Need Suggestions for Two Situations...

[Sarah232]

Situation 1:

I have guests leaving today who were comunicative, polite when speaking with me, and tidy, but they talked very loudly and had loud sex late at night both nights.  (11ish) I rent a room in my house, not an entire home.  I don't specifically have a rule to talk quietly and not bang the walls late at night, but I have been hosting for over four years and have only had this problem once before.  So, while they didn't specifically break house rules, I thought that they were rude and would have been better suited for an entire apartment or a hotel.  How would you review them if they were your guests? Public? For AirBnb? For the guest?

Situation 2: 

I have a very young requestor (22).  She is road tripping with her boyfriend.  She has several positive reviews, but one indicating that she may have over-stepped boundaries by asking a neighbor for help and possibly not reading house rules.  She did reply to the review indicating a different perspective. I have a significant drop in reservations this time of year and could use the money, but considering situation #1 above, I am hesitating.  Any input on this one too?  Would you accept them or not?  If not, what reason would you provide (since that is required info)?

Thanks so much!

Sarah

[Jann3]

Situation 1: Suggested Review Text: "Guest may be better in separate studio or apartment where sound does not travel so much late at night." Rating would not be changed. Why? Because it was not expressly stated and they - in the throws of passion - might not have known that sound traveled.

Situation 2: I would accept BUT before accepting msg (via AirBnB) stating that while you understand there was a possible previous issue with a neighbor you need her assurance that she understands you are the one she is renting from - and you would prefer that she not communicate with neighbors, etc. Also that she needs to read the house rules and fully understand - and agree to - them. Once she agrees (via AirBnB Messaging) I would click the "accept" button. Why? Because everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. If it is a case of 1 in 4 reviews being "possibly negative" there are probably a lot more hosts that did not review her...or had no negative things to review her for.

[Kimberly54]

Hi @Sarah232,

I had to laugh at #1!   Have you never been trying to quietly sleep in even the nicest hotel room when the couple next door... (the walls are ALWAYS thin, even in the best, if their DNA are hot on repopulating the planet!)  Yep, 11pm, 1am, 3am... WILL THEY NEVER STOP?

Big, 'Oh, NOOOOooooOOOO! moment.  You are not going to get any sleep.

Sometimes it happens.

If you are renting a room in your home, you are also in some ways, another tenant. 

Seems a bit unfair to 'warn' people... perhaps she was ovulating?  I'd have to rate the DNA for 5*****!  Doesn't happen all the time.  Fit in a nap the next day. 😉

[Nancy67]

Hi @Sarah232

Ha-- My husband and I call this the "5 S's of Hosting."  As a host who has signed and agreed to Terms of Service and non-discrimination policies, you have essentially invited the population of the entire planet to come stay at your house and shi....uh, use the potty, shower, shave, have sex, sleep and otherwise engage in behavior which may seem weird to you, but perhaps not them.

For some adults, being away from home and on vacation, is all it takes to get in the mood--For others, engaging in a healthy sex life frequently, is, well, good for them. Unless you have specific rules against loud and raucous sex, you may just have to listen to it.

I am not personally of the opinion that it is disrespectful behavior, provided they keep it behind closed doors-- the doors which they are entitled to do whatever behind, because they paid you to be there. (Unless, of course, they are swinging from the ceiling fan and bringing it crashing down-- then you may have to have words.)

We have a Sleep number bed in our private ensuite rental-- it is in the upstairs of our home. When greeting guests, we point out the remote, I push the buttons to demonstrate how to inflate and deflate it to bring it to a personal comfort level on each side.  It makes noise-- I point out that it makes noise-- I say, "we get it when it makes noise-- we are okay with noise." Although I am referencing the bed, it is meant to have a deeper meaning, if you know what I mean. This speech seems to always get a grin, and immediately makes the guests feel at home.  It doesn’t happen frequently, but we also get the occasional "howling wolf." We usually just snicker--knowing it doesn’t usually last long, and with a glance, remember the days when we were young …The next morning, inevitably, life goes on and money drops into the bank account. Cha ching!

[Marzena4]

@Sarah232 As for the noise after 11 pm: my country had a rule of quiet time 22-6. From what I know, not only mine on this continent. It's also about neighbours and the whole local community that this rule must be observed.