Guests backed into garage door requiring it to be replaced. $3500 estimate. What steps should I take?

[Matthew1514]

I wanted to get the advice of fellow host and super hosts on how to deal with this situation. I had guests check out yesterday after a 30 night stay and found that my garage door was severely damaged. They had a pickup with an in bed camper, and it appears that they backed into the garage door and never said anything to me about it. I was able to get a Garage Door company over this afternoon, and they said it was not repairable and would be $3500 to replace. The garage door is too damaged to open currently.

Should I confront the guests before they've written me a review? Wait until after? Do I have to ask the guests for  $3500 before Airbnb/Aircover will step in?

Am I better off just trying to use my own renters insurance to cover the fix minus the deductible I'll have to pay?

Thanks all!

[Colleen253]

@Matthew1514 Have you read the aircover terms thoroughly?

https://www.airbnb.ca/help/article/2869/host-damage-protection-terms

[Lorna170]

@Matthew1514   IMO, for this amount of damage, use your own insurance if you have a policy that covers damage by renters/guests.  If you can obtain the name, address and phone number of the guest who did the damage, provide that information to your insurance company or provide the AirBnB reservation facts -- your insurance company may be able to get reimbursed by AirBnB.

You can still try to get AirBnB to pay, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  They will probably discount the garage door by the length of time that it has been in service, i.e., when it was first installed.