Over use of appliances

[Melissa183]

Hello!! I just went by my Airbnb listing to deliver some pillows and I noticed the air conditioners, lights and TV were ON even there is no one at home!! All doors open widely! The electricity is so expensive here in PR that I do not want to see the bill!!!! I want ask them politely to be considerate, but I do not want them to feel I am monitoring everything they do! What do you suggest?

[Helen3 · Accepted solution]

Just be honest a friendly chat- say when you delivered them some new pillows you couldn't help but notice XXX, XXXX. You are sure it's a one off and it must have slipped their mind on leaving. Let them know that keeping bills to a minium helps you provide your accommodation for great value. And that if they could keep this in mind and do a quick check to make sure air condition and lights are not left on if they aren't around. Follow it up with a message via BNB.

[Melissa183]

Thanks so much for the advise Helen! I will try that. I know that for some people coming frm cold places the might be tough but then again, it will not be possible to maintain a competitive fare... Thanks again!!

[Melissa183]

What is BNB?

[Jess21]

Also, automate as much as you can. We have motion sensors at the door and after people leave, all lights turn off and ac turns to away mode. Paid for itself within 3 months. 

[Melissa183]

That is a good one Jess! Have not thought about that 🙂

[Jess21]

I highly recommend. Nest for AC control (it can also regulate the range for your guest to change the temp). And Samsung SmartThings for motion sensors and lights. Good luck! 

[Melissa183]

I did let them know my concerns abut the utililities bills in the best possible way as suggested by all of you. THey never replied.

How did it end? They left yesterday at 10am and when I got there at 6pm to clean guess what???? All a/c units turned ON!!!!!!!! Really???? Lesson learned... 

[Huma0]

@Melissa183, when you asked them nicely and they ignored it again, that is starting to be a bit rude. I would write an honest but polite review, mentioning this very briefly (don't make a big deal of it though) and perhaps that will make the guests think twice about it next time. You may prefer not to do this, it's up to you!

"X and Y were clean and quiet guests. The left the property tidy. It's a shame that they kept leaving the AC, lights and appliances on and the doors open when leaving the house, but other than that, everything was fine."

[Melissa183]

Thank you Huma! It a great suggestion :))

Melissa

[Helen3]

Hi @Melissa183

What do you mean they never replied? You mean you sat down with them  face to face and you shared your concerns and they completely ignored you? That is so strange.

BNB is short for AIRBNB.

[Melissa183]

I texted them but they never replied. 

[Karen468]

I hope you gave them a bad review. That's terrible.

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

I second the Nest thermostat.  I love ours!

[Cormac0]

@Melissa183

I had a bad experience with a guest whom I ask to turn the heat off when they went out, I got a lecture on the efficiency of keeping the heat on all the time as opposed to turning it on when required.

There is about a 20% saving on AVERAGE on keeping the heat on permanently but the other 80% of the cost is where some serious money is to be lost, my gas and electricity meter are external to my apartment, so I could tell that they had not even moderated their use of either.

These guests tried to smuggle in an additional guest and when I remonstrated with them over this, the request about turning the heat off was thrown back in my face, the young lady in question threatened to ruin my business!

So, Melissa tread carefully and document everything trough the app or website in an ideal world and the world I grew up in people were polite and considerate of one another, but in this day and age it would appear that being self-centred and downright nasty seem to be vogue at least with some people.