Malicious Reviews

Julie131
Level 5
Plano, TX

Malicious Reviews

I have been hosting since the first of January.  I have two really nice rooms that I have dedicated to AirBNB in my house.  The rooms are in a separate wing with a separate door.  I keep the rooms immaculately clean as well as the shared bathroom.  I have the house sprayed for bugs every other month.  There are NO bugs.  The rooms come with a double bed, two dressers, mini fridge (stocked with goodies), a microwave, half dozen bottles of water, snacks, and a fruit basket.  I also provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, fresh soap, shampoo, condition, lint rollers, hair dryer, iron and iron board, candies, and lotion.  I completely replace my sheets with new sheets every three months.  I have four sets and double wash all linens twice with hot water after each guest leaves.  I provide super nice egyptian towels which I replace every other day.  The rooms have flat screen tvs with a full gamut of shows available.  Each room also has a DVD player and guests are welcome to watch any of my movie collection.  I also provide high speed wi-fi.  Every morning I provide hot coffee (with take away cups), sweet rolls, fruit, yogurt, tea and juice.  They have full run of the house with use of the kitchen and laundry facilities.  It's a sweet deal.  Overall, everyone has truly enjoyed staying at my home and I have gotten great reviews saying they find my home cozy, clean, comfortable and can't wait to come back.  I had one bad review from a young woman I had to ask to leave with AirBNBs blessing because she was smoking pot in the room, bringing strange men home every night, having beer parties in the front yard, etc.  I gave her several chances and she just couldn't follow the house rules.  AirBNB totally had my back with this situation.  I just bought my house and have put a lot of money into it, and I want people to enjoy themselves, but I am very aware of keeping the house in good shape and nice also.  Then today I get this really horrible review from this woman stating that the house was so filthy it made her want to vomit, that her room was infested with bugs, that there was dog odor everywhere, that there were dog snacks and filth on the floor, that it smelled like I washed the dogs in the bathtub, that there were hairs on the dresser, that the light didn't work (the light works, it has a remote control that I showed her how to use) and that she was disgusted by all the favorable reviews that were obvious lies I had gotten and that although she didn't think it was "her place" to tell me how to live my life, my home was disgusting and I needed to clean it and she couldn't believe how I had so many good reviews.  My house is immaculate.  I take a lot of pride in my house, and it is spotless.  The guest rooms are separated from the rest of the house and the dogs have never even been in the rooms or wing at all, unless it is for a few seconds when they follow me in when I replace towels.  I clean the bathroom every other day.  My ad clearly states I have dogs.  I have three shih tzus.  However, they are not allowed in the guest wing at all.  It is shut off by a door.  My dogs are groomed monthly (I don't even wash them at home, and I'd certainly never bathe them in the guest tub!), and when I have guests they stay in what I call my kennel, which is an enclosed patio with a doggie door.  You cannot smell them.  In fact when they are in the main house, they wear belly bands (diapers) so I know there are no accidents!  I don't have bugs.  I get the house sprayed every two months.  The rooms are kept immaculate.  This person stayed three nights and came in short notice.  She never complained or contacted AirBNB about me, and she acted like everything was great while she was here, and it took her two weeks after she left to write the nasty review.  It was just horrible.  I feel like crying.  I have put a lot of money and energy into this.  And now people see this horrible awful lying.  I have contacted AIrBNB and it is under investigation, but I am just sick.  Obviously, this person has issues to maliciously hurt someone for no reason is a sick thing to do.  Has anyone else had an experience like this?  It may seem like I am a bit OCD, but the point is, my house is kept very clean and decent.  I am just so upset.

35 Replies 35

Colleen

 

I did not miss your point.

 

I just have an issue with it.

 

It is grossly unfair if Airbnb does such a counterproductive action to extremely diligent hosts.

 

Appreciate the link.

 

Theresa

'Grossly unfair, counterproductive action to extremely diligent hosts' is what Airbnb specializes in. Just spend a little more time on this forum. Your eyes will be opened. 

 

@Theresa473 

Theresa473
Level 2
Los Angeles, CA

Rob

 

Sage advice. We work very had to make sure every guest is treated with care and respect.

 

I am very upset about it.

 

Theresa 

Robin4
Top Contributor
Mount Barker, Australia

@Theresa473 

Theresa, I know how hard it is, I have been doing this for a while, I have over 415 reviews, 393 of them on Airbnb, and I have been smacked in the face on a few occasions!

But what I am saying to you is....you are better than that! Sure, it hurts but the important thing is to show those prospective guests in the future what a diplomatic outstanding host you are, I will tell you now Theresa, it's money in the bank, nothing is better for future business than a bag of good reviews.

 

I host in a converted garage in the back- blocks of nowhere, my listing is nothing like yours.....but I am fully booked month after month, have had only 1 month since May last year with more than 3 vacant nights.

Theresa, it's my reviews and the way I handle guests that keeps that business coming!

 

Cheers........Rob

Thank you for your caring notes, Rob. You wisdom is allowing me to put it in perspective and is indeed calming me down a bit. 

Robin4
Top Contributor
Mount Barker, Australia

@Theresa473 

Theresa, I don't as a rule put this much input into a thread , in fact in 6 years here I can't remember one where I put more effort in. But, you are worth it, look at your reviews....

 

"Wow wow wow! I don’t know where to even begin. This house was everything and more! Absolutely a must stay! To start, Theresa was an exceptional and attentive host." ....

You can't buy reviews like that, you are a genuinely great host. 

But you can't take the odd crappy review to heart, there are odd-balls out there and to think you are never going to come across one is just not realistic.

 

There are more important things in life, We are all slaves to our existence, we all the time have that next milestone to achieve, the kids through school, the house paid off, the new SUV in the garage. All of a sudden a catastrophe comes along and you realise....'Things come and go but, memories are forever' and that is when you turn your life around. Those stupid little things that so got you worked up, are not important. 

 

My wife has had MS since 1976 and Theresa her having that has been good for us. I can't tell how much of the world we have seen.....I have even eyeballed an emperor!

Eye to Eye with an Emperor.jpg

 

I have lived a great life, and if a **bleep**ty review comes along so what, it is not going to remove any of those great memories I have had, or am still going to have.

Let this one go, it is soon going to get buried, once you have 100 reviews up nobody will even find it. 

Do something about that bedroom camera and get on with hosting the next great guest.

 

Cheers.........Rob