A happy post for fellow home-share hosts

[Sarah977]

Amidst all the coronavirus/cancellation madness and hosts who've been waiting for months for paypouts, there are still good things happening. I wanted to share the review I got from my most recent guest. I hope you all understand that I'm not posting this to boast about my listing-rather, I just was so thrilled with this review because of its articulateness and the fact that it really shows appreciation and understanding of what a home-share is. You can probably tell that this was an amazingly wonderful guest.

" Absolutely stellar. A luxury space for one—a beautifully decorated, tastefully designed, inviting little room. The bed is divine. I loved the bathroom too, especially the shower 🙂 Sarah’s home is charming; she herself is as warm, entertaining and helpful as she is discreet—she lets you take the lead. The kitchen is big and easy to find your way around in. The house is far from the maddening crowd, but I walked to town easily and often. This Airbnb is the real deal: a real host, a real house share, a local experience. Highly recommended."

[Paul1255]

Well done @Sarah977  !

Lovely to see a ray of sunshine this morning amongst the clouds :))

[Shaun69]

Good on you girl @Sarah977 . We are getting the cancelations, but overall we will struggle through!  I am lucky because the UK budget yesterday will reduce my costs and enable me to react to opportunities that present themselves! Lots of guests are having genuine problems and I do feel for them, however some are taking the piss and as usual AIRBNB are falling for it!!!

BE HAPPY SHAUN

[Rachel0]

Nice one @Sarah977.  It's great to feel appreciated!

[Susan17]

"This Airbnb is the real deal: a real host, a real house share, a local experience"

The highest compliment any true old-school host can receive from their guest! That must have absolutely made your day, and well deserved too! Great work, @Sarah977  :))

[Sarah977]

@Susan17  If Airbnb ever listened to home-share hosts about creating a separate category for home-shares, they could use reviews like that at the top of the page as promo for encouraging guests to book them. And it would give a little credence to their "live like a local, caring and sharing" rhetoric.

I have to say I was surprised and of course pleased (altho I hope it doesn't lead to future guests to expect the Ritz) that she described it as "luxury". It's quite a simple space, really. But I am into artistic design and paint jobs. The guest is a world traveler, long-time user of Airbnbs and told me when she was here that most of the listings she's stayed at are "cookie cutter".

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Sarah977 

Well done. Guest satisfaction like that just doesn't 'happen'. There's a lot of preparation required in the background and (not being a home share host) probably a lot of personal accommodation going on whilst the guest is around which never gets realised.

Your guest too, would be the kind of guest this platform should encourage more of.

[Sarah977]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0  Yes, she was "Superguest" who had pages of glowing reviews. But I have to say I've been lucky, most of my guests have been absolutely wonderful and appreciative, I've never had what I would call a bad guest. Knock on wood.

I don't know if there is any more preparation or personal accommodation involved in a home-share as opposed to a whole place rental, but I'm sure it's of a somewhat different nature.

[Ann72]

@Sarah977  Wow, that's wonderful!  I especially love that she made a point of saying that you're discreet and let the guest take the lead.  That takes a LOT of skill.  Well done, darling!

[Sarah977]

@Ann72 Well, I've never thought of myself as such, in fact, most people say "You never have to wonder about what Sarah's thinking, she'll just blurt it right out." I can be rather tactless at times. But when a guest arrives, I do just show them to their space, orient them a bit as to what they'd need to know up there right off the bat, then tell them I'll leave them to get settled, shower, relax, whatever, and when they're ready to come downstairs, I'll show them where everything is in the kitchen, how the kitchen door lock works, etc. I don't like to overload people with too much information all at once- they're usually tired from travelling and I think it's hard to absorb too much then.

[Mike-And-Helen0]

@Sarah977 super review, Well Done!

[Lizzie]

So lovely to read this @Sarah977. You totally deserve all of these kind words. 

[Cathie19]

Great guest story @Sarah977 . It’s always wonderful to have someone show us sunshine with all the dark clouds. 🙂

[John1574]

_

@Sarah977 

That is a well written review and it sounds well deserved. Nice turns of phrase.

When I get reviews like that I always know they are experienced travelers who have experienced many "cookie cutter" places.  Like Sarah, I'm into art, color and design and try make my places special and unique especially since they are stand alone units.

I must say that I agree with. Sarah that AirBnB should have different listings for Shared Homes and Stand Alone Homes. It took me a while to grasp that but by reading the forum the way I did at first it soon became clear that the two have very different experiences and concerns. It should not be too difficult for AirBnB since they already have the software architecture.

My ultimate compliment to my great guests is to refer to them in my review as "people who know how to travel well".

-

[Sheila22]

I don't get it?  What's your point?