Hi @Deirdra0,
Welcome!
Here are a few things I do to make myself more comfortable with people I'm welcoming into my homes:
> Only accept guests who have a complete profile (photo, multiple verifications - especially offline ID, a description)
> Have a short conversation with them via messaging, getting details about their trip (I ask what brings them to my town to get the convo started). Generally I can tell if something is a little off with them through their conversation skills, or lack thereof.
Even after feeling generally comfortable with the person online and accepting their reservation, you should still protect yourself and your belongings by removing anything super valuable to you before welcoming the guest into your home. Other things that aren't as valuable, but that you don't want a guest using/touching, lock in a closet that only you have the key to. If you leave something out and tell them not to touch/use, they may not obey your request, so it's best to get it out of their reach.
I rent out my vacation condo when I'm not there, and when I leave I make sure that all of my personal belongings either come with me or get locked up at my friends' places. When I am there, I'll sometimes rent out the couch, which means I'm sharing the condo with strangers. I've had positive experiences with all of them and didn't spend too much time worrying about hiding all of my valuables, but did take some precautions to hide some of my belongings.
I also rent out my spare bedroom at home in NH while I'm there, with positive results. That being said, setting clear boundaries of where guests can and cannot go is key. People generally are good (and the two-way review system on Airbnb helps keep people honest to an extent), but you always want to be cautious.
Those are my thoughts at the moment...