@Emily487
You manage a lovely listing. Congratulations on so many great reviews. I'm so glad instant book is working for you. The property owner is quite fortunate to have someone like you they can depend on to be their eyes, ears, and supervision.
My situation is different than yours, and I have another perspective on instant booking and the "unpunished cancellation" aspect promoted on this platform.; after 30 years in customer service, if you say yes, then no, you alienate the customer for the long term and quite possibly everyone they speak with about it along with a glitch mentioned in several posts in the hosting community that once booked, guests can leave host reviews even if they end up not staying, and airbnb allows these reviews remain and be counted towards your ratings and placement in searches.
Airbnb encourages instant booking to increase bookings and revenue, and although they say a "verified ID" has been provided, it clearly states in another area of the terms of service that they do not do an actual ID/background check or provide liability coverage if something goes wrong and that 3rd party bookings and unregistered guests are strictly the host's problem.
I live remotely with no law enforcement close by, in a separate private space on the property (which is my greatest asset), and care for an elderly relative I cannot expose to risky or disrespectful behavior.
It is for these safety and liability reasons I have additional STR rental coverage, choose to not to instant book, and personally vet each guest.
I use an upbeat, conversational, and documentable approach to each 'request to book' via messaging to screen carefully for safety, transparency, liability, communication style, agreement to house rules, answer any questions, and read their previous reviews and any profile narrative to discern any "red flags" and evaluate whether the guest is a good fit and likely to enjoy what I offer.
I make it clear I will welcome them at arrival, live on the property, and am available if they need anything during their visit. (Which rules out sneaking in extra/unregistered guests, parties, and bad behavior in advance).
Choosing to personally screen each set of guests has yielded the information I need in advance for the "right fit" 99.9% of the time, and a consistently high booking rate with a demographic that's very much enjoyed my space respectfully.
Guests seeking a less personal approach (for whatever reason) withdraw before the booking is approved with everyone's dignity and ratings intact, and are free to find a better fit, with no hard feelings and the confidence that if they do choose my kind of experience in the future, we've already "broken the ice. "
Safety and respectful occupancy are my #1 concerns. The system I employ is what has been working best for me.