@Daniel9339
From reading your reviews, I can tell you are a very kind and conscientious host and you really make the time to be friendly and sociable with your guests and offer them tips and advice.
In fact, you are what the original concept of Airbnb was supposed to be about: travellers staying with a local in their own homes and enjoying the experience of making new friends around the world.
Sadly, Airbnb has changed a lot as it has grown and not all guests care about this ethos. Many of them chose a homestay on Airbnb because it's cheaper than a hotel (and it seems you offer a good budget option). Those guests want minimum interaction with the host and don't want to be asked questions, especially about their schedules. Some even seem annoyed that the host is there at all, even though they themselves chose a homestay!
I, like you, am a home share host and I do not like the idea of hosting guests who seem resentful that I am even there or that I try to talk to them. It is my HOME they are staying in and yes, they are paying guests, but they are still guests so they need to respect that.
What I would advise is that, instead of waiting until check in to ask questions about the guest (it is too late by then if they are not the sort of guests you would like to host), ask them before they book.
I will not accept a booking from anyone who will not tell me a bit about themselves, the purpose of their visit and (ideally) give me some idea of their schedule. I would not necessarily go as far as to ask them what time they get up in the morning, as some might see this as intrusive.
I would save that sort of question until after they are here and put it into some sort of context so that it doesn't seem too nosy, e.g. "What time do you think you'll be getting up in the mornings? I get up quite early so I just want to make sure I don't disturb you." Or, "I'm not sure what time you get up in the mornings? I tend to get up quite late so I might not see you before you go out, but do message me if you need anything."
I also ask all guests to confirm they have read and agree to my house rules before they book. I want to make sure they have read everything but also to send the message that the rules are important and they need to follow them. You can do this nicely. It's just about how you word it.
The correspondence you have with the guest before they come can tell you much more about what kind of person they might be. Don't rely on the reviews and star ratings alone. Some hosts only give guests good reviews and 5 star ratings because they are scared of saying something negative. Also, a guest could be fine when staying at an entire listing with self check in where they didn't even meet the host, but not such a nice person to share your home with. My worst ever guests had about 25 x 5 star reviews and were the rudest, most unpleasant people I have ever hosted.
Another trick is to read the reviews that the guest has left for previous hosts. That can sometimes help you spot guests who are going to be difficult.
The point is that you do not have to accept every guest that contacts you. Try to strike up a conversation with them first, ask questions and then decide if they would be suited for your listing. It is your home and you get to choose who stays.
Also, in the listing description, there is a section you can fill in called 'Interaction with guests'. I would suggest that you fill this out (don't rely on all guests to read your profile as many won't). Here you will find three options to choose from:
I plan to socialise with my guests
I give my guests space but am available when needed
I won’t be available in person
Choose the first one as that obviously applies best to you. Under this you can also add more information, e.g.
"I love sharing my home with guests from around the world because I am a sociable person and am always on hand to offer local tips and advice. My listing is best suited to friendly travellers who like to interact and converse with their host and enjoy a traditional homestay experience."
You should word it however suits you, but the important thing is to get across that some conversation with you is to be expected.
Bear in mind though that you will still occasionally get unsociable guests (they don't care what you want, they just book anyway because of the location and price). You have to play it by ear and, with some, just let them have their space. I know it can feel very awkward to have an unfriendly person in your home, but just take a deep breath and smile, because they will be gone soon!
