How has Airbnb changed you?

[Paul154]

As I  was reading an curious article today http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Cabin-overnight-bus-San-Francisco-Los-Angeles-LA-12195820.php I now realize how much Airbnb has changed me.  

This reporter reminded me so much of some of my reviewers.  

So inappropriately entitled.  She took a bus ride and expected that it would be the Taj Majal on wheels.   She would take some valid, but minor point like " no mirror in the bathroom" and overly dramatize it. She also would take an obvious expectation like “bus got caught in traffic” and make it all about her. Me. Me. Me.

All  hosts know this person.   Books a room and expects a luxury spa.  Sigh.

Anyhow, since being a host, I am now much nicer to service people.  I now know that there are a lot of complications providing good, reasonable service.  Sarcasm and haughtiness do not help service people provide better service - but it does justify host’s response to raise prices 🙂

How have other hosts here changed since becoming a host?

[Fred13]

Great story, you became RE-challenged.  So true about being somewhat like theatre; now you get a chance to be an actress! 🙂

[Jeanine-And-John0]

After 3 months of hosting, I'm obsessed with finding & eradicating stray hairs in my Airbnb. We've upgraded our washer, dryer & vacuum. I use sticky rollers over all linens, furniture, pillows, rugs & everywhere in the bathroom.

All of these OCD characteristics are contrary to living & working in 2nd & 3rd world countries for decades where I bathing wasn't always an option. 

I do enjoy hosting.

[Bruce43]

@Paul154 I had to increase my Xanax another   .5 mg other

than that I haven't changed much as I like to entertain and dance the rumba.

actually, 99% of my guests are cool young couples with a dog or 2 kids and hip old couples who don't complain at all.

who stay over 3 - 5 nights.

[Welcome0]

0h, @Bruce0 You sound like a lot of fun! A rumba guy?!? Eh? You mentioned a long time ago that you are from LI, NY?

Yes, absolutely! You've got to keep a sense of humor in this business....and a thick skin!

My problem is that I forget about running it like a business and treat my guests like MY GUESTS. Stuffing the fridge with goodies, giving rides to RR, shopping, and the beach! I don't charge for this service. And occasionally doing their personal laundry!

I always assume that people with any decency will leave a tip. They rarely do! 

I've gotta stop doing this nonsense!!! 

[Bruce43]

@Welcome0i am going to be on the island for the first week of December.and Astoria queens. 

going on a dare from my childhood friend to swing in the playground in the Wantagh elementary school.  

we told each other we would do that when we had grandchildren.

[Personal information hidden for safety reasons]

[Welcome0]

So, @Bruce0 of the Eraser Squad! You're from my neck of the woods. I was at Jones Beach yesterday. It was 86°! Finally great summer weather.

You sound like a fun host! At least you keep your word. Make sure you hold on tight on that swing.... 

[Bruce43]

@Welcome0 well beach season has ended.

I like guests who are plug and play.

[Rosemarie9]

Yes it really surprises me that hardly anyone even bothers to leave a little gift for me doing laundry and other extras. I am starting to wonder how some people were raised,and I am talking about people in their sixties who should know better. Airbnb has therefore taught me to value my time to money ratio. I have decided to rent out my whole home next year and have a rest from the endless cleaning and making everyone comfortable. Me and the pup are going to enjoy the summer for once and bring in more money for less trouble. We all need to step back some time or we will burn out. And no,the customer is not always right, customers who quote this are often the most entitled beings on earth and I no longer put up with the entitled.

[Fred13]

Smart of you Marie. For the cleaning lady, I have a little box (with small envelopes) where they can insert a tip; 80% of the people leave a tip now, with a little personal note. 😉

[Lara16]

Fred,

This is a great idea, thank you for sharing!  Do you have any info on the box?  Further details are welcome.

[Fred13]

We have a little cute logo on it - 'Thank you for your support'.

We do hire local ladies and they do an immaculate job, and the guests really are gracious with their tip. We present the whole thing as a 'team' thing. 

   By the way the envelopes have a space for them to write on it and we have an attached pen to it, so guest love that their tip is attributed to them, that is when it really started working really well.

[Lara16]

Yes, Rosemarie, taking a rest is important.   Long term rentals are a completely different phenomenon.

I hope you and your pup are enjoying the time off! :  )

[Alexandre205]

Personally, I and my partner haven't changed much in our hospitality.

From day one, we've always been natural in the way we interact with our customers.

But definitely, hosting is a one-of-a-kind experience, specially in a tourist city like ours.

Because, unless you select all your guests, which we can't because of high competition, you're bound to not only deal with but also entrust your properties to people you wouldn't even interact with in normal life.

The range of ages/cultures/habits/education levels/maturities is so wide.

We mainly work with people of similar backgrounds in companies, for example.

We've read so many times "trust your instinct" as the best way to assess a guest.

It's so true: we're seldom surprised when we meet our guests and when we see how they leave our places. The way they communicate before their trip says almost everything about the way they'll behave in real, from the very best to the absolute worse.

This is really where the challenge is: risk dealing with people who are our opposites ...

Fortunately, when you work hard and properly, you attract great guests, and they make you forget the bad ones very quickly.

[Estella2]

Anyone who can teach how to delete my comments? I mis-uploaded the same contents twice and failed to delete the duplicate one. Thanks!

[Estella2]

I am just hosting my first guest ...quite new yet it took me three weeks to get it. My home is a brand new house, well equipped with everything. As I used to be a frequent leisure traveller, never paid one room nightly less than 120 dollars, and frankly they were not as good quality than mine...So, I was so depressed to see no enquires no demand when I first set my nightly price like 100+... after hesitated for a while, I decided to adapt to the market reality as I was a marketing professional in my entire career. At the end of the day,  I decreased my price into half price as I consider it as a   marketing expense, an advertising fee for a newly opened property,