[GAME] What is your hosting personality?

[#1]

Hey everyone,

I thought it would be cool for us to have some light-hearted fun while getting to know community members a bit better  😊

With that in mind, I came up with a quick quiz for us to find out more about your hosting personality. 

Here it is:

      1. How do you start your day?  🌞

1. Having a lovely healthy breakfast and doing some yoga.
2. Rolling up your sleeves to get some hard work done.
3. You’re awake at the crack of dawn to add things to your list.
4. The day doesn’t start until you’ve read the news and checked the CC.
5. Who knows? Every day is different!

2. A guest has made some minor scratches on a piece of furniture. How do you handle it?  🔨

1. You reassure the guest that accidents happen and that you’re not upset at them.
2. There’s no damage you can’t fix yourself. You just need to get your toolbox.
3. 2 minutes after learning of the damage, you have already reached out to Airbnb and talked to a carpenter about the repair.
4. You quickly log in to the Airbnb Resource Center and start doing some research on the best course of action.
5. You invite the guest to go furniture shopping with you. Their treat.

3. How do you enjoy some time off from hosting (lockdown permitting)?  🏝

1. A relaxing day at a spa seems about right for you.
2. Binge watching DIY tutorials online.
3. Is this a joke? You enjoy being busy and don’t take time off.
4. Vacation is always a great opportunity to lose yourself in your book collection.
5. You’re either skydiving in New Zealand or going hiking at Yosemite. You’ll see.

4. You have just been awarded with a Superhost badge for the first time. How are you celebrating?  🕺

1. You’re thanking everyone that has helped you get there and thinking of how grateful you are for your accomplishment.
2. You’re treating yourself to a brand new armchair. Made by you, obviously.
3. You’re almost done planning a party. You just need to call the caterer and double check something with the balloon delivery guy.
4. You do the math to see how you’ve earned the badge and to find out what numbers you’ll need to keep it.
5. I’ll see where the night takes me.

5. You’re about to create your listing. What is your approach?  👩‍💻

1. No need to overthink it, you’ll just write what comes to mind.
2. You do some last minute touch ups on your place so it looks great in the pictures.
3. You have prepared a checklist of everything you need to make clear to guests so you don’t forget anything.
4. You search for listings similar to yours on the Airbnb website to get a better idea of the best way to go about it.
5. You’ll only write it when you feel inspired.

Now you can check your answers to find out your result!  🤓  📝

Mostly A’s: the zen host

No matter what life throws your way, you just take a deep breath, visualize flowers and rainbows and calmly carry on. No hosting disaster or demanding guest can make you lose your temper, you’re always tranquil and positive even in the eye of the storm.  😎

Mostly B’s: the fixer upper

DIY should be your middle name. If something needs fixing, you’re the person to call. You’re always coming up with different projects to improve your listing. If it involves a hammer, you’re in.  👨‍🏭

Mostly C’s: the multitasker

If you don’t manage more than one listing already, you certainly could. From cleaning to finances, you’re very used to juggling multiple tasks at once. Even though sometimes you feel overwhelmed, you always push it through!  🏂

Mostly D’s: the genius

If there were standardised tests on hosting, you’d most likely ace them all. You’re curious and always eager to learn more. You spend lots of time on research and enjoy using your Airbnb knowledge to help fellow hosts.  👨‍🏫

Mostly E’s: the adventurous

Is routine a word? You honestly don’t know. You’re always trying different furniture arrangements and coming up with ways to mix things up. A guest invited you out? You’re in. A fellow host proposed a house swap? Why not? You only live once.  🤠

Which type of host are you? Do you agree with the result?

Don’t forget you can be a mix of different personalities, too!

Have fun,

Liv

[Cathie19]

@Liv ,  none of the answers...

I never gave anyone a pat on the back, other than a “quiet yay” to me. Never did the maths, nor did I party.  😊 Just same o same o! 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Liv 

My answers are all over the place. 

a - 2

b - 0

c,d,e - 1 each

So I guess I'm pretty zen with a touch of being a multitasker, a genius, and am a little bit adventurous. Definitely not a fixer-upper. Seems about right~ 😁 

[Liv]

Nice, @Jessica-and-Henry0! A bit of balance can never hurt 😊 🏅

[John5097]

 1. How do you start your day? 🌞

1. Having a lovely healthy breakfast and doing some yoga.
2. Rolling up your sleeves to get some hard work done.
3. You’re awake at the crack of dawn to add things to your list.
4. The day doesn’t start until you’ve read the news and checked the CC.
5. Who knows? Every day is different!

1. A guest has made some minor scratches on a piece of furniture. How do you handle it? 🔨

1. You reassure the guest that accidents happen and that you’re not upset at them.
2. There’s no damage you can’t fix yourself. You just need to get your toolbox. (If they let me know and its an accident, I thank them for letting me know. However today a guest ruined sheets and duvet cover with some kind of purple dying project. I have no idea but will mention that in their review as they didn't mention it.) 
3. 2 minutes after learning of the damage, you have already reached out to Airbnb and talked to a carpenter about the repair.
4. You quickly log in to the Airbnb Resource Center and start doing some research on the best course of action.
5. You invite the guest to go furniture shopping with you. Their treat.

