@Elisabeth40 I very much disagree with your idea about limiting reviews from new AirBnB users. Reviews benefit both hosts and guests, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have often accepted bookings from first-time AirBnB users, and have never had a problem. It's all about managing expectations. Disgruntled people are just that way, and you will encounter them all over the place. They will find fault no matter what, and we have to accept that we can't change that.
I did look at your listing and you have described your space very well. I can't help but wonder, even though you are clear about the common space being a smoking area, if the cigarette smoke isn't affecting other aspects of your listing. As a former smoker, I know how hard it is to keep the smell of cigarette smoke out of every part of your life.
Do the sheets for the private bedroom possibly smell like smoke? Does the bathroom or the towels?
While you say that smoking is allowed in the common areas, you don't specifically say that YOU smoke, which implies that someone WILL be smoking in the apartment while you have guests. I'm just trying to imagine what might be making your guests less than 100% happy.
If the bedroom is entirely a smoke-free environment, then you might want to mention that to guests, provided that you are making every effort to keep the smell of smoke out of everything, including sheets, curtains, furniture, etc. If you can't guarantee that, then you might want to emphasize even more prominently in your listing that the smell of cigarette smoke may be throughout the apartment, and to book with that information in mind.
The other thing you might want to do is to raise the price on the bedroom and to nix the couch. For me, I'm going to be slightly less happy if I book the bedroom and there's also a guest staying on the couch. Even though it's clear in the listing, it means another person will always be present in the common area, and that's kind of awkward, whether you're using the bathroom in the middle of the night, or just preparing a meal. In general, I think home-shares are touchy right now in the middle of a pandemic. I know that I would not book shared space, but everyone is different.
Finally, I am NOT preaching about your smoking habit. I know exactly how addictive nicotine is, and how strong the grip is. It's just that smoking has become so socially unacceptable these days, and therefore is judged more harshly. It's certainly a personal decision, and mostly becomes an issue in shared environments.
Good luck, Kia
