A Bloody Mess...

[Sharla1]

Hello Everyone, 

I'm calling on my fellow hosts for some advice. You've all been so helpful in the past so here goes...

This past weekend I had a group of recent college grads. Upon their arrival they seemed like they would be responsible but unfortunately this wasn't the case. This is the first time I couldn't wait for a group to check out.

1. The group was VERY loud as they engaged in what seems to have been some incredibly active and/or unconventional sexual activities. Not sure and don't care.  Please know that I'm not under any delusions that guests won't being "getting sexual", but when you're practically making the house shake and you're gonna break my headboard, I've got problems with that.  I stopped over to inform them of the volume and asked that they stop doing whatever they were since it sounded like it was causing damage to the house. I also sent the booking guest a communication to document my concerns but he never responded nor apologized.  First time I've ever had to speak to a guest about concerns during their stay. Oy.

2. After they checked out, it was clear that someone tried to tidy up but there were remnants of pizza on the floors and in the shower (how is this possible?), a half full can of beer under a bed, fruit flies, ants and more importantly blood stains on 2 sets sheets, pillowcases, pillows, a throw pillow, crib mattress (yes they even used the crib mattress!), the two mattress covers for the bed (yes, blood went through 4 layers!) and a blood stain on the wall.  I was relieved to not find anything broken (ie the headboard) but obviously am very concerned about the volume of blood left behind. It was clearly not an overnight accident being that there were even bloody fingerprints on one of the pillowcases.  Whoever tried to help clean, stripped the bed for that room and put all of the linens that were stained into a basket with those that weren't stained - leading to me needing to have everything that touched blood professionally cleaned. I decided to toss the two sheet sets that had more than a spot or two of blood on them.  I'd never want to sleep on those if I were a guest even after lots of bleach. 

3. Communication was rough after booking - the booking guest actually ignored my emails until I told him he would not be receiving the key code until I got a response. House rules were broken including storing items outside (they picked up emergency cones from the street somewhere and decided to place them in my garden in front. Very classy), quiet hours after 11pm and checkout procedures. 

With all that being said, I also just got a notification of the booking guest leaving me a review. Fantastic.  I was hoping he wouldn't.  

So my questions to all of you are:

1. How would you handle the claim process with this group? My biggest concern is the blood since it resulted in about a $175 laundering bill and me hiring professional cleaners to do the deepest deep clean they've ever done.  With costs of $325 to clean up their mess, I plan on submitting a claim in the resolution center before my next group arrives on Friday but I don't anticipate even receiving a response from him since he was pretty unresponsive during before and during their stay.  

2. Should I charge them for my two new sets of sheets ($50)?  I ask only because I've seen very mixed reviews here in the host circle about bloody sheets.  I'd consider this to not fall into a category of normal bloody accidents that can happen though, so I would like to include this in with the claim and see what happens.  

3. Since he's already left a review, should I submit mine first and then submit my claim through the resolution center to avoid getting a retaliatory review from him? I'm assuming yes, but would appreciate any thoughts on that as well. 

Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate any wisdom you can share!

[Sharla1]

You're too kind, thank you @Kitty-and-Creek0!

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Sharla1 @Amy801 

Fyi..... blood stains should ALWAYS be washed and treated with cold water. Hot water will make the blood stains set in the fabric. 

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a30982648/how-to-get-blood-out-of-clothes/

[Amy801]

**[Inappropriate content removed - Community Center Guidelines]

[Cormac0]

**[Inappropriate content removed - Community Center Guidelines]

[Amy801]

**[Inappropriate content removed - Community Center Guidelines]

[Cormac0]

**[Inappropriate content removed - Community Center Guidelines]

[Sharla1]

I think that's been my issue in the past.  Using hot water and peroxide.  After this situation i'll never forget that @Jessica-and-Henry0 and @Sarah977 .  Thank you! 

[Mark116]

@Sharla1  you will be amazed how well cold water and peroxide works!  Though hopefully you won't have too many guests who bleed all over your sheets.  You could also add in a small box of generic feminine products so possibly reduce odds of guests having such accidents. 

[Sarah977]

@Sharla1  Yes, just put whatever has blood on it either in a pail or tub or directly into the washing machine, fill with cold water and let it soak for awhile. Then you can examine it for places you'll need to pour the hydrogen peroxide over. Then let that sit for a few minutes- you might have to repeat. Sometimes the cold water is all it takes, depending on whether it's still fresh or has dried on there for awhile and you don't even need the peroxide. Stains which are oil-based tend to come out best with hot water, but not stuff that's protein-based.

[Laura2592]

Uhh, are we sure someone didn't get really hurt during this stay? I realize that sheets can be expensive and clean up a pain, but were there injured parties? Could a crime have been committed (i.e., are we sure this unconventional romantic interlude was consensual?) That is the first place my mind goes. This does not sound like fun experimentation. Are you sure someone didn't get really hurt?

I would be VERY concerned with this group. There are serious issues here. I would not hesitate to warn other hosts with something like the following:

'X group was a complicated and worrisome hosting experience for us. Not only was there damage done to some of our household items we were concerned that some of the guest behavior could have resulted in injury due to some of the stains we encountered during clean up. Though we attempted to communicate with this guest we have been unsuccessful in getting responses. Our house rules were not followed. Overall, not someone we would recommend to other hosts."

[Sharla1]

@Laura2592 - thanks for your feedback.  I really appreciate the sample verbiage you shared as well.  Since we are here onsite and were able to actually hear what was taking place, i'm very certain that this was sexual activity.  If anyone did get hurt, it was likely intentional and part of what the group (yes the group) was doing throughout their stay.  Based on what I saw and heard, I believe that at least one of the girls had their "monthly" (they even left a few feminine products behind) and they engaged in a few marathon sessions with the 4 guys that may have involved some more colorful activity.  The fact that sheets abd pillows setup for use downstairs made it upstairs also tells me that this behavior was intentional. 

By the way, judgment-free zone here.  All I care about is getting compensated for all of the extra cleaning, etc. not what people choose to do behind closed doors.  

[Laura2592]

@Sharla1  there was no judgement in my suggestion, only awareness that sometimes hosts might be the inadvertent witnesses to things that are not strictly legal. Guests have romantic escapades, for sure. But what you have described seems a whole different level. I have heard of some Airbnb's being used for porn shoots and bondage parties. (In fact, there is a pretty well known one in Philadelphia that is set up for the latter.) I am thinking about guest safety and host liability if a crime is committed in your space. Were it me, I would want to be 1000000% sure that all the guests were of consenting age and were not in need of assistance

[Anonymous]

@Sharla1   The guest has already submitted a review - he doesn't get a second chance to re-write it as a retaliatory one if you write an honest review.

[Sharla1]

Yup got that @Anonymous . I just wasn't certain if he could currently revise his review (not that he would) before submit mine.  Really just a question on how the system works, not his behavior.  

[Sarah977]

@Sharla1  As far as I'm aware, both hosts and guests have 48 hours to revise a review, but once the other party's review is submitted, revisions are no longer possible.