1. How do you enjoy some time off from hosting (lockdown permitting)? 🏝

1. A relaxing day at a spa seems about right for you.
2. Binge watching DIY tutorials online.
3. Is this a joke? You enjoy being busy and don’t take time off.
4. Vacation is always a great opportunity to lose yourself in your book collection. (I haven't had any time off but do get outdoors for exercise and like to read at the beach.)
5. You’re either skydiving in New Zealand or going hiking at Yosemite. You’ll see.

1. You have just been awarded with a Superhost badge for the first time. How are you celebrating? 🕺

1. You’re thanking everyone that has helped you get there and thinking of how grateful you are for your accomplishment.
2. You’re treating yourself to a brand new armchair. Made by you, obviously.
3. You’re almost done planning a party. You just need to call the caterer and double check something with the balloon delivery guy.
4. You do the math to see how you’ve earned the badge and to find out what numbers you’ll need to keep it. (For me its rewarding that guest love it. I have other options but don't want to get stuck with long term with someone who doesn't love it.)
5. I’ll see where the night takes me.

1. You’re about to create your listing. What is your approach? 👩‍💻

1. No need to overthink it, you’ll just write what comes to mind. 
2. You do some last minute touch ups on your place so it looks great in the pictures.
3. You have prepared a checklist of everything you need to make clear to guests so you don’t forget anything.
4. You search for listings similar to yours on the Airbnb website to get a better idea of the best way to go about it. (I take my own approach but also do a lot of research in general. I'm not very clickish. Guest must have recognized that it was accurate. In fact I try to avoid a lot of the smoke and mirrors other host use. I did pick up some ideas about house rules, but still take my own approach on everything beause its a little differnt. I notice some others copy my listing so closely its disapointing as that's not my style or personality, as the title should be unique and original.) 
5. You’ll only write it when you feel inspired.
   
   Edit: Wanted to add. I did a lot of research by googling things like "Should I include an ketchen with my bed and breakfast" when renovating.. Then when when it came time to creating my listing, I did it in one night. I wasn't even sure if I would use AirBnb or Vrbo, and had no experience with either. I created my membership by including email, then created entire listing in one go, and added the photos, that all took about 4 hours and listed it live. By the next morning I had my first reservation, then another and another, and they came pouring in booked out for months without the first review. The listing was a bit long but guest didn't mind. I trimmed it down by 75% but still pretty much the same. The host doesn't have to be perfect, just accurate.) 

[Liv]

@John5097 Looks like you're "the genius"!

It sounds about right, it's not hard to find threads where you're sharing your knowledge to help other hosts 🤓 🏆

It's really interesting to hear about how your hosting journey started. What other sorts of things have you changed with experience?

[John5097]

@Liv  I didn't know we could pick more than one! A lot of them seemed to fit pretty well. Super fun though. Yes, it really is amazing opportunity for anyone to be able to create a listing in a matter of hours. Creating the listing was the easy part. Everyone has a different tool set. No major changes but a lot of adjustments. I really enjoy hosting, so enjoy tying to chime in on other listings here at CC as I wish I had more of my own.  As far as any changes. Let's see. I tried including a cook top induction burner. Early on a guest wanted to book a week, which was huge for me, and asked if she could bring her own. I had in the listing not to cook anything greasy, and she said she wanted to cook oat meal and such, so I told her I'd get one and set of cookware for it. As it turned out she had to cancel because of covid. Then had to phase the cook top out as some guest would cook hamburgers the entire time and everything would be covered in grease, so learned its better to get rid of anything that causes stress, as I worried about that more than anything. Also the pull out sleeper didn't hold up so went from allowing 4 guest to 2. I think it helped in my first year allowing 4, but there is more going on with 4 guest instead of 2. I also just got a inquiry yesterday if couple could bring their infant. I really wanted to accommodate them but other parents with baby's didn't dispose of diapers properly, so haven't had time to research that yet. At first I allowed children but had to answer if it suitable for children and I said I had no idea what was suitable for children but they were still welcome. 🙂 Had a lot of families and not a single question about anything. Even the moms with babies would message asking if it was ok, I would be like yeah sure fine, come on. I really liked accommodating everyone, but it was more wear and tear and the pull out sleeper just wasn't holding up to groups of 4. And no one will message when they can't figure something out and just break it, so its much easier just hosting couples, and just have one policy everyone follows. It was fun messaging moms but might not even bother leaving a review after I move half the furniture out to make room for the play pin. BTW I was able to get most of the purple dye out of the sheets, only a tiny trace. For me I have to recognize that I can't overreact to something little. I think a bottle broke in guest suit case at the airport so seemed out of character. I'm still tying to figure out the best way to handle some situations that are borderline, so have been cautious the first year. A few families were really cool and were totally fine with their own air mattresses when the guest before them broke the frame of the pull out sleeper and I wouldn't have time to repair before their check in. Ok sorry for long post!! 🙂 

