Booked guest with no reviews

[Paige25]

Hi there, I am a first time host and I got my first booking within hours of listing my place. However the guy has no reviews but said he has used air bnb a few times which I find odd because reviews are pertinent on here and everyone depends on them.. he is also verified but it only says email, phone number, personal info.. so idk if that includes ID

[Wendy-and-Frank0]

@Paige25, unless you checked government ID as a reservation requirement, you may get guests who have not uploaded government ID with ABB.  There is always a back-and-forth on the forums on the value of government ID as even if something happened, ABB would not release the ID details to you as the host.  For what it's worth, ABB does not have MY government ID.

Reviews are not mandatory but usually if someone has travelled a few times, at least one review will show up.

Ask him straight out why there are no reviews for him.  Ask him straight out to let you know who has hosted him.

You can also require that guests have host reviews as a condition of booking with you but then you'd be closing the door to first-timers.

I haven't seen your listing.  Are you sharing your house?  Is this guy traveling alone?  Do you live with other people?  My instincts kick into high gear when a man asks to book and is traveling alone so if that's the case for you, be very cautious but don't get paranoid.

Good luck!

[Linda108]

@Paige25  When looking at your profile, I notice that you do not have a government ID uploaded or any reviews even though you have been a member for a year.  My point is what information would you offer to a host to encourage acceptance of your booking request?  Perhaps if you ask the same of this potential guest you would feel better (or not) about his request.  

[Linda108]

BTW, @Paige25, I see from your posting you have already booked this guest, so your question is more a hindsight discussion.  Hope it all goes well.

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

@Paige25  It's not unusual for guests to not have any reviews - many are new to the system.  He may have stayed in Airbnb's before but with a group of people or a friend who made the reservation, thus he would have no reviews.  I encourage you to talk to your guest some and ask more about their travel plans and what brings them to your area, etc.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Paige25

If it's any comfort I would guess about 50% of our guests are first timers, have no reviews and are as nervous about using AirBnB as you are at having them in your home. All our guests have been great - some friendlier than others, some just want to keep to themselves. Just offer a friendly service and you will be fine...

[Paige25]

I get that but the only weird part is that he is not a first timer .. says he used used a few times .. but why no reviews .. oh well I guess trial and error will tell 🙂 I want to get smart lock too I don't like the idea that they can copy my key... do you have smart lock ? 

[Pegs0]

HI Paige - I am in a totally simmilar situation all the way over in Scotland. What happened in the end?

I have accepted a booking form someone with no reviews and am now panicking as when I asked him why I have had no response. He says hehas kids but his facebook profile is barely existent.

I am going to call him tomorrow. Was interested when I saw your thread - how did it turn out?

Cheers

Pegs

[Ali40]

I've accepted a few guests who were first timers, and so far so good. I don't use instant book, so I get to have a little bit of conversation before accepting the booking. My listing seems to attract young couples, interested in hiking and wine and beer tasting (I'm located in a rural area surrounded by wineries and breweries). I look for a clear profile picture, and a clear description of the purpose of the visit. Everyone was new at one point!