Can't see prospective guests' ratings unless I enable instant booking -- so I DECLINE.

[Christine455]

I disabled instant booking  because I don't rent to just "anyone" right now.

But I can't see the ratings because instant booking is disabled.

WTF???

I disabled instant booking because I want to know more about my guests. 

Should I tell my guests that they need to pay a $500 security deposit because Airbnb won' t show me their ratings?

Time to up my rates again.

[Sarah977]

@Christine455  I doubt that any hosts enjoy having to give bad ratings. I've been lucky in that I've always gotten guests who didn't deserve any bad ratings. One who was a sweet guest but left her room a disaster zone- she got 5*s across the board and a 3* for cleanliness. I was sorry to have to do it, but want to be fair to other hosts to let them know.

I find it helpful to think of ratings and reviews as neither good nor bad, but honest. And keep in mind that what I'm reviewing is their suitability as a guest, I'm not reviewing them as a person. Some people may be perfectly nice to hang out with or work alongside in a job, but clueless as to how to be a good guest.

[Christine455]

@Sarah977  You made my point:

" I doubt that any hosts enjoy having to give bad ratings."

So WHY make us do it when hosts can't even use those ratings to determine whether to accept a booking request?

[Sarah977]

@Christine455  Because it's Airbnb. And they aren't the only ones, by any means. This star rating madness is everywhere now- people are asked to rate everything from their Uber ride to their haircut to the plumbing service they used. IMO it's ridiculous and outta control. It's part of of the me me me culture where every nobodys' opinion is SO important. 

It's not worth getting upset over, though. Just part of modern day culture. This too shall pass.

[Marcy45]

I am relatively new to this.  I thought that if you set an age requirement of 25 that air bnb would only ever send you people over 25.  It seems from this stream that they could still request if under 25? How do I ensure that all guests and not just the one booking are over 25? ( except children).  I am just trying to avoid disturbing neighbours