Hi all
Some of you may recall the "heat seeker" guest I've had who found my A/C at 73 degrees too cold for him.
I'm going to make a short story long, and ask you how you'd review this guest.
Up front, let me admit I didn't screen him - he has 30 x 5* reviews, perfect 5.0 rating, and wanted to book for a week, and his opening message was very nice and friendly. I was out when the request came in, so I accepted via the app, without any of my usual questions, but at the end of my acceptance message I asked him to let me know if he had any questions. No response.
Fast forward several weeks, and I sent the entry instructions, which include checkout instructions.
About 24 hours later, I got "ok, thanks. Seems easy enough".
I realized I didn't ask him if he was driving, so I could leave out parking passes. I asked the question. No response till 10.30pm arrival night when he said "No car. Almost there. By the way, am I the only person staying there?"
This is where I started to worry, since now it's looking like he didn't read the listing. But, ok, he's had glowing reviews. I respond, and explain he is the only guest, but, of course, I am here.
He gets in without incident, says place is great, but can't access wifi. My fault, because I didn't reset the wifi code. I fix that right away. Then he asks if, next day, I can explain to him how to adjust the A/C. Now I know he hasn't read the listing, because I explain there that the thermostat is on the first floor. I know people never really read that far. I respond right away, explaining the thermostat is on the first floor, and asking if he is too hot or too cold ?
No response until next morning, when he says the wifi works, but is very slow, at which point I tell him the provider is working in the area, and hopefully service will be less spotty. He asks if it is possible to raise the temperature 5 - 6 degrees. I explain I will do my best, but that the A/C has to take care of the whole house, it's an older house, and heating/cooling can be uneven, it's over 90 degrees outside, and very warm on my second floor. But I tell him I will make an adjustment, and he should let me know if that's ok.
Not another word after that. I decide not to poke the nest any more, since it already feels like bad review anyway, and I'm certain he will let me know if something else is wrong.
Fast forward to checkout.
My checkout instructions ask to bag up trash and leave it outside the door, wash up dishes and put towels in the basket, and shoot me a quick note to say the guest is on their way.
I come in to find towels on the floor, a whole week of trash stuffed in the bin, recycling containers overflowing, one of my two sinks stopped up with dried lettuce, and some unwashed items.
All this would seem not unusual for a weeks stay, but a guest with 30 x 5* glowing reviews ? Plus I am cranky because I've struggling with my place being too hot for a whole week, so he could be reasonably comfortable. Sure, I survived with opening windows and putting ceiling fans on - I'm not that fragile. No thanks for that, though. Yes, I probably need to cool off in more ways than one ! My ring doorbell shows he departed at around 5.30am, without a word. (A/c went back on one minute later)
What would you do ? I know I should wait to see if he drops a review, and take a few days to gather my thoughts.
