30 day booking

Answered!
Yen680
Level 2
San Antonio, TX

30 day booking

Hello,

This is my first time hosting on Airbnb. I restricted booking to only experienced guests. However, I got advices from the super host that I can rent to someone who has no experience but has referral from a good experience guest. This guest has referral from her dad (2 good reviews in 3 years). So I let her book my place for 30 days. 
After 2 week stay I found out she has a weird schedule (work till 2-3 am) at the retailed store as per what she said. Most of her story does not match and I started developing bad vibes. My HOA required lease agreement for 30 day stay so I asked her to sign the lease to comply with my HOA. She did. Then 1 day later I saw on the camera she was walking backward against the camera. She told me she just signed an apt lease in another city. So I offered to help to refund the remaining stay if she want to move out early but she refused to take it and also want to ship something to my house even though she said someone will help her move this weekend. Am very nervous about this guest and what should I do.  Not sure how the verification process looks like on Airbnb as I have never seen her ID. Thank you and appreciate your input and experience.

Top Answer
Helen744
Level 10
Victoria, Australia

@Yen680 "bad vibes' means nothing . If you mean you have become uncomfortable then I understand . Its important that you have ID from both Airbnb and of your own accord.It is probably a good idea for new hosts to avoid month long stays initially . A 'referral ' from a 'super guest ' is not a thing. Do not allow post to come to your home . Ask the guest to have the delivery to the local post office in future.This would require ID of course.I think Airbnb should make month long stays a separate category with extra 'guest ' requirements as often 'new hosts ' are targeted and find themselves out of their depth , having basically lost control of their homes with little understanding why or how to remedy or prevent it. This is sometimes benign and sometimes not. do you know the date of the lease that your guest has signed . If she does not cancel then she may be intending to stay until the end of the lease with you and may see no reason to let you know. I suggest you send another message via the app or speak to the guest directly via mobile using the phone number provided to say ' I may have misunderstood our previous conversation and wishing to have a chat with you . Please return this call as soon as possible.It is important to communicate , communicate communicate with your guests, most importantly before they arrive and before they suddenly up and leave during a stay . Please double up on the message app with all messages. do you have a co host to assist you . i do reccomend it as sometimes one person can take over a situation with dealing with a guest and achieve a better result and understanding.I think you really do need to improve your security  as per ID and early questions to your guests and your house rules as regards ID .i am not sure the issue about the guest walking backwards. ?  H

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1 Reply 1
Helen744
Level 10
Victoria, Australia

@Yen680 "bad vibes' means nothing . If you mean you have become uncomfortable then I understand . Its important that you have ID from both Airbnb and of your own accord.It is probably a good idea for new hosts to avoid month long stays initially . A 'referral ' from a 'super guest ' is not a thing. Do not allow post to come to your home . Ask the guest to have the delivery to the local post office in future.This would require ID of course.I think Airbnb should make month long stays a separate category with extra 'guest ' requirements as often 'new hosts ' are targeted and find themselves out of their depth , having basically lost control of their homes with little understanding why or how to remedy or prevent it. This is sometimes benign and sometimes not. do you know the date of the lease that your guest has signed . If she does not cancel then she may be intending to stay until the end of the lease with you and may see no reason to let you know. I suggest you send another message via the app or speak to the guest directly via mobile using the phone number provided to say ' I may have misunderstood our previous conversation and wishing to have a chat with you . Please return this call as soon as possible.It is important to communicate , communicate communicate with your guests, most importantly before they arrive and before they suddenly up and leave during a stay . Please double up on the message app with all messages. do you have a co host to assist you . i do reccomend it as sometimes one person can take over a situation with dealing with a guest and achieve a better result and understanding.I think you really do need to improve your security  as per ID and early questions to your guests and your house rules as regards ID .i am not sure the issue about the guest walking backwards. ?  H