New host not responding

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

Hello Community,

I am a fairly new host, and am used to regular comminucation with my guests, who ask a fair number of questions (which I would expect).

I have just booked my first Airbnb trip for this summer with an instant book entire apartment.  The host is brand new (Member since April 2017).  He did not communicate after I booked, and I have sent him three messages so far, with normal questions.  No response yet, and it has been about 4 days.  I am not used to this lack of communication.

Can anyone tell me if this is common host behavior (as I am only familiar with my own  style of hosting)? Also, I would appreciate any recommendations.  If I should keep the reservation and show up, might he just not be there?  Does this happen?  And if it does, how would I proceed?

Any thoughts, advice are welcome.

Thank you!

Hilary

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Hilary-And-Ed0

A few things - did the place have any reviews? If so that's at least one good sign. Was it really good value for money? If so then could be suspicious.

However - the host could just be traveling for a few days. I would leave it a week or two and then if no response contact Airbnb. 

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

Thanks for the quick reply.  

No reviews at all, and yes, it was a great deal.  So frownie faces on both counts there.

The place looks great - very clean, well located, and very underfurnished at this point.  This listing says it has just been refurbished, and by the pics that seems true.  

I was hoping that he was following similar advice that I had received before starting (start with low prices to attract bookings, which definitely works, then inch the price up to meet market rate after getting some reviews), and that I was just jumping in right at the beginning of that.

I hadn't thought about him possibly being away.  Good thought.  I will wait a bit.

[Tina63]

Why wait? Contact Airbnb and raise your suspicions formally. If it is a scam listing then the sooner you act the better.

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

I don't really think this is a scammer (although I guess I could be wrong).  More like he is just flaky, and not paying attention.

I could be wrong.  Seems like a pretty lame scam, however.  Worst case scenario, I book a hotel, and see if he ever answers me.  If not, I just cancel well before July.  He has a flexible cancellation policy. So no harm done to me, except possibly a pricier stay in London.

It is just frustrating.

[Momi0]

@Hilary-And-Ed0   I would like to advise you to communicate with Airbnb immediately.  I have personally "almost' booked a fraudulent listing and reported it to ABB within hours of realizing the listing was a fake.  Found the photos belonged to a real estate company selling the home.  I don't want to alarm you too much, but ABB can call the host for you and check to see why the 4 day delay. That is NOT normal at all.  That's a red flag in my eyes. Best part is, if the listing doesn't work out, ABB can always find you another place to stay....preferably with a Superhost who responds within 5 mins like me.  🙂

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

Thanks Momi,

OK. I will. Thanks.  Do I "flag" our messages, "report this host" or call some phone number (suggestion of the right phone number?)?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

here:

https://community.airbnb.com/t5/Community-Help/Contact-Airbnb-A-Community-Help-Guide/m-p/16165/highl...

[Momi0]

@Hilary-And-Ed0   You're very welcome.  Make sure you use the ------> @ symbol to ensure the message you write is delivered to the host.  Look at how I did it.  If you type that symbol, it pulls up every host that has contributed to this very thread and you can click on their name.  Its a good thing to use to ensure the host actually gets the message.  

@Branka-and-Silvia0  That was very nice of you to post that link.  I figured they would just use the search button to find the contact numbers just as I did when I first started hosting.   I'm sure others will appreciate you doing that too. 

So, Hilary, in the future definitely get in the habit of using the SEARCH bar to help you find very helpful answers to the many questions that hosts have been asking for years. There are some great helpful tips to read that have been posted by hundreds of experienced hosts for the many issues that come up. If you can, keep us all in the loop to let us know what happened to your host and the lack of communication. I am very curious to know why a host wouldn't reply in 5 days too. Typically a host would have someone handling their affairs if they are going to be out of reach or lack of WIFI.   And be sure to ask them what their back up plan is in case of emergencies should you discover that they are not going to be there during your stay.  That's very important.  This happend to a client of mine in Hawaii staying in an Airbnb home and the host did not reply back for 48 hours on their emergency issue.  Not good.

have a good day everyone.  especially to @Lizzie, our community center manager who works so hard to take care of all of us.  🙂

[Momi0]

@Hilary-And-Ed0  I just realized I forgot to ask you something......in your IB confirmed booking email from ABB,  there is contact information for your host.  There should be a phone number AND email.  Are you able to use these two pieces of information to reach out to them or is it a foreign country?  Definitely use the email...they perhaps may not have their settings set up on their phone to receive their ABB messages or perhaps they haven't downloaded the ABB app onto their phone...."gasp!". 

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

Good thought. Thanks!

[Momi0]

You are very welcome @Hilary-And-Ed0  Glad I coud help.  And it was a GREAT question to ask too. 

Also, if you are not aware of this, there is a Search Bar in the CC that you can type in any future questions for other issues and find quality answers from seasoned hosts (like myself) who have been posting answers to the questions that are repeatedly asked by many hosts over the years. 

Please let us know how it worked out for you at this stay.  We always love to read Positive Posts or Happy Endings.  🙂

[Hilary-And-Ed0]

OK, here's the update..

I did call Airbnb, and they tried to contact the host, who never responded to them either.  They (the company) wound up cancelling the reservation after a couple of days.  I do not know how they wound up dealing with him and his listing in any final way, although  I did notice that the listing is still up.

Definitely a strange first experience as a guest.  All good so far with the hosting, though!