Special Offer as agreed still adds a fee for the guest and now they want a further discount

[Ros0]

So I have been having a bit of a discussion with a prpspective long-term guest. We agreed a couple of weeks to see if we got along, and I took some extra photos that I thought would be helpful to my listing in general, and agreed to move out some stuff in the spare room to give her a workspace ... she wanted a picture of that and the bathroom and suggested a video tour, all three of which I rejected because of time issues and also, the space clear out is a one-off for them IF they come and stay. If they don't I don't see the point of wasting half a day to clear out half a space.

We agreed on a special offer for one week (to see if we get on) and I made the agreed offer. But now AirBnB is charging her £30 on top and I get less than what we agreed anyway because of the fees they take off me and she wants me to get this down to £200. The only way I can do that surely is by dropping my offer by at least £30 which is a ludicrous discount compared to the initial week discount and then the additional one I was prepared to do for her.

I just have a feeling now that this is on a hiding to nothing ... should I withdraw the offer because I feel I have been pretty reasonable - a double discount, some additional photos (kitchen and the storage space available in the regular wardrobe)... and answered any other questions re: parking, capability of having both cars on the drive etc etc.

The money would be tempting and I realise some guests want to push it as far as they can because if they don't ask they don't get... 

This would be a fourth decline in a row (one was interested for a month, then went quiet - assumed he found somewhere else and didn't say, one wanted me to come collect him from the hospital where he had surgery the day before, one was unverified and wanted to pay cash and kept telling me they couldn't book online)... I don't want to look as though I don't want to accept anyone... but...!

[Kathryn-And-John0]

I would go with your gut feeling on this.  Seems that you have gone above and beyond.  Sometimes you just can't please people.  You give them $100,000 and they complain because you gave it to them in $20 dollar bills!  It's too bad the Airbnb fee is digging into your profit but also it sounds like you just hit a bad streak of requests - the hospital one is a keeper!!  I think you have been more than fair and if these requests and negotiations are any window into what it will be like to have them as guests in your home, I would think twice.  I have been lucky with my requests so far.

[Taryn4]

Reject! I had a bad feeling with one guest and I was 100% right. They ended up being a huge pain and damaged our home. I too got suckered in by the money but it ended up costing me way more not to mention the cost of the grief of jumping through hoops. 

On the flipside, use this as an opportunity to consider updating your listing with some of her suggestions/questions. Maybe clearing out the space would actually encourage better bookings/requests. 

I also raised my rates a bit, this made me have less requests but more quality bookings. 

[Ros0]

Hi Taryn - The price was low as I am a newish host and when I first started I was advised to go for a lower price (and to be fair I have had some wonderful guests and been lucky in declining ones that made me uncomfortable).

But for a family situation that now means I have all the contents of my mother's bungelow (incl. my late fathers stuff) in the bomb shelter at the bottom of the garden, I could have totally cleared out the space as requested. In fact the plan had been to get a loft conversion which would have cleared up my room and the spare room as places to specifically rent, which would have been perfect.

Alas, it is just a mere spare room with a lot of my stuff around the place. 

Anyway - let's see if she comes back.

[Rosemary19]

I have been in a similar situation. I recommend you tell the guest you won't discount any further. I have also learnt my lesson and when negotiating rates with guests I now make it very clear that air BnB fees are likely to be above and beyond and rate we discuss. Often they still go ahead and make the booking. I also think you've gone a long way above and beyond what the guest could reasonably expect from a host.

[Andrea9]

@Ros0

Big fat red flag for a guest you don't want.

Check these out:

Red flags!

[Ros0]

Hi There Rosemary

Phew I did the right thing then - before I sent the Special Offer, (because it showed me what she would be charged) I sent her a note saying I would send the offer at the price we agreed, but for her to bear in mind AirBnB may charge additional fees on top.

That's when she asked for the third discount. 

I have gone back again and said that it looks as though the additional £30 is the fee that AirBnB charges her as a guest using the service, and they charge me a percentage which means I will actually earn a little LESS than the £200 we agreed.

[Frank-and-Lisa0]

Hello Ros ~

I would lean towards declining. Consider that having long term guest in your shared space can be challenging enough even with good communication, now consider the type of challenges you are having just in the email exchanges.  Once the guest is on property these issues will be much more difficult to resolve.

Good Luck! 🙂

[Cj7]

This is someone you will share your home with? NO THANKS! Penny pinching is not a good way to start. Stay strong, especailly if you put the effort it before they arrive. Think about how you will feel when they are there at the 3rd discount and then when they get there they will ask for just one more thing and it will make you nutter!.

RED FLAG is right.

Gut!

Got with it.

Also, what is your listing ? I may have someone I can put your way, a care giver looking for a room when she is caring for a VIP in London.

Hang in there, the right person will come along.

PS, The hospital guy is AMAZING. I mean, COME ON! You would be changing bed pans if he checked in.

Hilarious!

[Ros0]

@Cj7 

here is the listing Double Room in Richmond

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

@Ros0I recently responded to a guest that there were other listings that may be a better fit for their budget. (I already offer 25% off per month, after fees, taxes and expenses I make about 50% of my published rate. Discount whiners are unlikely to be happy campers- decline)

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

@Ros0I recently responded to a guest that there were other listings that may be a better fit for their budget. (I already offer 25% off per month, after fees, taxes and expenses I make about 50% of my published rate. Discount whiners are unlikely to be happy campers- decline)

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

@Ros0 I recently responded to a guest that there were other listings that may be a better fit for their budget. (I already offer 25% off per month, after fees, taxes and expenses I make about 50% of my published rate. Discount whiners are unlikely to be happy campers- decline)

[Fred13]

Do yourself a favor - do not host this guest.