i Feel CRAZY accepting 2 month booking without references

[Katya7]

My guest has no previous profile on Airbnb and doesn't use Facebook I mean a lot of seniors don't. This is a major problem for me as we're talking lots of money, the height of season

My guest has vacationed previously and can obtain references to send to me but and when I put my personal contact info in the email to him

Airbnb blips it out..... I'm told is to protect privacy. But if both of us are asking to do it then that's not what it's for

I have no interest in operating outside the platform of A&B and would never take a booking privately when generated on Airbnb.

But this is a problem that I have a hard time believing that just a few of us have I'm finding 6-70% of my inquiries are Airbnb newbies.

Every single one I'm taking a risk with I feel ....but a two-month booking for $7,000?

Another place in Airbnb suggest that perhaps if it's a long-term booking that we consider having a contract. And idea how to accomplish that?

This is business. All of our references are right there for someone to see. If I have one reference or I have 50 references but these people are virtual strangers to us and I feel they could be anybody . They could be great. They could be psychos. They could move in and not move out.

it's just not good business

Does anybody have a way around this ?

[Lilian20]

sorry @Katya7 but a way around what ?

Any references a guest would like to inform you about, your guest should simply through the airbnb platform. You don't need to exchange emails for that.

[Andrea9]

@Katya7

Some quick thoughts:

I suppose you have ID verification set as prerequisite to booking?

There are so many new profiles because Airbnb is doing its utmost to get new customers.

I noticed you have no booking limit which is a huge invite for people who may not have a permanent address, thus opening up a can of worms. Or they are looking for a job, rent for a longer period and then cancel on you shortly after because they found something.

I suppose you informed yourself about occupancy laws in your state past a certain time limit ? i.e. in CA that is only 30 days.

Airbnb is also not the best platform for long-term rental from host comments I've seen. Better use another platform that does cater to this sort of rental. Another reason to put a cap on the length of a stay.

Airbnb is a platform that works online and is probably not suited for anybody who doesn't know their way around the digital highway. 

[Katya7]

Hi there.

 Thanks for your input.

Yes, I only accept guests who have verified.  Origininally I thought I would only take those with reviews.  Well, that standard went out the window..  nevertheless I have had ten star guests.  

No one has an instant booking option... but as far as cap on length  I  thought I HAD changed the length of stays already.  Thanks for pointing that out.  so I did it immediately.

 I have a strong level of communication even with 4 day stays.  If they have no patience for that? then I wouldn't want them.  I really do not have a fear of loss ...  of income.  

I unintentionally blew off one woman who wanted a month at $ 3500 the other day, when I referred her to make sure she read all the fine print  about long term stays  and a year away... .. she went into a panic mode about 'losing money' in cancelation fees if she should get sick , after all she is mid 60's  etc.  ha ! Many people coming down here are 20 years older !  but this told me she wasn't rock solid.  I didn't mind losing her.   5 days later, I got a 60 day request for same period.

Seasonal stays in South Florida has been  huge for 40 years.    

I agree.  People who don't have "digital highway' skills are at a loss.  I did figure out how to reach my man privately and he did forward me realtor references. I think there should be some way for airbnb to offer this. In their HELP area, they mention getting a contract.  but that would be how?  if you can't connect.  it would only be after they booked, and you got their priv info revealed. and  it gets bulky.

but it looks like it is getting decided.    again. THANKS

[Cormac0]

@Katya7

Hi Katya

If your instinct is telling you its inherently wrong "I feel crazy" etc. don't do it!

on a more practical note what did your set your security deposit at?

Regards

Cormac

The Explorer’s Club Krakow

[Dunny0]

@Katya7@Cormac0

Katya.

Cormac is spot on. Correct. Follow your intuition. DON'T do it. Not this time.

It doesn't matter if you are right or wrong, if the person is finally fine or a danger.

You are too new. You are a perfect target. This is not the correct method, taking a long reservation, no references,

no experience, no long conversations to explore each other. This is how people are tricked.

After you have experience, after you are a veteran, after you have been fooled on small things - then, then

consider a carefully-examined long rental. But not before that.

