What Makes a HORRIBLE or WONDERFUL Guest?

[Lisa1831]

Hello Host,

I would like to know what you think makes a horrible or wonderful guest.  Feel free to rant about all those things guest do to drive you nuts or make you smile.

[Emiel1]

@Lisa1831 

Guest who drive me nuts:

Those who do not read the listing and asking a lot of questions while all answers are in the listing.

Those not arriving on scheduled time, not sending any message about delay or new time of arrival.

Smoking people, booking a non-smoking accomodation, and walking in/out the house continueosly to smoke on the street.

Guest who make me smile:

The opposite of the ones mentioned above.

[Linda108]

When a guest is curious about this area and takes advantage my suggestions for activities and dining, I get to enjoy it all through their eyes.  These guests are also respectful of the property and appreciative of my hosting.  All good.  Add to that, the income I get and the tax write off for a portion of my home...SWEET!

[Sarah977]

Guests who drive me nuts: Ask questions the answers to which can easily be found in my listing 

                                                          description.

                                                        Send a one line message with their Booking Request which assumes they'll

                                                          be accepted, volunteers no info about themselves, says nothing nice about                                                                your listing or your reviews or why they chose it. 

                                                        Don't answer messages in a timely fashion.

                                                        Send a reservation alteration or cancel without the manners to send a brief 

                                                          message.

Wonderful guests:  Communicate articulately and personably.

                                        Are easygoing, not much phases them.

                                        Express appreciation for the accomodation and the host's efforts.

                                        Leave the common areas and their rooms clean and tidy.

[Julie143]

I haven’t had any awful guests, but there is a problem with some of them not communicating. My biggest pet peeve is when I send them the door code and other check-in information and they don’t respond. Just a “got it!” Would be fine.

Then I’m left wondering if they received the info.

Also, the same types don’t leave reviews, which is frustrating.

The best guests communicate with me as if I’m a human and not Expedia/Orbitz/Hotels and tidy up after themselves.

[Lisa1831]

@Julie143 

I understand what you are noting. So, to counter or even get ahead of this behavior you can consider proactively sending a message to confirm they have received information and message them to see how the trip was and remind them to leave a review. 

[Lisa1831]

@Julie143 @Sarah977 @Linda108 @Emiel1 

To all that responded or will respond - Thank You

So it seems like some of you would like to be acknowledged and appreciated.  Also, communication seems to be key along with being respectful of the home. I will keep all this in mind as I travel on Airbnb.

Thanks again.

[Sarah977]

@Lisa1831Another thing that's appreciated, although it doesn't fall into the Horrrible/Wonderful guest category are guests who decide to mention something that they felt the host should know about privately, rather than talking about it in the public review.

I have a cat around my place- it isn't mine, and I really don't want it, but it was a local stray and she decided she lives here. She doesn't come in the house, but she sleeps on the outside chair cushions. A guest left me a nice review, but send private feedback that the cushions have a lot of cat hair on them. I honestly hadn't noticed- the cat had just recently installed herself, and I only sit in "my " chair. I was glad she alerted me so I'm careful to vacuum those now, and grateful that she hadn't mentioned it in the public review, as it's such an easily remediable thing. If my whole house smelled like cat, had a litterbox in the common spaces, and there was cat hair everywhere, then it would have seemed fair to mention publicly.

[Scott-and-Mary-Ellen0]

Hi @Lisa1831! If all our guests were hairless, our lives would be a lot easier! My two cents. Happy hosting!  M.E.