I received a pop-up warning about declining $3500 worth of reservations this year. I do decline guests with no reviews unless I feel comfortable upon reviewing their profile or reading their intro about why they are coming to Chicago (now limit acceptance to about 1/5 guests with no reviews). I have the government ID requirement set as one layer to avoid newbies who are not vetted. This particular guest requested my apartment for 5 nights with two other guests during a huge festival (Lollapolooza in Chicago) and was under age 25. I definitley did not feel comfortable renting to him and declined as such.
My question: Is there a penalty to my rating or placement of my listing in search if I continue to decline guests I do not feel comfortable with? I've had a steady stream of bookings on weekends I will be gone and am happy with the guests I've had thus far since being more judicious about my acceptance rate - I would like to keep it that way without fearing a penalty for declining guests without reviews that make me uncomfortable.
My newfound pickiness is due to a few bad apples that A) messaged me throughout the weekend asking questions addressed in the welcome letter or just really dumb questions (Guest: Did you leave the right key? I can't get in. Me: No prior guest had trouble getting in - try turning the doorknob left after inserting the key. Guest: okay thanks, I'm in now), B) received several parking tickets because they didn't read the signs posted on the city street nor the permit I left for them to avoid tickets, or C) gave me a bad review because they expected Ritz Carlton treatment on a Motel 6 budget. Most of those guests were newbies and again, I don't need the money enough to bother with constant Airbnb messages when I'm on vacation myself.