Requesting money for damages without getting a bad review

[Katie1086]

Does anyone have a good way to address guest damages without guaranteeing yourself a bad review? I recently had a guest permanently stain 3 different sets of bed sheets in my house, plus some of the towels and a bath rug. I’m going to have to replace them all. I’d like to ask the guest for payment, but I’m afraid that by doing so I will surely get a bad review from them. It’s been 5 days and no reviews have been left yet. I see I have 14 days to file a damage claim, but the review period is also 14 days. Is it possible to wait until day 15 to request the money and file a claim if they refuse to pay? Has anyone figured out a better way to do this? I don’t have a ton of reviews and really don’t want to get a bad one when the guest seemed happy.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Katie1086 whilst it is annoying things like towels are, in my opinion, consumables. The same applies to the odd bed sheet. Hopefully you won't need to replace anymore for some months.

[Gwen386]

@Katie1086 No, you can’t wait until the 15th day to submit for damages. If your sheets, towels, rugs are damaged to the point that you require replacement, why are you concerned about a negative review? You may get one anyway—guests are so iffy. Have you reviewed guest yet? I’m guessing no. 

And I agree with @Mike-And-Jane0, this is the cost of doing business. Now, if guest broke your furniture, ruined your carpet, damaged refrigerator or stove, that’s another story. But IMHO, you don’t want to be the host that is submitting claims for these types of things that more than likely would get denied anyway.