What happens if I don't leave a review for my guest? Can the still leave a review for me?

[Maggie22]

I can't seem to find the answer to this question anywhere on airbnb.  I have had about several guests so far - all except for one have been wonderful.  I have decided not to leave a bad review for this guest, even though I think other hosts should know that the guest was a 'bust' as guests go.  Not anything major, but at the same time, I would not recommend this guest to other hosts.   The guest had nothing but good reviews, mind you, and I am left to wonder if other hosts who were unhappy and tempted to leave a bad review decided against it, because there was just no match between what the guest's reviews were, and the guest's behavior and attitude at my place.

Meanwhile, I keep getting the come on from airbnb reminding me I have only so many days to leave a review.  The guest has not apparently left a review for me, which is fine. 

My question is - what happens if I DON'T leave a review?  Can the guest still leave one for me?  Or is the guest prevented from leaving a review unless I leave one also? 

Thank you.

[Hans20]

No consequences. Usually I write a review, if the guest was at least 'average'. Of course, also if AirBnB only has to be informed

about special vices. You can describe them at the end of the rating under a special entry.

Most often, there is not only a single or a few, but many vices. When I see that the guest (group) is far below the average from beginning, I notice all such events, to have a 'proof'. The worst guests ever reached 15 notes.

[Linda0]

Hello Maggie --

I did that once and it caused me to get a ding on my accuracy.  Then, that combined with one of my guest giving me a dinging on location and accuracy caused me to slide down 30 points - I was at 79. The same guest then failed to give me 5 ratings twice for accuracy again and location.  So his three 4 ratings were basically 10 pointers.  I almost lost my superhost status, but luckily, I had a sweet young guest how gave me all 5s and it brought my score back up above 80.  Now my score is at 83 points, so in the July assessment I will still have my superhost status. I was only walking blocks to his work (4 for location, really).  

Yes, make sure you do your reviews otherwise it will cost you.

Linda

[Bridget0]

The big question here is that you have had a bad guest, one you would not want to rehost and you even say you'd like to let other hosts know that, and  you think maybe prior guests might have had bad experiences too.

Why in the world would you not leave a simple, honest review to warn other hosts? Why?

Try this " Jane and John were communicated well before booking but were not a good fit for our household socially and left the room with food out. We would not rehost and think that they would be better suited in a hotel setting. (Or - They would be better suited for an individual unit with very specific instructions on cleaning expectations)" or whatever.

If you don't leave a review, their's still goes up on your page after 2 weeks is done.

If they leave a review AND you leave a review, they go up immediately.

There is no repercussion to the SuperHost status about whether or not you leave a review. Superhost stautus checks that at least 80% of your guests leave reviews and uses those reviews to calculate status.

But, again, why would you not use the reviews for the ONLY purpose they have - to communicate to hosts whether or not threy want these people in their house? Do it for all future hosts, just as someone should have done for you. The review shows on THEIR page, not yours!

Bridget

[Hans20]

"But, again, why would you not use the reviews for the ONLY purpose they have - to communicate to hosts whether or not threy want these people in their house?"

Doubly wrong! There is not only a purpose, but also a side-effect, which may consist of offending and harming other people. There are

no absolute criterions - most often, the differences stem from differerent societal attitudes.

Then how can be known whether the guest would not fit with others? I made the experience that some guests were better off with another host in the neighbourhood, and vice versa.

[Susan1188]

Because when you leave a review, the guest gets prompted to leave one too.

If the relationship was strained or the guest was dishonest, he knows it too.

You will probably get a retaliatory review, which can hurt your superhost status, impact your position in the search results, impact booking requests, and impact your livelihood.

There should be a way to issue warnings about guests without alerting them, perhaps on very neutral terms such as just flagging people who - disturbed the neighbors, came with more people than paid for, did not communicate well, did not leave at check out time, etc.

[Vickie33]

I agree! And I also don’t feel safe leaving my last guest a review! HE KNOWS WHERE I LIVE AND WHO I AM! I prefer not to be in the headlines of my newspaper as a “a late Airbnb host”  it’s better for me to just quit hosting since I had such a dangerous person in my home. Fear is not always a bad thing. In this case...it was a warning. I’m done! Too many weirdos!

All my previous guest will be sad I am no longer a host. 1 bad guest ruined for all. 

[Gayle-Schroeder0]

I was very hesitant to write a review for a guest who was better suited for a hotel. I appreciate your advice. The reason is as you stated to communicate to hosts whether or not they want these ppl in their houses! The guest said they had stayed at many airbnb's but had NO reviews! So I'm reviewing the guest for my own peace of mind that other hosts do not invite this guest to their home!!!

Thank You!

[Susan1188]

A guest who has no history but says they have stayed in many airbnbs:   red flag!

Just had an enquiry from someone who says they "travel the world", has Airbnb profile since 4 years, no activitiy on it no reviews etc.

I said "Dear X, I see you are a member since 20xx but you don't have any reviews or activity on your profile.  Is this the first time you are booking via the Airbnb platform?"

Since I require people to have prior reviews she will not be able to spontaneously book and I am counting on getting an answer to that befor allowing the reservation!

Keep the review neutral and factual and not shocking for the guest.  If I see anything other than the regular "good commuication pleasant guest" bla bla or the mention of any specific incident my spider senses will pick up.  Even if stated in diplomatic terms.

[JoAnn67]

Linda- 

How do you calculate the number of points? For example,  you said you are back up to 80 points. How did you arrive at that number?

JoAnn

[Sandra856]

@JoAnn67 she is talking about the old rating system. A new system was introduced last Summer. If you want to follow you own status go to your dashboard, then stats then press the superhost box. 

[Elaine-and-Duane0]

As a host, I consider myself part of a community.  As such, I feel a responsibility to write candid reviews for every guest.  

[Helen56]

I hope that you will leave a review about this guest - Say one nice sentence, then say what the problem was very briefly, and end with 'I would not recommend this guest'.  You will help us all by doing this, and I bet you wish those other hosts had done the same.

I don't understand at all why you would  not want to warn other hosts of potential problems, that is what reviews are for.  Guests are very honest about the places they stay in, and we should be the same way about guests.

What are your reasons for not wanting to warn hosts about this guest??

[Maria880]

There are multiple articles on how guests are not at all honest in their reviews. Part of it seems to be not wanting to hurt the feelings of a person they met face to face. Part of it might be they are afraid they might get a bad review as a guest. So in fact, when you look at reviews, everybody is near perfect. And this is very far from reality. 

[Ann407]

Not true.  I have had guests leave retaliatory reviews because they did not follow the rules and I called them on it.  So much so, that I have engaged an attorney.  Too many of these instances go back to AIRBNB not following a logical procedure.