@Mark116
I think the problem is that most hosts do not read the reviews the guest has left. They just see the positive reviews the guest has received and assume all will go well.
Although I sometimes forget, I do make a point of reading them as it can be so telling and I've dodged a few bullets this way, including the example I linked to below.
Even if the guest is not a serial complainer, it can be useful for getting much more of an idea of their personality and their expectations as hosts often leave such bland, generic reviews.
A few months ago, I hosted a young woman who left positive but very detailed reviews. In them, she noted very specific things that she liked about the listing, these being what I would describe as 'extras' that one wouldn't necessarily expect in budget accommodation, e.g. exercise equipment, bath salts and hotel style slippers left for her by the bath, that sort of thing.
I knew this guest would be high maintenance (and she was), but she seemed nice and also appreciative (she was - left me 5* across the board). I wanted to bump up my rating at the time, so I was prepared for her! Bring it on, I thought. So, hotel slippers were at the ready, as was the yoga mat that I somehow knew she would ask for. She did keep asking for more and more random things, so I had to draw the line at some point, but she didn't seem to mind! In fact, she has already messaged about booking again.
