Recovering after abusive guests and quitting as superhost

[Michelle627]

I had two guests that were to stay during the same timeframe. The first guest arrived and made demands of me, I had already had a cased against the second guest open because he was a no show. Airbnb advised that I point my guest to my listing and I told them I felt like I was walking on eggshells. My listing was at $21 a night(since changed after I read these forums and say that a low price attracts these types) back to this guest... she wanted coffee in the morning and the ability to use my kitchen in the early morning hours. She became upset and slammed my front door and stormed out after I told her that no she may not use my stove, only microwave and toaster.

When she returned she asked to use a pit in the stove...I again pointed to my listing that the stove is not to be used, she then told me she would be sitting at my work table and using a laptop..I explained again that this would not be ok as the listing is for a bed and her spacious room and also she is allergic to cats and cat hair would bother her. She was upset. She cooked her food making comments of how now she has to make do with cheap frozen fish etc I think everyone knows where this is heading the guest demanded a table and chair and I lifted a heavy table I had and hurt my neck doing so to accommodate her. The next morning there she was loud as ever in my kitchen, slammed the door on exit didn't lock door and came back slammed door got her bagels she forgot in the toaster and slammed out again.i had enough and msg her in Airbnb and she said she had documented proof I was not fit to host as an Airbnb and would be leaving,
so now on to the other guest, he calls from outside my house, appears in my porch acting very odd...tells me ha must check out the room.,,,goes up and looks around mutters something and comes back and says yea this won't work..as your last guess said this place smells...I was stunned but polite and said ok this is not a hotel...I was so beat down from the first guest to say much,
i call Airbnb as his case of a no show was still open and explain what happened and I felt he was rude and out looking for a refund as the cats never go upstairs at all etc. as I'm on the phone with the case manager this guest leaves a nasty threatening message demanding a refund as Airbnb said I won't give him one..,I am still shaken up by his message. Telling me I'm not fit to host, that I'm not a good person as good people don't do this to others and al, kinds of strong arm attempts to get me to issue a refund. I never had his money to begin with, so I'm done..as last night I received a request from a friend of the first guest she despite hating my listing begged for her friend to stay, that freaked me out as he wants to meet for lunch and he will buy me lunch as he only wants to book with me,
airbnb finds this ok and normal.
so I'm done, one case manager even suggested I take a break from the app as I'm dealing with this and illness and use this now to pay medical expenses. People are just horrible on Airbnb now, I'm nice and polite and get walked all over. The guest that left a review in odor never told me during her five week stay and I bent over backwards for her..she filled my entire fridge and four cabinets and had her loud boyfriend over as well. So I'm done as of today, I just declined another guy who would only complain more. They want too much for $21 a night and I can't take abuse , next thing you know a guy will show up with a gun.we aren't protected we just aren't.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

@Michelle627

I sympathise with you - but it sounds like you may not be ready yet to be a host.

Think about your pricing and the type of person you want to have stay. Think about the maximum time you will allow someone to stay - if it is more than a week then they really become a lodger and will start to use the place like their home.

Take a break and maybe try again but be very selective about who stays and for how long.

We have been hostinig for two years now and have only ever had the most  lovely people to stay. Some may have been a little strange, but that is fine, we are all inidividual.

[Michelle627]

Thanks so much for the feedback! I agree with you as I'm dealing with some health issues and hosting across here has changed a tad. I became desperate due to medical expenses and thus booked both guests who had no reviews , and were not fully verified. They had no bio on their profiles either. I usually decline those , especially if they aren't very responsive with messaging.

my guests until them have been medical students who stay for five weeks and bring their own items with them Andy have full access to my kitchen. I've hosted a gentleman from Austria as well who was barely home.  So for the most part my listing is geared towards the younger professional , that has a full life and is out an about a lot. I hosted a lovely girl who was working towards saving for an apartment. She stayed with me five times and we became friends.  Im used to having nice conversations and not being attacked with demands from a guest.  

I will I'll be taking a break and infact have a few potential housemates lined up, which I think for now is my best solution.   

[Herb2]

For starters, a break is a good idea. I wish you well with your health issues. If you decide to resume hosting, you should first have a long talk with yourself and become crystal clear about what your personal boundaries are. 

Advance communication is the key. Be very clear in your listing's description, your list of amenities, and most of all your house rules in order to avoid having guests show up expecting something that wasn't promised. If you're not using Instant Book (and I would recommend against it for you), you have an opportunity to ask questions of prospective guests before you agree to a booking.

A $21 per night rate (in Philadelphia, no less?) is bait for bottom feeders who will often have you practically willing to pay them to leave. Guests generally won't think more highly of your accommodations (and you) than you do. I would never accept a guest who was not fully verified. This is my second year hosting and my first year using Instant Book. Because I was in the early stages of hosting and didn't want to eliminate first time Airbnb stays, I didn't require prospective guests to have reviews. Next year I'm going to implement that requirement.  

And, FYI, it doesn't matter that a dog or cat "never" goes into the room that guests stay in. Their dander floats all throughout your house and a person who is allergic will react to it. It should be stated in your listing that pets reside with you so that prospective guests can make informed choices.  

Again, good luck to you.