quiting as host

[John518]

Last guest did it for me.  After three years and super host status I am out.

Guest quality going down.

criminals have discovered airbnb.

drugs, mess, angry neighbors

zero support options from airbnb

no discussion on better vetting for guests

expect us to call out bad guests - they have our name's

phone number, address.. WTF

BYE

[Pete28]

I think the answer is to only host somewhere that you are resident, and can keep an eye on guests.  Also make it clear on the listing you live on the premises.

[John518]

That may help - who wants to keep an eye on guests... I own a small apartment about one mile from my house....my first two years on airbnb were great.   The guest quality has gone down significantly.... I see nothing airbnb is doing to address.

To deny this is not facing reality.... you can only vet so much

[Robin4]

John, I am sorry that three years of being a bloody good host has brought you to this!

From what I can make out from this, you must be renting to a few locals who are not doing the right thing by you.

It is a golden rule of hosting John....never let to locals! 

The burning question is...Why is it that important that they will pay money to use your place rather than their own! Nine times out of ten it is because what they want to do is some sort of activity they would not want to do in their own place!

Vetting of guests is something we need to do for ourselves John. After all, they are strangers and these are our properties. It is no good expecting Airbnb to be the policeman at the door! That is not their job, their job is to put A the guest in touch with B the host!

60 + review, 3 year experienced Superhosts do not 'fall thick on the grass' John and it would be sad if someone of your stature would chuck it in.

My experience is at the opposite end of the scale John, I have had a wonderful lot of guests with Airbnb, but, I have looked after my own back and I am selective in who I invite onto my property.

All the best mate....I hope you can work this out to your satisfaction.

Cheers.....Rob

[John518]

No locals - 100% of my guests are out of towners. Quality of guests has gone down... many of the worlds takers are now on airbnb asking early check-ins, late checkouts, discounts, etc... we are not hotels.

Last guest violated every rule that I have(and some I could not have thought of in a million years) - what recourse - complain to airbnb? give the thug a bad review.  He has my name , phone number, address and now keys to my apartment. It also does not make up for the extra 5 hours spent cleaning up the mess, changing locks - (yes he even took the keys). 

If airbnb wants to continue to have succuss they will need to figure out a way to better way show hosts who is showing up. I am not the only host with these issues.... 

I probably make a $1,000 a month premium renting my apartment through airbnb... no longer worth it as the quaility of the guest continues to decline.

Many good and even great guests but too many bad ones lately that I no longer can tolerate.  

[Pete28]

If I could make my MIL work long term rental I would do - but no legal kitchen etc. so stuck with Airbnb.

- I meet every guest, yes it's a pain, but I want to know who and why, and I want them to know I'm around

- if I have doubt I keep a close eye on them. I'm quite happy to refund and ask people to leave and have done so a few times. I was quite happy to meet the 3 people last week after they had done snorting coke.

- I've found a motion detector a useful tool in knowing how many people are coming in. Lots of activity and you get a free second visit from me with extra popcorn.

- I don't care about SH etc. I care about my property, security and income.

- if they take the key I have a new kwikset ready to go - $20.

it can work, but it's not the same as long term rental where everything is locked down up front with background check and deposit.

[Samra1]

Hello,

same thing here... I quit, and I can’t wait to get out of here.

When I read other disappointed hosts, it seams our stories are all the same : years (3 in my case) of hosting in my home with great pleasure, great reviews, then 1 bad guest, 1 traumatic incident, 0 help from Airbnb customer service, to the contrary ! They let me down hard, impacting my family on the way.

I can’t work with people (are they even people ? Sometimes I felt like I was texting to a robot...) who take large commissions from my hard work and commitment for years and then abandon me when I need them. That’s not the way I work.

Airbnb : I quit. I will find a smaller platform, maybe have less guests, but when I have a problem, I want to talk to honest and respectful human beings.