Client Reviews Affecting Super Host Status

[Scott131]

Am I the only one that thinks it is unfair for clienst who do not leave a review to  have the ability to affect Super Hosts status? How  do you make clients leave a review? Ludicriousin my opinion.

From AirBnB

If you’ve received 5-star reviews 80% of the time or more, but fewer than half of your guests have left you a review, you won't receive Superhost status.

[Ira4]

@Scott131 I don't find that requirement so unfair, as I find the other one which says that you need to have 5 stars reviews for at least 80% or the reviewed TIME! That means if you have 10 guests who stayed for 1 night each and they all gave you 5 stars and then 1 guest comes to stay for 10 days and he gives you 4, then you can't be a Superhost. Despite the fact that you have made 10 clients totally contented and only 1 a little less contented. The requirement needs to change to NUMBER of reviews and not reviewed TIME. 

How can you make guest leave reviews? You can try to encourage them to do it at their check-out or by private message after they leave. You can suggest them to write a review, that's totally fine. 

In any way, what I have seen is that when you complete more than 50 or even 100 trips, your ratings become much fairer and more representative to you and your listing. 

You have still 17 reviews, so things will get better for your listing later. 

[Huma0]

Hi @Ira4, I didn't know this about the percentage being weighted depending on the length of stay. I thought it was on the number of reviews.

So, are you saying that if a guest stayed for three months, for example, and left a five star review, then their rating would count for a much bigger percentage than the guests who stayed for two nights and left four stars? If this is the case, my rating percentages do not reflect this at all!

[Ira4]

@Huma0 yes, that's what I have understood until now. 

Here is the exact text of Airbnb:

To become a Superhost, you need to have an account in good standing, and over the past year you must have:

• Hosted at least 10 trips
• Maintained a 90% response rate or higher
• Received a 5-star review at least 80% of the time you’ve been reviewed, as long as at least half of the guests who stayed with you left a review
• Completed each of your confirmed reservations without canceling

[Huma0]

Hi @Ira4, yes I think I understand those requirements, but I still don't see where it says long-term guests count for a higher percentage.

It's says 80% of the time you've been reviewed, which I would take to mean 80% of your total NUMBER of reviews, rather than 80% of the time duration you had guests staying.

Does anyone else have some knowledge on this? I've not seen it anywhere in the info on the site or forums...

[Ira4]

@Huma0 yes, you are right, it can be read with many ways. Let's ask Airbnb about it. I will send an email.

[Helen3]

Hi @Ira4

That's really interest. Can you link to where Air BNB says that ratings are weighted by the number of nights a guest stays?

[Ira4]

@Helen3 there is not a link. 

I have posted the conversation that I had with Airbnb Expert Team and the expert mentions that. 

You can see it in another reply of mine on this thread. 

[Huma0]

Also, does anyone know if reviews from guests who stayed during the 14 day review period count, or is it just those that checked in during the three month window that is under consideration for superhost status?

I don't find the official explanation on the site for how superhosts are reviewed that clear. Judging by other posts on this forums, it's a bit more complicated than they make out!

[Ira4]

@Huma0 it is those that checked out (not checked in) during the three months period. From 1st of January until 31th of March. If the guest checks out on the 2nd of April, his review will count for the next assessment. 

By the way, congratulations for your Superhost!

[Huma0]

Thanks @Ira4. That's what I thought, but wasn't sure as I could see my rating going up and down during the 14 day review period.

I guess it doesn't matter as I got it anyway!

In future, I will be just trying my best (as usual) and not worrying too much about it. I think that's all you can do. There will always be the occasional guest who will give you lower ratings no matter how much you try to do for them, but the majority seem to appreciate it.

[Ira4]

@Huma0 yes exactly! 

I just sent the question to Airbnb and someone from Airbnb Expert Team replied to me. 

And YOU WERE RIGHT !!! And this is much better than what I thought it was.

That's what he told me:

EXPERT: My name is Will and I am a fellow host and Airbnb community expert and I am happy to assist.
It is 80% of the total. reviews you have. If you have hosted 10 guests total, you need at least 8 to give you a five star review.

ME: Thank you, Will. So, it does not depend on the total days that each one stayed.

EXPERT: That is correct, each stay, whether 1 night or 30 nights, count equally to determine your percentage.

[Huma0]

Thanks @Ira4 for getting that clarified for us! Also, I'm impressed that you got such a quick response from Airbnb.

Personally I would have preferred it to work the other way round as I've found that, generally, the longer a guest stays, the more they like it! But hey, that's just my situation 🙂

[Ira4]

@Huma0 when I send a question about a general issue, they send it to Airbnb Expert Team (something like a closed forum with hosts who are are experts and are somehow licensed to reply those questions) and in those cases, they reply me almost immediately. 

When I ask a question about a specific reservation, they send it to Airbnb employees and they may be late. 

Anyway, as you said, we continue to do well what we do and the results will be ok for us! Have a great weekend and good luck with your listings! It was very nice that we had have this conversation!

[Huma0]

You too! Happy weekend!