[David126]

AirBnB was not designed for long term letting and is missing many of the usual features you would need, seems it was an add on to allow for people to use it. I certainly would not use it for long term bookings, you need a contract, references, security deposit.

[Monica4]

Set up a maximum stay of 28 days on your listing. That way you will not get these long term bookings. If your guest wants to stay longer he can book another 28 days after moving out for at least a couple of days.

[Mary269]

A two month booking at full price in the late winter is a godsend. This is what I received. Before taking this kind of booking, I asked many questions. I looked the person up on Linked In. Asked him his full name since his full profile is hidden until he accepts. I made sure of many things. Finally I called Airbnb and asked if some of what he told me was true. It was all true- he had used airbnb, but the host had not written a review for him. His company had an agreement with Airbnb so not to worry about the credibility. This person had come all the way from Calcutta. His ID was his passport. After all this, I felt assured. He booked for a month first to be sure I was who I was. The concern goes both ways! After the second day here, he booked for a second month. I changed my setting to Strict so that the booking could not be backed out on at the last moment without a loss on his part. I felt this was fair because I had my time blocked off and like you, did not want a cancelation 5 days before the first 30 days was over which is the amount that Airbnb allows to be officially covered before cancelation policy kicks in. I hope this helps.

Also I did get a request from a hacked account. This hacker could not get my return emails. The account holder did stop the booking just in time, when he received all my questions on a booking he did not initiate. I am not sure what the hacker would have gotten out of this deal. Maybe someone thought they could show up as someone else and get inside my home. I always make sure the person whoever contacts me reveals everyone who will set foot in my home. Each person can easily get verified and added to the booking. I think people are glad we check as they are checking us out too. 

Airbnb cannot divulge guests private info and I get that. I do think they follow through well with vetting, even if it is a computerized system. The rest is up to us to ask the questions. If people do not answer clearly, I do not let them book. Once you turn down a few you will realize it was painless.

Mary

[David126]

AirBnB do not 'vet' anybody, there can be a limited amount of ID info and there is mention of a limited data base checks. Bothing like you would go through for a long term rental.

[Katya7]

THANKS SO MUCH for all of your feedback.  I have paid attention to each one. I want to thank you individually.  this is a valuable community and I am glad to be part of it on this end, and I feel I have a ' good problem "  with this question. At least I am not being ignored !  This situation described is my SECOND in one week.  and I am taking about prospects inquiring for a year from now. so I find this amazing.  I blew the first one off almost accidentally ... recommending her to revew the cancel policy..she got cold feet

...I have been a guest in USA and Europe and think it provides a unique opportuity for many.    Most of my guests are new to AIRBNB. I think they need to provide a way for guests to upload references . but I don't even see a way to make recommendations to AirBNB.  anyhow.....

1.Someone said to follow my gut.  I would .. but  I do not have a ' gut instinct" on this one.  if anything, I felt good about this guy, but , let's face it...

stuff happens.  but more likely healthy issues happen with seniors.. and this man is an older gentleman.

2.the LONG TERM cancelation policy, when I dug deep into it and really got the agent against a wall..., is little protection as , in my opinion, anyone can dig up a doctor to say I have ' extenuating circumstnces " and can't travel.

 and to be stuck with a 2 month empty calendar in the height of season ?......In my opinion, this should be cast in stone as other travel trips are, and they should need travel insurance.  

3.. I decided to take 2 other poster's advice  re length of time: One said, this platform is really not made for that.  I agree.  but a contract? how in the world, when you can't even get someone's address or email.

the 2nd suggested, and I agree... in future cap my stays at 1 month.  This will NOT make my condo association happy, as they want me to have seasonal only.  But ..... I feel too insecure putting so many eggs in one basket. I also felt it would leave me open to 'squatters"  another reason to only want thoe with referrals.

so I did change that already for new contacts.  also, no one has the right to 'book instantly"  I need to review and consider.

