Unfair Review

[Darla31]

Help!  I have a small home that  I typically rent to outdoorsman, hunters specifically.  My home is a very rural area, town of 120 people, dirt roads, so it's a constant dusting . . .

I have a front porch that people love to just sit and visit!  I had 2 guests from the City come and gave a less than favorable review, right down to not liking the shape of the dinnerware.  Said they believed I had mouse droppings and animal hair on their bed.  In their review, they continued to say they changed the linens and found a different comforter.  Not true.  

Their reservation was for 2 days, they left after the first night, without contacting me about their concerns, and then left a review that they weren't comfortable and proceeded to lower my overall rating.

This home is vacant, and with our weather this year, it's humid.  I explained this to them, and pointed out that I have added a de-humidifer - yet they claimed the kitchen knobs were grimy, sticky . . . 

Is there anything, I can do to bring up my ratings?  I only have a few rentals per year, so this has really hurt my profile.

[Jean111]

Perhaps spell out that it’s a rural backwoods country find. If you enjoy a front porch view. Welcome. 

[Lawrene0]

Is there any way you can up your game, @Darla31 ? I totally get wanting only hunters. I want only experienced backcountry campers. But as I am putting my listing out there for the world to book, I can ask for what I want, but I'm going to get what they want.

No one, though, even hunters, should ever find the last guest's dog hair on their comforter. You've admitted that is a possibility in your reply to the review. Can you get some help with the laundry maybe? I cannot here - a bit remote, like you - but I can add a prep day between bookings, so that's what works to give me time to thoroughly clean.

I do think that review won't put off your target guests, and might work to keep away the pickier sorts, so there is that silver lining.

For example: The TV is too small for the space? In a hunting cabin? Lucky to get a TV at all, I would have thought. Once I read that bit, it made the other complaints seem exaggerated. 

Hope that helps a little.

[Darla31]

Thank you for the feedback.  It helps!

Yes, I have a cleaning person that must have missed the comforter issue.  I have decided to oversee the home after each visit.  

The TV  - that's a funny story really.  I had to replace the tv last year, because someone knocked it off the table.  So, yes, luck to have a TV.