Can you ask guest to leave a review?

[Ann742]

Hello everyone, I am new to hosting on Airbnb. I have had 3 guest so far. I know you can greatly increase your bookings by getting reviews. I have written a nice review for all three guest so far, but only one guest has written a review on me. Although the other two guest said they enjoyed their stay, they have not written a review. Is it okay to ask if they can write a review on there stay? Thank you in advance for any responses.

[Alice595 · Accepted solution]

@Ann742  This is a controversial topic. In the forum, it has been discussed before many times. 

In your case, you just started and really need reviews. I would suggest that you could talk or message the guests for reviews. Something like "I appreciate that you could leave me a review for your stay to help me getting started with Airbnb hosting".

Good luck with your hosting!

[Ann742]

Thank you so much for your response!!!

[Elissavet0]

@Ann742  I am new in Airbnb family too and in the beginning I was not feeling safe asking them to leave a review but take into consideration that for being Superhost which is something that all of us want is to get as many reviewed stays as you can in order to fulfill the requirements. From my side I am asking them for sure in a polite way as @Alice595 stated above to leave a review once they can, still there is a percentage of guests that even if you ask them they just do not care as they will not come back in the same country and same city so nothing to gain from us, because we are the one that need the reviews, but at least from your side you did your best. I just became a Superhost and hope you will too.

[Ann742]

@Elissavet0 Congratulations on becoming a Superhost!!! Thank you for responding.  Can I ask you , do you write a review on every guest? So far I've only had 3 and wrote a review on each one. 

[Susan1188]

Hi Ann!

Guests do not understand how important the review process is to hosts.

Sometimes they need a little nudge just because they don't know how much it matters to you.

You have direct contact with your guests.

I suggest dropping the hint at well planned moments.

For example, when they arrive and find the place better than expected, 80% of my guests send me an ecstatic text saying thank you the apartment is great.  At that time I wish them a great stay and say I hope i can count on you to leave a review.  It plants the idea.

Then in my welcome pack/home documentation, I include "leave a review" as part of the departure checklist.

After departure, if all went well, I usually review them and send them a message telling them I have reviewed them and ask them to please do the same.

Sometimes guests are wary about the security deposit so it helps to tell them you are not making any damage claims, would they please leave a review.  I have found in about 50% of the cases people were holding out on the review because waiting for me to release the deposit.  Of these people, more than a few have actually done damage and hidden it.  What can you do.  Either way you're not going to get reimbursed for the damage so you might as well go after the review.

Hope that helps!

Good luck!

[Ann742]

@Susan1188 Yes, this helps a lot. I missed out on a couple key opportunities when they emailed me stating that they were enjoying their stay and liked the room. But I will definitely use that to my advantage in the future. Also, I would like to ask you,  Is it okay to ask the guest if they are all checked out? As I have a security camera on the entrance  door. So I can see when they come in and when they leave. For example, one of the guest was due out on Monday at 12 noon. But I noticed on the camera they left on Sunday at 8pm. I didn't know if that would be to forward of me to ask them if they were all checked out and didn't want to seem like I was spying on them on the camera. But I do find myself checking the camera a lot when the notification goes off. But if I have the opportunity to get in the room earlier and clean it I would like to do so. What do you suggest?

[Mark116]

@Ann742  We send guests the check-out procedure the day before, this allows us one more time to re enforce the check out time, and then we ask them to message us when they leave so we know it's okay for cleaning to begin.  Most, but not all, guests will comply with this request. 

[Ann742]

@Mark116 thank you for your response. This is a good idea.I will try this!!!

[Jessica1430]

I don't think this is a good idea, I would would feel really uncomfortable knowing you were watching me come and go. You could add a blurb in your house book suggesting it would be helpful to let you know if they check-out early so you can prepare the home for your next guests.  

[Ann742]

@Jessica1430 thank you for your response. You are right. What you suggested is a better way. I will do that instead. Thank you again.

[Susan1188]

Hi Ann!

I put in my departure check list  to send me a text when they have left! Why not? It makes sense you would want to know when the apartment is free.

I also have a great internet service with a smart modem and an app that lets me see who is connected to my network.  On departure day if all the connections are gone I’m pretty sure they’ve left!

[Susan1188]

Also when they say the text saying apt is free they usually say thanks and that’s a great time to prompt about the review.

[Kira32]

Hi @Ann742 

I always send them a whatsapp saying: have a good flight and I left you a very nice 5☆ review..... something in that order. Usually they do the same.

Kira♡

[Ann742]

@Kira32 thank you for your response!!!