Curious: What questions do you typically ask an inquiring guest?

[Amanda5]

I usually ask a few general questions of an inquiring guest before I accept the reservation.  So far, we have been very lucky and have had wonderful guests.  However, as we approach our second year of hosting, I think it might be best for me to be a little more particular and perhaps get to know my guests a little more before approving them (just being more cautious this year).  

Are there any specific things you like to ask guests in your initial correspondence with them?  

Also, if you use the "Verifiy ID" option, have you found that to be a deterent for guests or helpful?  I'm trying to decide if I should require that (assuming I am understand how it works correctly).  

[Lawrene0]

I did just check other listings, @Jeanne121, and I still see the breakdowns. Seeing different things in different jurisdictions does happen though. Your .com could be doing something different than my .ca. 

Can you screenshot what you are seeing?

[Lawrene0]

Here is a screenshot of what I see, @Jeanne121. I picked a listing that I know has a cleaning fee: 

[Jeanne121]

This is so kind of you! You may have given me an idea though. I always use my iPad which I am doing now and perhaps the cost breakdown, exactly what you showed me, will be on the desktop.  For some reason it is not showing on the iPad?  We are out of town so cannot check that now. I don’t use the app, do you?  Tried to send photos of what I see, which is just a $ amount on the left for one nightly rent and the word book in Red on the right.  I can’t attach it to this.  Thanks! Jeanne

[Lawrene0]

Ah yes, @Jeanne121, it looks like it is the app. I tend not to use it unless I have to, but I just checked and got a runaround with checking availability and then saving - lots of annoying/confusing screens and then no breakdown. There is a spot to check the discounts, but you cannot see whether they are applied, or what the taxes, service fees or cleaning fees are. 

Right! You do have something to complain about! My apologies.

You could call, or try taking it to Twitter. There you want AirbnbHelp. The more guests who complain, the better. 

All the best finding a nice place. Thanks for pointing this out. 

[Via1]

Hello I am new to Airbnb also.  It is truly broken down, but I have learned that sometimes you can only see some things through Google Chrome.  I hope that helps

[Robb-And-Julia0]

So, fellow hosts, what to do next when questions for "inquiring" guest are just not answered? And the clock is running with messages from airbnb saying, "don't let the inquiry expire!"  Finally, when no answer to simple questions comes in, and 24 hours approaches, I've started to "decline".   But airbnb notes it as, "failed to respond".   We LOVE airbnb, as a rule, and have been hosting for about 5 years.  But a prospective guest who doesn't respond to, "where will you be driving here from?"  or, "are you okay with going out for breakfast, because we don't serve meals," seems like a good cue that this isn't somebody you want to share your home with.      

[Rachel177]

@Robb-And-Julia0 if they don't respond to a booking enquiry or request then I'm pretty wary of sharing my place with them.  I decline & leave a reason as "I don't feel comfortable with this guest". 

[Jose722]

Thank you very much for the questions I will use them in the future for my bookings. I recently had a couple who booked the unit who came to Chicago for 3 days and did not leave the unit at all. That does make me very uncomfortable as of course the heater is running all day, utilities running all day for 3 days straight.

Do you guys use intant booking or do you prefer to receive the booking first do the screening and then approve them. 

[Betsy60]

Hi Jose...I've been lurking on this conversation and saw your question about Instant Booking. We used IB when we first started out last October. Being newbies, we were excited to get some good (and fast) bookings , but upon speaking to other hosts in our area, realized we were also just plain lucky we didn't host any questionable characters. You have absolutely no chance to vett anyone. We, as property owners, have every right to ask for ID's, phone numbers (which airbnb usually provides), and the reason for their visit. 

I like the Inquiry idea...it gives you a lot more control. The guest inquires, you screen them by asking them your pertinent questions and checking for verified ID's, then approve the booking if all is well. 

[John2679]

can you use your passport for ID?

[Tom895]

Pretty sure that you can. 

[Precious12]

How do you handle inquiries to physically see the premises before booking? I just received a booking inquiry from a new airbnb member (joined this August 2019 and has no reviews but lives in the same town) to be allowed to inspect the apartment before they can book. There's no profile picture and asked that we communicate by phone...

My concern really is that the apartment list is where I live, so I am very careful or reluctant about hosting the city locals. The irony is you let strangers live in your home as Airbnb guest and at the same time you'd never have a total stranger just walk in to inspect the place.

Fortunately I have a guest and said that the place isn't accessible as I am hosting and will need an additional day to clean up which will not be enough time to see the place before his check in date. And I instead asked the purpose of his stay, so I may highlight how suitable the apartment may be for him and offered to send more pictures of the apartment or give information with regard any bookings. He is yet to reply...

[Rachel177]

@Precious12 it sounds like they wanted to try to avoid paying through airbnb or scamming you. For your own safety never let anyone view the property before they book, or even before they stay. I've had guests book then want to look at the apartment & I've said no.

[Farisya0]

Hai @Amanda5. Farisya here. 

I understand you would like to investigate/know more about your guests before they stay at your property. But in my opinion, I think it might be time-consuming for hosts to keep chatting with the guests which might not yet confirm on the booking. 

Why not look for a booking system and install it on your FB, or website? It will help to increase the sales conversion and generate more sales too! You may also list down all your T&C on that platform. Want to know more? Here's the blog about Airbnb Booking System. Hope it helps!