@Danielle476 So sorry to hear that ! I really enjoy reading your posts. I hope you'll stick around here, at least. I've been hosting since 2016, and didn't really become a CC participant until recently. Such a wealth of wise counsel here !
It's really sad that we get so little support as hosts. I feel like I have to work so hard to properly screen guests, and, these days, I turn many away. Even then, I don't always get it right.
I had a couple of rough experiences with guest damage in my early days as a newbie host. It seems like a no-brainer to actually do something like take a real security deposit, for example, and have a system whereby a guest acknowledges they have read and accepted the house rules, and can't go on to book until they do that. And after that, zero refund for breaking house rules.
All the assets and the risk are on the host.
Anecdotally, I had someone request to book just a few days ago, in these days of Covid. I have several Covid-related questions that I ask guests to respond to. New guest, no profile, joined in July 2020.
I got the request to book and wrote back immediately with my list of five follow-up questions. I got a one-liner response to question one. Purpose of trip. Family visit. Asked again about questions 2 - 5. Answer to number of travellers ? Two adults and one child after the guest booked for one (I have a per person fee).
No answers at all to my Covid questions. I don't accept children under 12 years old.
I told her that and she started to tell me it wouldn't be a problem. So, really, my rules for my house were apparently optional, and negotiable. Declined with apologies.
All that took about 4 hours, back and forth - time for which I earned zero.
But probably better to spend the 4 hours up front, than deal with the rules-optional guests later.
Wishing you the best,
Michelle