New to Airbnb with calendar questions & exterior security cameras

[Cathy492]

I have a question about blocking the calendar.

We have several bookings that we need to turn over on the same day.

I just want to make sure that if someone is checking out on a Sunday will blocking the rest of the day affect the existing reservation check-out?

Do any hosts have exterior security cameras?    What are you using?

Much appreciated,

Cathy

[Tim-and-Holly0]

@Cathy492:

If a guest is leaving on Sunday and you will not be able to clean it, then you can block off Sunday night without hurting the booked guest or their reservation. I recommend having a set "check-out by" time in your house rules and repeated in your listing description as well as your house manual. Also have a "check-in after" time to provide you with time to clean and fix items between guests. Our times are out by 10 AM and in after 4 PM. If we have the house cleaned before 4 we message the guest and let them know they can come in earlier if desired.

We have EXTERIOR security cameras on all of our homes focusing on the areas someone may attempt to break in (doors and large windows) but not on "guest areas" like a patio or yard. None of the cameras are placed so that they can actually see into the home either. Airbnb policy states that if you have cameras you must complete that section of the listing and include them in your listing photos or a guest can leave and get a full refund. As for the brand I use, I have Q-See. They are reasonably priced, easy to set up and their phone app is OK.

[Cathy492]

Hi Tim & Holly,

I appreciate the information and confirmation on blocking off a day.

Exterior security cameras are a new consideration and I do know that I need to disclose if we choose to add them.

Cheers!

[Sarah977]

@Cathy492  When you block a date, you are really blocking nights. So a guest that checks out on a Sunday, if you blocked Sunday, that would block another guest from booking Sunday and staying Sunday night, but I don't think it would afffect the Sunday check-out.

I don't really understand, if you say you have back-to-back bookings, why you'd block out any dates? If you want a day between bookings to clean, under Availability settings, check one night before and after. It seems like it should only be one day before, but if they did that, then the day and night of a check-out would show as available to book. So in fact, if you choose 1 day prep time, the day and night after a booking will be blocked, and someone can book the following day- the "day before" prep time for that reservation becomes an overlap with the "day after" the previous booking.

It took me a long time to figure this out, as why would we need a day after a booking to clean, we only need the day before?

[Cathy492]

Thank you, Sarah!