'Noise disturbance' question now on listing details?

[Ben205]

Was doing some house-keeping on my listing and suddenly a whole load of new questions about the property popped up (some of which weren't actually new, like property type).

Wasn't sure if I had to answer them, but I did anyway. Then one concerned me - 'Is there likely to be any noise disturbance? From the street? Noisy neighbours? Construction?'

Thing is, it was a simple 'yes or no'. There wasn't a way to explain if you ticked 'yes'. Then again, who would?

Anybody else come across this?

[Alexandra316]

@Ben205 Yes, I think that checkbox is kind of odd. I would be surprised if anyone really uses it. Unless your listing is covered by a Cone of Silence, how would there not be some noise?  At the very least, you should be able to make a note on what the noise is.

[Ben205]

@Alexandra316That's the thing, do we have to use it? And, could it open up a way for guests to complain/ cancel bookings? What if you ticked 'no noise' but the guest felt the neighbours playing the drums one morning meant you had 'noisy neighbours'.

Can't see how that can work out well!

[Alexandra316]

@Ben205 Yes, I agree that it's ambiguous. I hovered over it, because my primary unit is in our home and there is the potential for some noise from us, and because it's on a main road (although the road isn't really a factor). I really think there needs to be more guidance on how to use it, or more room to fill out specifically what the issue is.

[Linda108]

Actually I have a different take on the issue, @Ben205 and @Alexandra316.  I think it is a way for a host to acknowledge the context of their listing, tthat is, listing is downtown and there is constant exterior noise.  You would think a guest would know that but some people are not very knowledgeable about city life.  So the city mouse that visits the city is ok but maybe country mouse , not so much.  Or say the host runs a child care center and there is daytime noise that can be heard in the private apartment.  Prewarned is the right thing to do, but only writing about it in your description is not always sufficient.  So if you as a host acknowledge the noise issue on a searchable element and the guest complains and seeks a refund, you are in a stronger position with Air BNB to deny the refund.  

I think Air BNB aggregates both host and guest feedback and tries to find some system fix that will help alleviate the problem.  Not always successful and sometimes it bombs, but I think this might be a good thing.  

[Ria16]

@Ben205 As I’m a little suburbia I think I did tick potential for noise and listed lawn mowing, the odd dog barking and boats being started up . Generally it’s pretty quiet but...you never know. I can’t guarantee total silence 😉 someone mentioned the noisy cicadas going all night, My bad ;( 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Ben205 yes, it's tricky question... our place is in one-way, one-lane street in the city center and our windows faces the street. There is no buses, trucks, tram or trains but there are cars and passengers specially during the day . There are no clubs or shops near by. At the evening , during the night and weekends our street is pretty quiet.

So, some of our reviews says it is quiet, some says it is noisy in the morning .  The trouth is - it is quiet for city center 

[Ben205]

@Branka-and-Silvia0Yes, depends where you come from! If you visit us from the fjords, our place will seem like NYC. But if you're from Frankfurt, I doubt you'd even notice the background hum of cars.

[Ben205]

@Ria16@Linda108Don't you reckon ticking 'Noise distrubance' is the kiss of death to bookings? Would you really stay anywhere that said 'My neighbours might be a bit noisy'?

It's okay if it's not serious - like dogs barking - but does a host really need to point out their house is on a motorway?

Anybody out there with a noisy location?

[Susan869]

I’m sure I ticked potential for noise but can’t find it now? Which tab is it under? I ticked it as there are tractors in summer go by. The road can be busy during the day and once in a blue moon the pub across the road is a wedding venue. Can only hear any of these with windows open but there is potential.... I can’t find where it shows on a listing though. Where is it please? May go back and untick it!!

[Ben205]

@Susan869Hi. I can't see where it shows on a listing, either. And I'm not sure how to change the selection once it has been made.

I don't think there can be any location that does not have potential for noise. Cars? Airplanes? Aircon? Fridges? Waves lapping on the shore? Dawn chorus?

I think if you're in the middle of a building site, that's going to come up in a review!

[Ria16]

It’s under house rules I think 😉 

[Ria16]

I don’t think it’s affected bookings at all. @Ben205 I read and read the forums and the one thing I’ve taken on board is to make sure there are no surprises. But I am noise phobic and I will read reviews to see if there’s any noise mentioned from others if I’m looking at accommodation. I pack ear plugs always. ;);

[Sarah977]

So guests will now book a place that says it's quiet and then give you one star for location because it's not right in the middle of the action. Airbnb seems to design things so that you just can't win.

[Fred13]

"Waves lapping on the shore?' (raises hand)