Insurance to cover damages

[Cherie71]

On another vacation rental site, they offer the guest insurance to cover damages in the apartment/house.

On the owner's rate page, they can stipulate the amount of insurance; $59 for $1500 etc. etc.

We've had excellent results using it, even down to paying for broken coffee cups to a scratched range top.  There is little hassle in making a claim which is totally opposite of the procedure on AirBnb.  

Has Airbnb ever offered anything similar?   

[Rowena29]

@Cherie71 

simple answer.

NO

[Helen3]

No you have the 1 million 'guarantee' and the deposit @Cherie71 

[Kathy1130]

What do you mean by 1 million guarantee?

[Marci837]

1. Raise prices to cover damages.

2 Don't report damages to guests,they will leave bad review.

3 There are other company s that don't operate this way,try VBRO

[Elaine701]

We've just begun demanding a security deposit from "high risk" guests (large groups of under 30, no history, no profile). I first explain why they're high risk, and why we must require a security deposit of €xxx ( differs depending on our overall risk assessment), and if they agree to those terms, we will happily approve their booking.

About half the time, it scares them away, which is ok. I'm not inclined to accept high risk guests without a security deposit. 

The other half agree, and as soon as they book, I "request money" in the amount of the agreed deposit through the Airbnb system. Airbnb collects it and sends it to us without commissions. I was, a bit surprised, but no problems so far. 

When all is well at checkout time, the security deposit is given back to them in cash before departure (they must sign a receipt, of course). 

With the extremely high volume of high risk inquiries this year, I'm loathed to continue to decline one after another. And besides, Airbnb doesn't look fondly on that. 

So far, it's worked very well. No damages. And we have a real security deposit, just in case. 

[Geri26]

following this thread as dont know how to bookmark 🙂

[Angela1056]

Thanks @Elaine701 for posting this answer. I copied it as a valid solution to a post on the Italian CC. I  hope you don’t mind....

Ciao, Angela

[Elaine701]

@Angela1056 

Thanks, Angela. 

It's not fully Airbnb tested. It may ultimately violate some obscure rule and cause them to warn, suspend or delist. I really don't know. But I can't accept these risky guests without some security. And this is my only option on Airbnb. 

Somebody noted that VRBO has this option. Yes, I know. But you can't apply it at your discretion. It's either a security deposit for all guests, or none.

I don't want to scare off the "good" ones, so the way I'm doing it with Airbnb is more suitable for my needs (provided Airbnb doesn't cut me off), because I can apply it "at will". That's important. 

But... absolutely, positively... Hosts should never, ever make up some excuse not to give it back. Always give it back to the guest at checkout if everything is more or less ok. Always. 

If anyone starts playing foolish games with this, I'm sure it will be put to a quick death. The guest always wins these fights, so please don't start one. If it continues to work well, it could solve one of the more prominent drawbacks to using Airbnb. And that would benefit all of us. 

[Angela1056]

Grazie @Elaine701  I also reported your important reply. 

[Kathy1130]

I use the insurance option with VRBO and I like it as well.  Guests do have to admit to breaking something though, that can backfire.  I do wish air bnb offered it on the site

[Cherie71]

We love the insurance option on VRBO. Up until this last year, you could require both a security deposit and the insurance, which was the best. Now you have to choose between the two.  We certainly wish Airbnb would do the same. 

First of all, we're tired and frustrated having to argue with Airbnb about damages and costs. With the insurance option on VRBO, the guest does NOT have to agree about the damage.  You simply file your claim and photos, receipts if you have them.  We require the $59 policy on a one-bedroom rental; the $79 policy on a two-bedroom rental and the $ 99 policy for a three-bedroom or a long-term stay.  These policies have saved us when a dryer was broken; leather sofa sliced;  even when some washcloths and towels went missing, etc.  All of which would have been a huge problem with Airbnb and our required security deposit on Airbnb would not have covered a $3000 Italian leather sofa, etc.  

We would love for Airbnb to do the same.  It would remove the step of having to deal with Airbnb reps. and for the guests, they pay that one insurance charge and don't have to worry about it.