Airbnb Answers: Protecting you from one-off bad reviews

[Andrée30]

I have sent a message to the host for further information before booking an apartment in Vienna, through very simple questions such as : which floor is the apartment ? are bedroom quiet ?

The only answer received is from airbnb telling that my host invite me to make the reservation. Moreover, 12 hours later a second mail from airbnb informs that there are 12 hours left for reservation.

This looks very strange.

I wonder how to inform airbnb of what happens and ask them to investigate for a possible fake proposal from the guest in order to get and keep money without any apartment to offer at booking.

[Erin205]

A host can preapprove a guest, which will block off the dates you are asking about for 24 hours, giving a guest a chance to formally book. It looks like the host just preapproved and didn’t answer your questions. You could always write back saying “Before booking I’m curious about these questions...”

[Marit-Anne0]

@Andrée30 

Those are automatic messages encouraging you to book.  The host has probably pre-approved ?  Even though you send a simple question, the host needs to pre-approve or decline or provide you with an answer as the bare minimum.  

Are there reviews of this apartment ? 

If you think it is a scam, could you post a link so that we can take a look ?

Did you read the full listing description - often there are hints on which floor at least.  If it is quiet, the host will probably say so in the listing.  If it says nothing, you can assume there is the normal hustle and bustle of the big city.  

[Sandra856]

Hi @Andrée30 🙂

Write to your host again asking those questions. If the host is in generel very slow at responding I think I would look for something else. Not because it is a scam but because it says a lot about how committed the host are. 

Of course hosts need a little time to answer. Most hosts got a full life with work, family etc. next to being a host 🙂

As the others said the host did pre-approve so you can book.

Also when you book through airbnb you pay airbnb. The host won't get paid until after you have checked-in. 

[Sarah977]

@Andrée30   When a host receives a request or inquiry, they only have 24 hours to either Approve or Decline the Requst or they'll be penalized by Airbnb. If it's an Inquiry, all they have to do is respond to your questions, but many hosts don't know this, so they just hit Pre-approve, in which case you'll get those messages, which are generated by Airbnb, not the host. If the host is really busy, or there is a significant time zone difference between your location and the host's, they may not have time to answer your questions before that 24 hours runs out, so they just hit Pre-approve.

I don't see anything fraudulent in the case you have here, but the host is for some reason not answering your questions. You could send another Inquiry if you really want to book this place, or move on to a listing where the host may respond to questions in a more timely fashion.