Host Reviews

[Peter1185]

Hi,

I've stayed at 3 AirBnB properties but have yet to get a single host review, is that normal?    I'm a very conscientious guest, extremely quiet, thoroughly clean before I leave, empty all trash cans and often leave extra supplies for my host (usually matching what they have in-house).

[Letti0]

@Peter1185  Unfortunately there are way too many hosts that never give reviews. I find this to be very unfair to the guests especially as there are hosts out there that will not rent to someone with no review or a guest thats been a member for a few years with no reviews. It takes the host less than a minute to review your stay, unlike the long and never ending process for the guest to review the host since this new review format started. Which by the way. If you answer the question Was the listing "As expected" you've just given that host a 3* Overall review even though the place was as listed. "A bit then expected" is a 4* and "Much better than expected" is the 5*. Hosts are losing their SuperHost status on this question as anything under 5*'s can get you suspended or delisted by AirBnB. I personally in your case would message your next host at a week if they have not reviewed you and ask that they please review you as it affects your AirBnB  status in booking some rentals. Hopefully they will. This is just not acceptable behavior from a host in my humble option. I'll review you if you want to come to San Antonio Texas ;D

[Lawrene0]

I would say it is not normal, @Peter1185, in my experience as a guest. 

Are you staying with new hosts? Can you click through to see whether they reviewed their other guests? 

[Letti0]

@Lawrene0  My daughters stay in AirBnB's constantly and report that 1 in every four or five actually review them. They do have 5* ratings from ones that have, but it's more common then most hosts would think. My DIL does frequent AirBnB and HA/VRBO stays and says she has the same results as my daughters. HA/VRBO is worse, she has 1 review there out of like 10 stays. More hosts than not simply do not review their guests from people I have talked to. I personally have never received a review at all on HA or VRBO and I have used them many times. I can also assure you that I am a great guest. I would easily host my daughters, DIL or myself as a host because I can vouch for the behavior and manners they all have. Luxury Rentals I have had 6 stays and 3 - 5* reveiws, so they are better there. 

[Lawrene0]

My experience as a guest is 23 out of 24 stays reviewed. So far different from yours, @Letti, which is strange. Mine were not luxury at all, quite the opposite, but mainly superhosts because that is how I reduce the cancellation risk. I do tend to book private-room-in-house places, so that might have something to do with it? My one non-reviewed stay was an entire apartment whose host is in no danger of becoming a superhost. I would have booked a room, but I had a travel credit burning a hole in my pocket. 

What sorts of places are you booking, @Peter1185?

[Ange2]

@Peter1185   You could ask them. Explain that you are new and would appreciate a review, (especially given that some hosts do not accept guests without reviews, and no reviews limits the IB places you can book).  Most hosts will understand that this is a good thing for both hosts and guests.

[Dawn33]

 @Peter1185 when you finish your visit with @Letti0, come stay with me and I will give you another review! Lol.

Why would a host not review when they know how the review process works? Weird. As a host, I review as soon as I receive the review link and hope that my guests will extend the nicety.

i would ask the hosts to leave a review for you. It takes less than two minutes for them to do it.

[Sarah977]

@Peter1185   I have also reviewed all my guests. Can you share a little info on what type of places you are booking to see if maybe there's some pattern regarding non-reviewing hosts? Shared home, private apartment, on site host, property managed by an agency, new to Airbnb hosts, Superhosts, Instant Booking?

[Rachel0]

@Peter1185 I also review all my guests - it only takes a minute or two and is not difficult.  I had a look at your profile and notice that you have not provided any information about yourself at all and while this probably won't make any differece as to whether hosts review you or not, it would help future hosts decide whether or not to host you.   

[Victoria567]

Hello @Peter1185

You sound a fabulous guest, so well done.

Perhaps you should pen  your review first as soon as you book out then the host will write their review.

[Donna240]

As a host, I resist reviewing guests as a protest against the system that tells me I have been given a review, but can't see it for 2 weeks unless I review the guest. I will review a guest, but only if requested by the guest.

[Sandra126]

@Donna240, really? Wow. I guess you are protesting the very action Airbnb has implemented to try to make you review your guests, as they will know that not every guest and host gets one. As encouragement.

[Donna240]

@Sandra126 I don't see it as encouragement, I see it as manipulation. Many hosts write a good review in the hopes that their guest will do likewise; that's been stated here many times. So I see no value, to me as a host, to read reviews on guests. Each guest/host experience is unique. I get a better sense of a prospective guest when I interact with them by email, prior to accepting their booking. 

[Ana1136]

@Donna240 how can hosts think that writing a good review will make the guests write one too when guests can't even see it before the 2 weeks deadline? It literally makes no difference to the review of the guest and it is great that we can not see the reviews before both parties post, that way they will be both more honest. You shouldn't punish the guest by not giving him a review just because you don't like the system.

[Donna240]

@Ana1136 I have no idea, as it seems illogical to me. You should write reviews if you wish. All I want to do is be the best host possible, provide a pleasant place for them to stay, and help guests enjoy their experience in my city. That is what they are paying to get and frankly, that is what I signed up to do. There was no mention of being responsible for writing reviews of guests when I signed up.

As I said, if a review is important to them, I'll write one, but I personally do not like judging other people and if you follow the guidelines, you may not be able to say what would be valuable to hosts who depend on the information. Can we say our guest left the place in a mess or were unpleasant? No, we're encouraged to say that they are "not suitable for a sharing community" or might be happier in hotels. Have you ever declined a guest because they had no review? If the answer is no, then a review may not be as important as you believe. I don't see it as a punishment if I don't want to write a review. I also do not consider guests who refrain from writing reviews as trying to "punish" the host. It's their time and their decision.