I realised from posts just like one I just read from Lisa in Chelsea MA that have been circulating here on the forum since I became an active host in 2015, that I could not rely on support from Airbnb if a hosting turned sour.
There is a possibility that I might get something but, the probability is that, that something may be less than 20% of what I was claiming.
I, at that point, upped my hosting price by $6 per night and put $10 per hosting night into a 'damage' account. There is currently over $1,860 sitting in that account, earning interest....at one stage it was well over $2,000, but I have had to make a couple of claims on it.
Nobody argues the point with me when damage is done....I don't have to go through the hassle of abusing the guest, submitting a claim, potentially loosing a reservation until the damage has been assessed and then getting a pittance offered to me by CS.....why would you put yourself through that?
I am insured for public liability and major occurrences like the building burning down, but I have a $3,000 excess to keep the premium really low. Minor things like a broken microwave or a lost key, I just go to Kmart and buy another microwave for $45.00, I go to Bunnings and buy another lock, about the same cost....an hour later I am back in business....no hassle, no agro, no let-downs! And Airbnb thinks I am ace because I don't expect them to be anything other than a booking platform...I have never approached them with a damage claim....and, I never will!
I just fix the problem and get on with the business of hosting! In short, it is money I would not have otherwise had, so, I win on all fronts.
We as hosts need to understand we are running a business and it is up to us to make sure we run that business in a professional way and that includes insuring our risk.
I would ask hosts to please do not expect Airbnb to be our 'fairy godmother'...they aren't, they are simply a booking platform. Like Fred I would dearly love to see Airbnb get rid of this sham business of lottery win compensations if things go wrong.....It's never going to happen, and believe me, I have seen a lot more of these problems across this computer keyboard than you have.
Hosts, please do what you do well, host...... and let Airbnb do what they do well, book guests!
Don't expect something that will in all probability, let you down!
Cheers.....Rob