Can I review comments about a guest before they come to my home?

[Vicky4]

Hello,

I am hosting for the first time in a few days.  I signed up for the instant booking service.  I have the persons name....Can I find out what other hosts have said about my guest?  How do I find this information?

Thanks,

Newbie

[Nancy2]

Hi there,

So I wouldn't recommend starting out with Instant Book.  I think you need some experience and to establish what works for you in the kind of guests you enjoy hosting.  The best way to do that is the communication prior to accepting a reservation. 

Most of us made mistakes early on accepting guests that didn't really fit our host situation.  Usually because the guest didn't read through the listing - just looked at the price and a couple of pictures.  When it's not a good fit, the host and guest are uncomfortable and generally results in a less than stellar review.

When you are new to hosting getting positive reviews are critical.  So with Instant Book you really don't have as much of an opportunity to vet your guests.  Yes you can decline I believe up to 3 IB reservations without penalty but that's no fun for anyone. 

If a guest has reviews you can see them when you click on their profile picture.  There are many new to Airbnb guests (so no reviews) these days so again if you are new and they are new - both not knowing what questions to ask to insure a good fit you can end up with less than deserved reviews.

I did take new to Airbnb guests (no reviews) when first starting out but only for one night at a time.  That helped me a lot to figure out my hosting style and what kind of guests would be happiest in my home.  Also, I just used my instincts, thought about why they were staying, read a lot of information in the host groups and overall had great experiences even though the guest did not already have reviews.

Wish you the best...Nancy

[Vicky4]

Thank you Nancy!

[Deborah0]

Hi @Vicky4

Nancy has generously taken time to give you some excellent advice.  I also strongly recommend that you NOT use Instant Book. THe mistake I see new hosts often making, is that they assume that Airbnb has somehow vetted guests and that you can depend on ALWAYS getting decent people through Airbnb, and this is definitely not the case.  Most guests are fine, but a few are not. Airbnb does not screen guests, and all hosts need to screen their guests, and the best way to learn how to do that is to do it and not use Instant Book, which doesn't allow you to do any screening at all.  In fact, although Airbnb pushes Instant Book because it is convenient for guests, I recommend that no  hosts use Instant Book.  We are private homes, not hotels, and so taking any warm body as a hotel does is not appropriate for private homes.  

Really if guests get their account set up properly, and hosts respond to incoming inquiries quickly, it is possible for a guest to get a booking at a listing in as little as 5 to 15 minutes, which is close enough to "instant" for most all needs. I am able to process and accept incoming inquiries/reservation requests quite rapidly (often in 5-15 minutes!!) and so I dont' see why any guest contacting me would even need Instant Book.   

Once you get a contact message from a guest, you can click on their name/photo and this takes you to their profile page, where all their reviews will be.  THere you can read what other hosts have said about them.  Keep in mind many guests are new to Airbnb and will not have any reviews yet.  You  need to learn how to screen people who have no reviews -- although previous reviews definitely help, dont' just depend on what others have said, as some hosts are not honest and give good reviews to those who they have had problems with.   You are going into the property rental business when you sign up to be a host and so you need to learn these skills on screening, and more. See my tips for new hosts here:   Tips for New Hosts  

You may also want to read this blog on guests to be cautious about:  Fifteen Guests You Don't Want

[Vicky4]

Thank you Deborah.  You and Nancy are both so nice to help me with your tips.  I'll have to accept my first renter because he already booked through the instant booking for two days.  I will cancel my instant booking capability after this renter and learn how to screen people.  

Merry Christmas,

Newbie

[Dave-and-Deb0]

Hi Vicky,

Deborah and Nancy have you excellent advice and I highly recommend you read the two links Deborah provided.

The only thing I wanted to comment on is when you say "I will cancel my instant booking capability after this renter and learn how to screen people". You do not have to wait until this guest has completed his/her stay to turn off instant book and I would highly recommend you turn it off now as others could book without you havibg a chance to pre-screen them.

Happy Hosting!

Dave