How should I review my guest?

[Mariflor0]

Hi everybody

So, I had my first guest and now Airbnb requires of me to leave a review. My housekeeper told me that he had used the kitchen eventhough I specifically stated the use of the kitchen was not included and that if it was needed I would have to charge a cleaning fee. He left it dirty. He liked staying there but complained about cleanliness. I had the house clean but I didn`t offer housekeeping during the stay. So, how to go about a review? They were quiet and I think there was an issue with a towel rail that fell down which might not be a big deal to claim to the deposit, but he did infringe my no cooking rule and did not clean afterwards. This is, as I say, my first guest and feel like spilling it all out and at the same time not rock the boat. What is your opinion? 

[Anna446]

@Mariflor0

hello, am new also at this. So you may put a @Robin, this guy knows a great deal, he is a senior member and a very nice fellow. Or put a @Amy, she is very experienced also. 

If I were in your place, I would go under RESERVATIONS, click the link that says REPORT A PROBLEM..and leave airbnb a note, a short one, to the point. Do not write an essay just a quick note saying guest broke the rule of not using the kitchen, and left it dirt. End of story, this way, airbnb knows you reported a problem, and when the guest leaves you a review, positive or negative, airbnb will know that there was an issue with the guest braking the rules. I do think that Airbnb knows about people's personalities and issues , so the important thing is just REPORTING to them, and they will not penalize you for being honest and upfront with them.

Surely guests will leave bad reviews because people's personalities clash, and is expected to have some reviews negative. But the important thing in my opinion, is to be upfront, and short, no need for over extending yourself nor worrying. Your guest broke the rule, so you have nothing to worry about.   HOWEVER, I would not give the guest a bad review, altogether, wait for him to give you the review , he may give you a positive review, and if that is the case, no no need to bother airbnb with the issue. They can't solve all problems, some of these postings are really about trivial stuff.Take care.

[Mariflor0]

@Anna446

Thanks for the sound advice. I failed to mention that I am not there to check on things so, I cannot really testify as to the cleanliness of the house upon arrival and wether he used or not the kitchen and left it dirty. So, yes, as you say, I will wait until he leaves a review and I will not worry much about it and will simply do it better next time when I have moved to Colombia and can check on things really well. 

[Anna446]

HAAAA, poor guest, I guess is cheaper to cook in. Why would you not let him use the kitchen? I let my guests use everything. Then the best to do, is be certain of what is , and what is not before you contact AIRBNB, they are very factual, and be ready to have photos of every thing. Otherwise, you will just have to endure what is left. My take is that I will only contact Airbnb when the situation is totally factual, and I have photos and documented every thing, this way you have evidence.

Otherwise, let it go, is not worth to sweat the small stuff. I would never stay in a place where I cannot use the kitchen, to me the kitchen is the soul of a house, is where I connect with life.  And, it makes your guest see your hosting in a better light. Good luck to you.  Anna

[Anna446]

@Mari33flor

I have seen postings in roomate sites outside of airbnb, and also from lodgers who rent space. Some of the stuff they complain about are quite childish. One person wrote a 3 page email because her roomate ate her oatmeal cookies. PLEASE!  this is very imature. If you have guests you bet they are going to eat those goodies. I do the opposite , I leave nothing tempting, and this way, you are not disappointed. I think that Airbnb has this forum so people can have a sense of democracy and freedom within the company, and want to share ideas. But in no way, I think they sweat the small stuff, they could not have enough people on their staff to bother with the minutia. Take care! anna

[Beth23]

Hi Mariflor,

Be honest in your review. This is a service to other future hosts. They broke the rules which is very disrepectful. Don't worry about relataliation in their review since they won't see yours until they write one .Of course if they never write one then your review will be published in 14 days.

[Mariflor0]

hi @Beth23

The thing is: I wasn´t there to check on things. I wasn´t there to hand out the keys and see for myself if the house was really clean. I left that to my housekeeper and our standards might be different. As much as I love him and he is a wonderful help while I still live in Caracas, he could be exagerating his cleanins skills. And then, the guest might have used the kitchen but all I have is my housekeeper´s word and I don´t know if he was lying which is something I must deal with once I move there next week. So, I left a good review and let it slide for the moment. Let´s see how it goes with renting the rooms. 

Thanks for the input @Beth23. I really think this community is worth platinum. Always a prompt response and always sound advice from everyone.

Best of all for 2017, may we get lovely guests and great experiences.

[Gary-And-Rose0]

When a guest books with me I read all reviews from hosts about them. It gives me an idea who I am bringing into my home. If they don't have reviews it's not worth my risk. 

You up should always leave an honest review. They do not follow the house rules as noted they used the kitchen when told not to. 

[Gary-And-Rose0]

Hosts and Guests live and die by the review. It's no good waiting to see their review as it won't show until you post yours. I think this is great as you get honest reviews instead of vindictive or false reviews. 

Good luck and honesty is the best policy

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

This is an alternative view...so bear with me.

You state that you really don't know how clean the place was as you are not there - so he could be right.Also you don;t offer housekeeping during an extended stay - something it is wise to do and build into the cost.

You state that the towel rail fell down - it may not have been properly attached in the first place

Finally - if there is a kitchen in the place and you are not there, people will use it. They don;t read all of the rules. Leaving it dirty? Again = what does that mean and what is your cleaning fee.

If you post a bad review you could be seen as overly picky. They sound like quiet (in your words), nice guests who had an issue with a loose towel rail and used your kitchen. Not the end of the world by any means.

Again, just another view of the situation reading what you have written...

[Mariflor0]

@Gerry-And-Rashid0

I totally agree. That`s how I am proceeding. I am letting it slide.

Thanks for your input. Great advice.

Happy 2017