Red Flags

[Michael956]

How should I respond to this inquiry without causing offense?   The two red flags are 1) the guest wants a "house tour".  I've never had a guest request a house tour prior to booking.  I feel my description, photos and reviews say everything a potential guest needs to know.  2)  The potential guest lives right here in San Francisco.  That also makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.  How should I respond without running afoul of Airbnb's rules?

"Hi. Your place looks awesome! I know it's pretty late right now. Please take your time to reply to my message. I'm in no hurry. I am looking for a place to stay for about 3 months starting in January with my financé. I do live in San Francisco - so I am familiar with the area. I am wondering if it is possible to make a visit this weekend to check out your place before I make a reservation. I have questions to ask as well as I take a tour of your place. Please let me know!"

Best,
(name)

[Susan151]

@Michael956  Isn't the first question, Do you, Michael, wish to have two people staying with you for three months? [It is a long time, and the extended cancelation rules are quite different.]

If the answer is yes, I might then continue to ask her the obvious questions before you agree to show her your home. I think the only AirBNB "rule" you risk breaking is taking the booking off-line. Otherwise, there is nothing in the TOS about showing the house before agreeing to a booking.

[Michael956]

@Susan151  I only accept long-term guests  (30 days or more), so 3 months is no problem for me.  Yes, I'll ask her more questions first before committing.

[Sarah977]

@Michael956  As I'm sure you're aware, it isn't advised to allow "previews". You have zero idea who this person is or whether they are telling the truth- for all you know they are thieves who want to scope the place out. He may also try to get you to book off-platform. And hosts who have allowed previews in the past have said they stopped because it was a total waste of time- that almost none went on to book, and sucked up a half hour or more of their time, without even the courtesy to message thanking you for it, and saying they decided on another place, or that they'll think it over.

What I'd do is message back, thank them for their interest, stating that it's a security risk for hosts to allow previews (it's essentially like opening your door to a complete stranger who knocks  and giving them a tour of your house) and if you are actually open to this booking, suggest that if he doesn't feel he can get enough information from your photo gallery, your description and your answers to any questions he might pose, that he book the place for one night to get a feel for whether he'd like to make a long term booking.

If he can't afford to book for one night, you probably don't want him as a guest.

If he does book for one night, that would also give you an opportunity to decide if you want this guest for 3 months.If you don't, you could always refund him the one night so there's no hard feelings, just saying you don't think it would be a good host/guest fit.

[Michael956]

@Sarah977Under San Francisco's byzantine licensing rules, I only have an Aibnb license with the city for stays of 30 days or more, so I can't do one-night stays.  I'm going to respond by saying "previews" are not standard Airbnb procedure, but I'll happily answer any questions she has. 

[Helen3]

Hello @Michael956 

Have you asked him why he needs a place for three months when he already lives in the city ?

Why can't he ask you any questions he needs answering on the platform It seems to me that he might one of those guests who wants to meet so he can negotiate a direct fee.

As he lives in the same city why isn't he just doing a standard short term let where he gets credit checked and has references taken up I wonder?

I like @Sarah977 's idea of offering him a one night booking if he wants to check the place out before he books a longer term stay. If he is genuine then he will do this.

I would not offer a visit before he books a long term stay.

[Michael956]

@Helen3My Airbnb license with the city only allows me to do stays of 30 days or more..  I'm used to and comfortable with long-term guests (usually students or people on short-term work assignments), but I'm not comfortable with "previews".  I'll do soe follow-up on this platform and get more info from the potential guest before I decide.

[Sarah977]

Oh, bummer, I didn't realize you were restricted to 30 days or more. If it were me, I might meet up for coffee somewhere, so you can each get a feel for each other to know if you'd be compatible for 3 months.

[Mike-And-Helen0]

@Michael956 there are good security and business reasons for turning down a preview.

The only time I've agreed to a preview, the person communicated her arrival time for the preview and then arrived at a different time when we were out. Complete waste of time.

[Sarah977]

@Michael956  I really feel for all the home-share hosts where they've brought in these restrictions about only taking longer term bookings. I have a 2 week maximum because I don't want a roommate- having a stranger in my home is something I can handle for 2 weeks, but if I were forced to do 30 days, I'd likely delist.

[Michael956]

@Sarah977  San Francisco does allow short-term stays and I used to offer them, but then a neighbor complained to the city about "noise" coming from my home (during that period earlier this year after I had a stroke and was closed for five months. There was no "noise" and no guests....it was one of those "Airbnb haters")., and the city threatened me with huge fines.  There are no restrictions or licensing rules about stays of 30 days or more, however, so I switched to that and have been fully booked ever since.  My flat is huge so the longer-term guests don't bother me, and I discovered it's much less work (before I was constantly cleaning rooms for short-term stays).  I have the option of blocking off the calendar if I need a break, but so far it's been fine.  And the "count-down" until my move to Oaxaca in October 2020 has begun!

[Sarah977]

@Michael956  Are you planning to host when you move to Oaxaca, or just enjoy a well-deserved retirement?  

I'm lucky in that all of my neighbors in this little countryside area where I live also host, so no nasty Airbnb haters. It's something I like in general about Mexico- people don't busybody around looking to make trouble for others. 

[Michael956]

@Sarah977  I'm going to become a "global nomad".  The first six months will be in Oaxaca, then I'm going to Chile, then to Asia, etc.  I plan to live in Airbnbs.  I also own a small home in Brazil, so that will be a destination, too.  I can't wait!!!

[Paul154]

@Michael956 

It's an inquiry, so take the easy way out.

"Sorry no, I can't offer a tour." 

Airbnb has a standard process for hosts and guests. Hosts are not required to go above and beyond. 

Guest can make the reservation, put up the cash and then see if it is appropriate for him. Good faith effort on guest's part will ensure host that no time will  be wasted.

If he does put up the cash (which he probably won't because guest wants things his way) then you will have to make the decision to rent to him. But that's another step in the future.

[Chris395]

Be careful with locals. Get a reason like repairs/fumigation/etc. They may just want a big place to have a party.  Maybe there should be a party option with a special deposit, etc. One place I had with a larger number of additional guests still got trashed. Never again.