GUEST BROKE MY SHOWER REGISTER KNOB

[Anna446]

HELLO,

THE PROBLEM: Guest broke register knob of the shower, and did not tell me. Instead, the whole family seemed to be using the shower outside the house, in the garden. As I do clean the house every 3 days, as part of my offer deal to them, I also do an inspection and check every thing. They had one dish broken, and busted the register knob of the shower, I found the part they busted on the shower floor and kept it to show them. When they come back from the seashore I will discuss this with them, why did they not tell me they busted the register and the shower stopped running water.

TEMPORARY SOLUTION:

In the meantime, I fixed it so the knob functions properly with a little pull, and warm water still comes out without a problem. I will have to ask the next guests to use it with caution as they shower. I have many more guests coming. The season just started.

SOLVING THE PROBLEM:

It is virtually impossible to find people to repair at this time of the year, is summer here and natives do not work on house repair. However, comes march repairs will start, and I will contact Airbnb to advise me on this because it may cost 400 reais to fix it, which is about 114 US$ dollars.

And is fair that the guest should pay for it. 

thank you

[title edited]

[Mary-Ellen0]

@Ann124

You have 48 hours to report damage after a guest leaves or you will NOT be compensated.  Notify Airbnb immediately, then the guest as well.  Take photos, get a repair estimate....they will require it!

Been there....despite what they claim Airbnb is not eager to pay out anything OR make your guest dip into the security deposit.

I have never seen any evidence of their much touted Host Guarantee.....last year someone put a hot pan on my counter top burning it beyond repair.....eventually I replaced the whole kitchen counter top...Airbnb 'refunded' me $300 dollars.  My cost: 4,000 US

[Anna446]

@Mary-Ellen0,

thank you for your comment. Would you have the option of replacing just the counter? I thought Airbnb was fair no? They probably replaced just the counter for you and they felt that replacing the kitchen was an option for you. I don't know. So far with me they have been very decent,they paid for my first guest immediately, guest arrived and in few days the money was in the bank account. 

The issue with my register is that one of the guests just pulled it, and broke the little metal ring, inside the knob. But the shower still opens and closes with a delicate touch, the issue will be with the next guests, doing it gently. I cannot find a repairman in the summer, is virtually impossible here. We are packed with tourists and repairmen are scarce. 

I am avoiding at all cost contacting Airbnb for trivial stuff that I can fix at a low cost. If I have a larger issue I will do what Robin suggested, take a deep breath and handle is slowly.   But if damages occur at considerable cost , I will have to contact them, because it chips away any profit you make on renting. For now I am laying low, will wait and see. Things will occur here and there, and a normal wear and tear is expected and we probably should handle the cost. 

I think the guest is the one who should pay for it, not Airbnb. So the guest won't like a bad review if they fail to pay. I just think that if Airbnb was to pay for every little damage, they would go broke. Stuff will happen, so I think is savvy to separate the serious stuff from the trivial. In your case , only you can see the extent of the damage, so is hard for me to imagine it. But at least you got a new kitchen. I probably would just fix the counter and go with that. I am not much of a perfectionist. HOWEVER, if you have an expensive kitchen, that would be an issue.

Thanks for your advice , and I will do what you suggested if need arises. I am fairly new at all this. Today I had family members in a spat  inside my house, so I got nervous but the situation was handled properly. And these guests were immaculately clean and orderly. We shall see tomorrow after they leave.

cheers

anna