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 ?

[Huma0]

@Katya7 Also, I was only able to meet with/talk over the telephone with the guests after I accepted their bookings, so yes, I was taking a risk in that if I didn't feel they were right I might have to suffer cancellation penalities. However, by this stage, we had enough correspondence for me to feel pretty secure about it and the meeting/conversation was an extra step to reassure me that they were going to be okay.

[Katya7]

YES that's what I thought.  This gentleman looks to be in his mid 70's  and a large number of people in that age group are on facebook, but I suspect many more are not.  so that was not working.  .......  

that's another concern, booking so far ahead which is common for a desireable property, or location..  so you think, well, ok he is serious .  Convinced of that.  yes.  but illness?   ok, cancel policy !  but............

 in speaking to airbnb on phone it became quite clear to me that it would be very doable to cancel a reservation with doctor letters etc.   I already had one reservation cancel due to illness...that was before my strict cancel policy.  I filled the week,   easily..  but   They  apologized so much  , even later, so I totally believe them..  but after all, 'stuff happens"  ........  and in the end, ....... this is, as we say in america.all of this  is a 'crap shoot"    you do your best ! to dot all your  i 's  but after all  it is a little left up to the fates.  

[Abigail-and-Marion0]

Hi there, I have a long term guest request but because Airbnb blots out phone numbers in their messaging system I am unable to have a phone call with this guest to further vet them. How were you able to do this? Thanks for your response! Abigail 

[Huma0]

@Abigail-and-Marion0 I'm not sure if there is an easy way to get around it. I have had guests try to redirect me to their Facebook using all sorts of strange means, but I didn't want that. I wanted our initial correspondence documented on the Airbnb messaging system. All I was asking was for them to provide me with a bit of info about themeselves and to complete their profiles etc.

RE long term guests, I have had meetings or Skype conversations with them prior to arrival, but not prior to booking. I had to accept the booking in order for us to exchange contact details. I guess I was gambling on the chance that, should alarm bells ring, I could contact Airbnb CS, explain the situation to them and get them to cancel the booking. However, I haven't needed to do that so far as the long-term guests turned out to be lovely when I met/spoke with them.

[David126]

Book for a week, if all goes well use a conventional lease going forward, ABB does not deal with long leases.

[Debbie106]

I have found that if you go to calendar, then left side is booking then you can click on instant book and there you can require a government issued ID and prior references.  You also have more leniency with cancellations.

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Katya7 - Point to be made about a contract:  Airbnb cannot and will not enforce a contract made between you and the renter.  They can't.  So having one or insisting on one when Airbnb is collecting the money is really moot. If you read the terms of service, if your contract actively contradicts their policies, you will be in violation of your contract with Airbnb and will not be covered by most of their protections.  Tread lightly and consult an attorney before committing to this activity when using Airbnb. 

And to make the point:  the elderly person who can't figure out how to do things:  They navigated to the Airbnb site, created a profile with all their information, entered in the destination where they wanted to search, reviewed their options including how to look through the pictures, and understood how to reach out to you to start a conversation.  What makes you think they can't figure out the rest of it - including how to get their other rental agencies to upload references?  It takes patience, but that attitude of "I don't know how, I'm too old", is something of a cop out for both guest and host.  

Most of my guests at the beginning were brand new too and I had to spend an enormous amount of time helping them get verified and finalizing their profile.  It's a pain and most people are lazy.  But if you want and need the level of security to make you feel more comfortable with a reservation, you kinda have to do the work.  I know I do!   

[Katya7]

Thanks for your experienced input.  I see you have been around the block numerous times !

I haven't had anyone need me to help them verify.. I put in that I only want contacts from verified people.  Now you are making me think... hmmmm  maybe it broadens your audience to eliminate that requirement..  but before I accept them, they would verify.  thanks... I am going to think on that

next..  the contract is something I read in AirBNB suggestions.  I was not wanting to go that route.. It seems a pain, I do have a real estate lawyer Godson..so money wouldn't be an issue.  I want whatever protections AirBNB OFfers and wouldn't dream of trying to jeopardize them.   Thanks for your pointing out those things.

My prospect didn't use the "I am Old  card. "....in fact I  myself am rarely on Face...  k.   ...

I have a great deal of experience with the public and I know many super seniors who are adept. at everything  ''In fact I just went to Europe with a 90 yr old and she organized the tour.   but uploading references on this platform? No one has suggested a way to do that.  

When I offered him my email address, phone number, even mentioned he should verify on Face.....k   it was blipped out by airbnb spiders.  On the positive side, all these communications  tested his desire, revealed a patient personality & enabled us to feel each other out.

Finally to conclude this particular episode, I developed a way for him to communicate with me  outside the airbnb platform,  he did send all info.. I ran a background check.. he did upload refs , yesterday I accepted his 2 month booking.

 I think it makes me too antsy to have so many eggs in one basket, so I think this may be my last long term booking so far in advance. ( In Florida for winter, they DO commonly book a year ahead )  Another high level host suggested I change length of time...which I did. . I reviewed the cancellation policies carefully on the phone with an agent and realized there is too much opportunity for a (even currently sincere  )guest to cancel leaving me without income in the height of the season. so now I have 1 month max. 

Connected to this issue..I  am in the middle of a soap opera. I am the only one in my 66 villa community to be doing short term rentals, and even though I have had only ten star guests since Jan 1.the board of directors is freaking out and pushing me for 3 month rentals minimum.  This whole subject of asking advice on this forum was triggered by my attempt to placate these nervous nellies.    AGAIN thanks for your advice.  

[Dunny0]

@Katya7

Good on you Katya. Go outside the platform. It's your life, your security, your responsibility, your call.

I am appalled by the people who have blind faith in this set of current investors who sit behind the advertising label
of six letters A.....b. They're expert businesspeople doing business. Where is everyone's common sense? Is this a cult? It's not a movement. It's a market opportunity and a financial need - and the participants as host and guest are changing, are different in many countries and regions, and the future is unpredictable and fragile in some areas (Berlin? Big new penalties to hosts there. Real estate agents getting in on the 'business' in other places.). To a great extent, each host and guest is on his own. Think like that. Act like that.

Be guided by your own morals and rules like that, and you'll be fine.

By the way, here's an idea: find your incoming guests special talents or interests and introduce them to your neighbours
who hav esimilar interests. Old folks enjoy that. Everyone wins.

[Katya7]

well... I wouldnt go outside platform to avoid fees or book ..I like the built ins that AIRBNB offers, but to get references, yeah... had to think outside the box.  I just got a third.  The guy is golden, as well as references goes anyhow..  and now he will maybe become a regular customer for AIRBNB.  they should make a way for files to upload or something.

my area of florida..Sarasota has now imposed another tax.. a tourist tax.  so we have sales tax, tourist tax, airbnb fees and also a 'furnishings tax."   oh yeah.   fla charges tax on the furniture they already own !!!'  wait, I forgot..a business tax annually too.  WHY they would ever want to discourage rentals??  

in some areas like on the 'keys'  they are making short term rentals illegal.  Now how can you pay your mortgage that you acquired, just so you COULD do that?    tough sometimes.

Thanks for the tip about personality matches..  I haven't wanted to do that so far as my community acts as if one or two week rental people are scary ! hahaha  for this guy will be here for a couple of months and he will fit right in.  I'll do as you suggest. THANKS

[Clare65]

what about monthly rentals, any advice?

[Dunny0]

@Clare65

Proceed, but proceed cautiously.