Hi Patricia, just wanted to jump in on this comment! 🙂 I have been hosting since June 2015 and from time to time have become so disheartened with 4 star comments that I decided to put in my write up about our home that we are more 'funky family' rather than 'house-proud hotel'. Ha! And I make it very clear that I DO clean the home for a good 2 hours before everyone's arrival, but, since everyone is different and has different standards, it might be that someone has spotted something that I haven't. We live in a house built in the 1800s with wooden floors and ultimately I refuse to sweat the small stuff.
However, @Robin4 I also wanted to add a comment about 'that guest', since I have just metaphorically waved one off today. It appears (I may be wrong) that we are her first ever Airbnb. She is older (60s) and from USA and felt that it was ok to get up at 4.30am. Yep. She announced that she would be getting up at that time on her first night as she said goodnight, stating that that is what she has done all her life (having been in the catering industry). I was so taken aback, and her attitude was so 'take it or leave it' that I was taken aback and didn't have a chance to ask her not to. So she got up the following day, a work day for me, in a house where noise travels (which I also mention on my write up), at 4.30am. She didn't even go out for the day!!!!! ... grrrr.... anyway... I summoned up the courage on Day 2 to ask her not to do so again as it's (blimmin) disturbing.. her moving around, taking a shower, having breakfast in our open plan kitchen (you can hear people clattering around in the kitchen downstairs from the bedrooms above)... all before 6am! I ask you! When I spoke to her about it, she said 'oh, I thought I would get up before everyone else, that way I won't be in the bathroom when others are using it.' Erm, hang on, you know my husband doesn't go out to work and we have a student lodger who sleeps in every morning. You won't be in anyone's way at a normal time. And, what I tell my guests who want to use the bathroom around 7-8 am, (my normal time of getting up/using the bathroom), 'if you're in the bathroom when I want to use it, that is my own problem; I should organise myself enough to work around that.'
I could go on. She stayed for 3 nights. She's just left. She really really triggered me! On her first night she just sits herself down in our sitting room and takes over the tv viewing! I was out and my husband is too sweet to say anything! On her first full day she didn't go out at all as she 'didn't realise that Plymouth was so hilly' (??!!) and wasn't able to walk anywhere. When I explained where the bus stop to town was (1 minute's stroll from our front door) she said she was watching her pennies and couldn't afford (2 pounds for goodness sake) to take the bus anywhere. So she spent the ENTIRE day sitting watching our tv. Morning noon and night. Double grrr.
And whilst she was here, the neighbourhood ants decided to pay us a visit. Just because. And we were taking a while to decide how to deal with them because we don't want to poison our dog. Fair point. She tells us it's because of the dog food that is down in our dog's bowl. ARGH.
Oh and upon our first meeting (my coming home at 9.30pm from a course I do on a Tuesday evening) after an initial greeting she decides to tell me how busy I am, having had a good look at our calendar that is hanging on the wall. Wow. That's a great way to build relationship! (not).
Anyway, regarding reviews, I don't want to review her. I have been wondering how to phrase things nicely and I just don't know how to. I am going to wait to see if she leaves us a review. I have a feeling that if she does, it's all going to be super negative. Simply because she is one who carries criticism, monopoly of conversation and negativity as part of how she relates to the world around her. And there is nothing I can do about that. I just have to trust that our other positive/great reviews will bring in the right people for us.
What does annoy me is that we are pretty cheap at less than 20 pounds per night for our small room. And yes, despite the low cost of the room, people still seem to have certain expectations. Like Rob, we offer added extras. Maybe a meal together, maybe a glass of wine. This is always ONLY out of relationship formed. And I do make that clear on my write up. If the relationship isn't there, the extras won't be either.
Anyway thanks for letting me vent. Sorry this is a long one and a bit of a bunny trail. Sort of. xx