These days I will not even consider guests with no reviews....I used to consider it, but newbies are high risk and I have had a couple of bad experiences way back in the past. So now I always decline. I ask myself 'would I allow someone to stay in my house, have potential access to my belongings, my space, my life etc.... without knowing anything about them?'
I feel that this situation could improve, if AirBnB, firstly realised that inviting a stranger in to my house, someone that I have never met, and know almost nothing about is bordering on reckless and possibly dangerous, and secondly if AirBnB forced guests to give more info to hosts....a profile, a picture, a full name, maybe even a reference, then hosts may be more comfortable with newbies
I have just had a request...all I got was their first name! Nothing else, just XXXX wants to stay, they had one verification, no profile, no reviews...it could be anyone. I know we all started somewhere with AirBnB and with reviews, but so did the many night mare guests....and they are out there, I have been unfortunate to host a couple over the years!