4.When I said ' how to get around it" I was simply asking if someone knew how prospective guest connect with me privately for the purpose of uploading a reference he had from another resort.  .. BTW  I did find a way. an today I got references from a resort in Hawaii for this couple.  and it was for more money than mine.

5. I can't tell someone who wants 2 months, " come for one month and then we will see"  ha !  would you book something like that?

the guy wants to get away for 2 months. Considering the winters where he lives.. I don't blame him !.  (  also, I will be , prob. 100 % booked so that won't work)

6. If someone has no prior airbnb experience ..there will be no references posted.  This is a problam for many of us..  That person will not be invited to stay with me longer than a week or so....  but someone else may eventually give that guy a chance..

AGAIN.  THANKS ALL OF YOU

[Abigail-and-Marion0]

Hi there, This feed has been very helpful. Ihave a long term request and forgot to cap my stats to one month. She has one reference and one "group" review. I'd feel much better if I could talk to her directly before confirming. I'm of course worried about "squatters" and cancellation. How were you able to get around this?Thanks !!

[Huma0]

Hi @Katya7, there are a lot of valid responses here, especially about trusting your gut instinct. Also, if you think you'll be fully booked anyway, perhaps you don't need those long-term bookings.

However, I'm not anti-long-term, as many of the hosts in these forums are. I've had great experiences with long-term guests. They've actually been the best guests I've had. None of them had reviews because they were using Airbnb for the first time.

So, I firstly make sure I ask them as many questions as I need to and am comfortable with the correspondence we have. Then, ideally I meet them and show them the place, but if this is not possible, I have a long telephone conversation. I need to get to know them a bit before they come. Of course, you still can't be 100% sure if they are going to work out, but that applies to short-term guests as well and, in either case, if there is a major problem, breaking of house rules etc. you can ask Airbnb to relocate the guest.

Yes, you can set your cancellation policy to strict if cancellation is something you're worried about. It's not been a problem for me so far.

It is worth noting that in the UK, if someone stays in your home with you, they are at best lodgers and do not have tenants' rights. Therefore, if I don't want them to stay, they can't. I know it might not be the same in some other countries.

Finally, there is a reference system on Airbnb, where people can post references on their profiles (these are different from reviews). Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work very well. I asked a few former lodgers to post them for me and only one was able to. The rest all encountered technical glitches, which is a shame as I think it could be a very useful feature if Airbnb fixed the problem.

[Katya7]

THAT was a long thought out response, I appreciate it.  I don't really know how someone can post a reference on AirBNB unless they are on there somehow.   My prospect certainly could  not figure it out. 

We also can  NOT have a phone conversation as the platform blips out any possibility of connecting.   It bipped out my email.. and my phone. Hmmmm

I agree:  several correspondences:   even on my short term guests, I hae had several exchanges with... and this is something I personally never experienced as a guest.  So far it has resulted in a high level of satisfation for them, and mysef in our time together. 

They are not staying with me, but renting my entire villa.   AirBnB mentions in their advice, prhsps you should hve a contract:

How to get a contract... when you can't even be in touch with one another, no way to upload any files etc.  

I now figured out a way to get a reference.. for this issue.  but nevertheless, I have decided to go for no longer than one month for future.  My willingness to go for 2-3 month booings was because it is quite common in my section of Florida. and my community board of directors is very very much pushing for this, and NOT airbnb weekly ( & less)  stays.  I was trying to placate them.

Naturally having someone safe ...for two months  Ideal.   also I see it would  free me up to go on a vacation myself.

( although it is more profitable for 8 one week bookings)  I think I will not go for 2 months again unless it is someone personally introduced to me.  

I'm glad to see I' m not the only one who sees issues with this.  But I don't think AirBnB has intentions of fixing that.....  

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT

[Huma0]

@Katya7 re the reference system, the person who gives the reference needs to be an Airbnb user and a Facebook friend of the person requesting the reference. The person who needs a reference has to send a request to this person via the Airbnb system.

That's how it works in theory but, as I said, in practice it doesn't seem so easy as most people I asked were unable to do it... These are people I know well, so I am sure they tried their best, but they gave up in the end...