@Max-And-Stephanie0 @Daniel9196
Hey I sympathise with the situation you each find yourselves in, but if I can just make a couple of observations.
Max& Steph, reading through your profile, you have a lovely property, virtually un-monitored, close to water and you promote it as a great place for a family get away. These are exactly the type of listings party promoters search for. Those guests who want to have a few days away with a fuzzy 6 - 8 or 10 friends or work colleagues. I think you need to tighten up your description a bit, perhaps enlist the help of a neighbour to monitor guest activity and make this prominent at the head of your listing description....."We are in constant contact with neighbouring monitoring should assistance be required" This will help to discourage party bookings. In 600+ guests stays I have never had a party booking because, I live in an adjacent building on the property, guest activity is potentially monitored and I present an unacceptable risk to a party booking!
Another thing to pay particular attention to is.....where is the booking coming from? If the booking guest is local, ask for as much detail as possible as to why they need to use your property instead of their own. Party bookers are not going to jump state borders to have a good time....and most larger non family groups are not going to travel long distances for a get together.
And when it comes to claims you have to understand Airbnb are over a barrel. They are not an insurance company and they do not offer automatic coverage for the payment of a specific premium. You guys might think they are screwing you.....but for every one of you there is another who is trying to screw Airbnb.
That host who submits a claim relating to a damaged outdoor setting for $2,500 because, a guest burnt cushions that can't be replaced, with cigarette burns. The host does all the right things, gets a genuine replacement quote in writing, submits it in the required time frame, is particularly diligent and provides conclusive evidence the outdoor setting was not damaged previous to that guest stay. The thing he does not volunteer to the Resolution Centre.....he paid $300 at the local charity op shop for that outdoor setting for which he now wants $2,500. I know, I have worked in support and had to deal with just that situation. Airbnb will not automatically trust any claim, and if they do accept to offer some sort of compensation it will be to a certain extent out of goodwill, not obligation.
We hosts are running a business! In the 5 years I have been hosting, Airbnb have put into my account $140,000 + and for that reward I am expected to provide a marketable facility and protect myself adequately for this business to continue. Of course Airbnb are going to market themselves as a user friendly organisation to both guests and hosts, and I agree that some of that marketing borders on being dishonest in that any compensation decisions are adjudicated....they are not set in stone, they up to the discretion of Airbnb personnel.
As I said, I feel sympathy for you guys, and being a host myself I always want to best outcome for me, but don't look to anyone else to cover your back, there are insurance companies out there who will protect you from every risk! You have to pay for it but at least you know, when that proverbial sh*t hits the fan, you will be covered! Don't rely on Airbnb!
Cheers.........Rob