[Liv]

Oh, there's no need to apologise! @John5097 

It's always great hearing about hosts' experiences, thanks for sharing 😊

It's really nice that you were eager to go above and beyond for accommodating every guest, but it does make perfect sense that it might not be sustainable in the long run. It's good see you're finding a balance! Best of luck on your hosting journey 🏘

[John5097]

@Liv Yes the entire situation from the get go was all about finding a compromise and balance! It's all kind of interesting. I've noticed local start ups address some of the issues I'm encountering that involve sustainability can actually be an opportunity for the right person. Yes, balance has been key to enjoying hosting journey, so thanks for the well wishes!  ⭐

[Melodie-And-John0]

Fun thread @Liv ! 

 1-   Im Definitely a CDB to begin the day (5AM or earlier, no alarm needed), a quick check of the news and CC and Im off to the races, time to talk little and do much!!!!!   

2-  Stuff happens and you can't sweat it too much so I guess that makes me a BA when it comes to a little damage that a guest didn't mean to create, most things can be repaired quicker than it takes to worry and report to the mothership, bitchen, pissin and moaning aint fixin anything.   

3-  a CB for sure when it comes to vacationing, vacations to somewhere are scary and fraught with too many possible challenges and should be avoided at all costs!  Every day is a work day, some are just different work than others.   Fixing, building and other constructing is the fun that enriches my on days and most of my off ones as well.  The U tube vids are prep and quick study for things I have no clue how to do that I need to do not just things and stuff in general.     

4-   BD when it comes to superhost, memorialize it with a cool project but I dont wanna just get it once, need get it always and make it better every time!   Thats harder to do as the days go by but little things matter and my mantra will never be "This is the way we always do things here", thats a stagnation death blow I dont wish to reach.  

5-   Last but not least, Im BD on 5,  Preparing the space to make its form  presentable and functional is higher priority than getting the online listing perfect, tweaking the written details will come over time between projects that actually improve the guests stay!  That said, I tweak or change our listings weekly and sometimes daily.  Im not shy about stealing other hosts ideas and using them, i play search games often to see whats hitting and what isnt, thats a great rainy day thing to do and I try to sneak it in at least weekly.

Looks like I'm a BCD 'er ,  let me explain-

One of my favorite expressions is "There are no problems, Only solutions.  It only becomes a problem when you run out of solutions."  My Greek name if I had one would be  "Solutious", fixing broken things and situations is my #1 talent, fixing people on the other hand is James Taylors job not mine (see handyman song), so #1 first and always, Im a B.   My mom is/ was my inspiration, she was never limited by, "I don't know how to do something".  She was widowed young with 3 young kids and a 200 year old 12 room home was in bad shape.  She and we  would gut 2 or 3 rooms every summer and rebuild them from scratch.   Even before utube, she would figure out how to do it and get it done by asking pro friends and neighbors to tell her how to do it.     

Someone once told me "Your so cheap you wouldn't pay a dime to watch Christ ride a Tricycle", thats probably true when it comes to me and DIY, why pay someone else to do what I can do for free?  So my second objective is to wear as many hats per day as necessary which seems to fall into the C Zone.  I try very hard not to wear any two at once, multi tasking with saws or hammers is dangerous and inadvisable!   Drills and spills require two different JR's, one is John the Carpenter, the other is Johnny the Custodian, doing them both at once creates undesirable outcomes too often.  

Lastly, Im a modified D when it comes to figuring stuff out, not brilliant for sure but creative and driven to find out how to do something Ive never done or better everything I do every time I do it.   I find most everything I do has room for improvement and the answers are all out there as to how to do that even if I'm not actually all that smart or educated.   

What I have found as an older person that spends very little time in a Barcalounger and isnt wealthy with cash (only practical knowledge ), life experiences are my greatest and most relevant Items in my Tool box and Larder, most of which Ive leaned from do-ers not teachers.  Me in a nut shell, Stay well, JR 

[Liv]

@Melodie-And-John0 That's such a beautiful take on "the fixer upper" and a lovely description of you as a host! 

I really like your solution focused approach and your view on the value of being hands-on. It really must be amazing feeling independent and able to face anything. 

Thank you so much for playing, it's really nice getting to know you a bit better 😊

[Melodie-And-John0]

Thanks @Liv , I didn't start out knowing how to DIY, it has been a lifetime project to learn how to do these things.  You can do it too, start small and build on it slowly, all the sudden, you turn aground and you are the one telling folks how to get things done!   JR

[Liv]

That's a great reminder, @Melodie-And-John0! It's always good to remember that everything is a process and takes time👌