When someone sends you an "inquiry", is it customary to pre-approve them?

[David-and-Annie0]

Or do you just wait for them to "request to book"?

[Helen3]

Hi @David-and-Annie0 

Personally I don’t. 

I use IB (not something I advise for new hosts learning the ropes) so if i get a request to book, I  normally answer their question, ask my own follow up questions and say if they are interested they are welcome to book.

Sometimes they send a request because they have bad reviews or don’t fulfil my booking conditions such as having photo ID so watch out for that too.

Have you found Airbnb Help Centre yet?

This is a great resource around the basics particularly when you are first starting out.