Too quick to leave a good review for guests and found later that they left not so good review.

[Shivali0]

Hi All,

I have been hosting for around 6 months now, so not as experienced as some of you but have had fairly positive experiences. I have been pretty clueless about the recent couple that we hosted in a room in our house during year end break. They were quite good and did play with our kids and I think we had a good time together. They seemed happy for the length of journey.

ANyways it finished and I got this leave review for guest email from AirBNB and was quick to leave a 5 starrrer for them. 

Only found out later that the lady left a 3 starrer for us with special comment that kids are cute but do make noise. Also that the cleanliness of the house could be better. I felt a bit embbarassed and caught off guard. The frustating part was that we never except the booking without making clear that the house has kids and this lady wilfully accepted coming to a house with kids and we thought that they even had a good time as they never seemed concerned (at least to us in person).

I presume that there is nothing I can do now to change the review that I left for them (I think there were some things where they were less than 5 stars indeed). Being emotional while writing reviews dont work I guess but the kids noise comment is quite personal I think. We do have have 5 star reviews left for us and I am not too concerned of her 3 stars but is there a way I can get the review overridden or change mine for her. Concerned as how people change their behaviours different ways behaving like snakes.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Shivali0 You won't be able to change their review. You gave them an honest review and they gave you one. What you can do is respond professionally and briefly as you have already done. Overall, which you may feel a bit aggrieved by the review, on balance it is good and you have responded in a good, professional manner

Unfortunatel reviews are subjective and like them or loathe them people will usually see through one 'cranky' review and look at the bigger picture.

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

I recently accepted a guest for two nights.  One of her prior reviews said she got ice cream on the sofa.  The host said they would not let her come back because of this! 

Well, I kind of expect that on occasion my guests get ice cream on the sofa, or coffee on the carpet or blood on the sheets.  So I accepted her.  She was a lovely guest.  She did drive her car off the driveway into the ditch and we did have to pull her out with the tractor.  That left huge deep tire marks in the 'lawn' (actually a weedy verge.)  We will have to repair those when the ground dries out.

I gave her all 5 stars.  I am positive she didn't drive her car off the edge on purpose.  I am also positive she wasn't drunk or high.  She was apologetic and grateful (for the tractoring.) I would welcome her back but I would put traffic cones in front of her parking spot.

It is good that you didn't criticize your guests.  Their perception is their perception and will help to prevent guests inclined to a similar perception from booking with you.  I think that the guests critiquing their experience (which they paid for) and the host critiquing their paying guests is going to always be slanted toward the guest experience. 

I'm glad they were nice to you during their stay.  That is what you should be focussed on and reviewing, not their personal feelings about their experience.

[City-Limits-Ranch0]

Plus now I want to go to Hobart just so I can stay with you!

[Toni47]

I had a very similar experience!  We had a retired couple book with us for 5 nights.  They seemed lovely when they turned up but were distressed to find that we have a cat as she was allergic.  I locked the cat outside for the duration of their stay to accomodate her even though it clearly states TWICE in our listing that we have a cat and a dog!  While they were with us they had a hiccup with their rental car which meant they had to leave a day early which was slightly annoying but is just one of those things I guess so no drama.  We were out of town two of the days they stayed and worked 12 hour days two other days but we did our best to make sure they were looked after, even doing all their dishes!  When they left they thanked us and said they would definatly come back and they seemed genuine so I gave them a 5 star review straight away.  As you can imagine, I was shocked to recieve in return a 2 for cleanliness and various 3s with the only visable comment being "they have cat and dog also" .  They complained about issues I had no idea about and still dont understand.  They complained about the wifi even after they were given all the info in writing when they arrived and had told me when I asked that they had had no issues in connecting.  They complained about the check in communication - I messaged them to ask when they would be arriving and organised time off work to meet them so I fail so see what else I could have done there.

And just to add insult to injury after the stellar review I gave them - a couple of days after they left I found that they had melted one of my expensive kitchen utensils and a pot that she had cooked in is completly ruined.  I put a claim in with Air BnB as the pots are really expensive and instead of responding to them she accidently responded to me, calling me a liar!

Needless to say from now on, I will take a few days before I post feedback and I will be completly honest about the experience and not worry about peoples feelings!!!