@Ann33747 You are free to ask the guest follow-up questions, like what is the purpose of their trip and what inspired them to choose your property. But Airbnb will not display their photo or surname until the booking is confirmed, and you have to avoid asking for details that might run afoul of the nondiscrimination policy. As a rule of thumb, anything that would be inappropriate or illegal to ask in a job interview (e.g. sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, marital status) is best to avoid. And if you're apprehensive about renting to strangers without checking into their background and references, online rental platforms might not be in your comfort zone.
Some hosts do ask guests to complete their profile texts and ID verification before accepting their requests, but you only get 24 hours to make a decision. If you're most concerned about the guest being respectful, the quality of their communication is usually a better indicator than anything a profile, reviews, or background details could tell you.
