Are their consequences for not accepting an immediate booking?

[Mary1746]

Hi there,

Our housekeeping team do a great job, and typically have a place turned around as quickly as a guest leaves.  They get busy too though, and if our place is not booked right away it may sit a day or two.   Here's the question - They (housekeeping) want me to confirm they can have the place ready before I accept an reservation that starts more than 2 days out.     Here's the question - if I turn down a couple guests a year for dates that show 'available' what is the consequence?  Will all days that are requested not be available?    (Example: the guest asked for 4 days - but I only couldn't accommodate the first day - will I now lose all 4 days? ).    I originally understood that our ratings as hosts would also suffer for not giving one of the provided 'excuses' - even if you responded within the 24 hours.   Is that correct?  Any other ideas on how to keep our housekeeping team happy, and not disappoint guests unfairly nor have my rating suffer?  Many thanks,

Mary

[Sarah977]

@Mary1746  Your dates will only be blocked by Airbnb for other bookings if you cancel a reservation, not if you just decline a Booking Request or are able to get the guest to withdraw the request. And they don't get blocked at all for Inquiries- on an Inquiry don't ever decline- just message the guest back within 24 hours, that's all that's necessary. 

So if you use Instant Book and have to cancel a reservation, then the dates will be blocked, as I don't think Airbnb will consider your reason for cancelling to be a valid one.

I'm not sure I understand your question completely, though. Why would you have dates available on your calendar if you can't accomodate guests on those dates? 

[Rachel177]

@Mary1746 why don't you set up your listing so that the preparation time is 2 days between bookings? That way you're not declining guests and housekeeping has the time to prepare everything.