkout page . Choosing this won't automatically inform us as hosts they can only share this info in a message, It did state that both parties would appear in the messages but I didn't see who was actually arriving. Learnt a lot today.

[Tony-And-Una0]

Buy more bedding. I see you are in the UK. Argos do relatvely good fitted sheets for £5 and Duvet sets for £10