setting tentative availability as hosts

[Neil9]

We would welcome the facility to allow potential guests to be notified, and so have first priority on a booking, once we are sure we can commit to their dates: we have had to decline a number of requests this summer as we are unsure of our own family's plans more than a couple of months ahead, in each case asking the potential  guests to enquire again nearer the time. Yet neither do we want to block out all dates in the future until we are absolutely sure (rather than just very likely) of our availability

Would it be possible to have an option for hosts to show tentative availablity, with these then released weekly on either a rolling basis (say 12 weeks ahead - which, in the UK, would marry with release of rail ticket bookings), or as set by the host when they become sure of their availability. On such release, potential guests who had enquired would then be notified and given priority (say 24 hours) to book.

Neil

[Clare0]

@Neil9 Unfortunately on Airbnb, your listing is available to book or it is not.  For guests who are ready to make a reservation, if your listing is tentatively available, they will look elsewhere.  

How far in advance are you comfortable accepting reservations?  I perfer not to accept reservations more than 4 months in advance which is one month more than the 3 month availability setting and two months less than the 6 month setting.  So what I did was set the 6 month setting and manually blocked the last two months.  This requires that I free up days as they fall into the 4 month window.  I do this daily.  Also, I block dates that become automatically available between the 4 month and 6 month window.  It may seem complicated but it works for me.  Have I lost some bookings by managing my calendar that way?  Perhaps, but it fits my comfort level. 

You might play around with your calendar in a similar fashion, making dates you are sure you can receive reservations available and block the rest. 

Hope this helps a bit!