How to word a poor review?

[Phyllis---Troy0]

We've hosted well over a hundred guests, and most have left the Cottage quite clean, which is our expectation. For us to do some cleanup is normal, of course we do a full cleaning between guests, but twice recently we've had guests that left pretty remarkable messes. My wife wants to just say "Slobs" for the review, and I agree other hosts should be warned, but both groups seem like nice people, but perhaps unaware that leaving a mess is not an AirBNB-compatible (at least by my perception) way to do things.

Is there a spot were I could look at sample poor reviews? I'm unfortunately from the school of "if you don't have something good to say, don't..."

I wonder if it has something to do with the "cleaning fee", which I had initially resisted using, because I didn't want people to think they didn't need to be clean. Maybe some guests see that and think it means they don't need to be clean because they are paying us to do it? The real reason we started using the "cleaning fee" option is that I didn't see any other way to make a one-night stay more expensive than a 2-night, etc. Am I missing something?

Troy

[Lois-and-Darryl0]

Thanks for your reply.  This Guest had been an Airbnb member for over 3 years, but only one review (positive for him, not the family).  Frankly, the parents weren't at all embarrassed about leaving the home as it was.  Which feels to me that this is normal behavior.  And our home is immaculate, and he even mentioned that, so he had to understand the amount of work they left us with.  I wonder if it was related to the $50 cleaning fee, and feeling they had the right to leave the house like that because of it.?  Thanks for your comment. 

[Phyllis---Troy0]

@Lois-and-Darryl0,

That's interesting. I wonder of the lack of reviews reflects hosts that were "speechless". Which is what we are talking about NOT being.

I also disliked the "cleaning fee" idea. We used to use both VRBO and AirBNB, didn't really like VRBO but did like the fact that the first night could be at a higher rate than the others. I can't see how this is possible with AirBNB other than by using the "cleaning fee". I didn't use if for a long time for fear of making people want to get their money's worth of cleaning. During that period the VRBO customers were actually paying less than AirBNBers. But that was so unfair, I finally used the cleaning fee. It wasn't 'til after that that we started having problems. But it allowed me to drop VRBO.

@Sheri7, @Helen3, if you have any pull with the AirBNB people, couldn't we have the 1st day be a different rate as an option without calling it a cleaning fee? Or call it a "linen fee" or let us name the fee ourselves?

In any case, Phyllis and are are in the process of making a laminated card to leave in the Cottage called, "How to Get A Good Review" ... listing our expections. We are trying to make it clear but amusing.

Troy

[Helen3]

If only I had any pull with BnB...I've been asking them for months via their website, social media and on here why they are imposing instant book on a % of new hosts as I feel it is unfair and unsafe but they refuse to provide any explanation 😞

Personally I don't think a cleaning fee makes tidy people suddenly behave badly.

Unfortunately some people are untidy and just don't care or have any respect for other people's homes/property.

We can only mimise the risk by taking fully verified guests, hope that other hosts given them honest reviews and not using instant book so we are able to filter guests a little.

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

Does anyone know- if the Host gives the Guests a bunch of one star ratings and a Thumbs down, can the Guests still Instant Book that Host's property in future or does that review block them?

Your review could say

The Guests stayed with us for 14 days.  They were polite, friendly and communicative.  Their children were well behaved.  Unfortunately they left the space in a condition I can only describe as 'trashed.'  They are therefore not welcome to stay with us again.