I beg your pardon Heather, I appreciate constructive criticism from experienced hosts but not an overly harsh judgement based on ignorance of the facts, my and my guests' expectations and my personal situation.
I object to you referring to my comment as childish, my approach to hosting is just the same as if I was meeting someone for the first time for a friendship, ie find that initially at least, we get on and then that in fact they don't like me and stab me in the back. Ie, just as I expect respect from the guest/s they will get it from me.
My description of my place is at least accurate, it is older and has signs of wear and tear and I'm having to let people know this just in case they arrive and expect a new place in pristine condition. If they want a Hilton Hotel room for $25/night they're not going to get it. Simple as that.
As far as the carpet goes, not that it's any of your business, I'm having it professionally cleaned soon as I am disgusted with it's condition at the very least. The fact that the previous occupants obviously never looked after it (it appeared that whenever they had a spill they didn't bother cleaning it up) is the result and I'm stuck with it. Some of the stains are possibly decades old and won't come out. I know as I used to do the job. How dare you make a judgement on me replacing it, you don't know my financial situation. I will replace it when I can afford to. It is at least vacuumed regularly and apart from one edge where it is frayed where the beading is due to high traffic volumes, has no holes, etc which may prove a safety risk.
My lights ARE LED but the fact still remains that I was brought up to respect the utilities' paying person of the household and the environment in regard to not wasting energy. It doesn't matter whether the lights, etc are old or not and how much energy they use it is pure common sense and courtesy to switch something off if it is not needed except where it needs to be on for safety/security reasons or for the likes of a fridge/freezer that obviously must be left on.
I expect that a guest will treat my place with respect just as I give it to them however I can. Even motel operators or similar will expect that their guests will do the same with their rooms, ie minimise the risk of damage and loss.
I'm not going to actively compare my place with others of a similar price, don't see that it's necessary. Each property is individual (same with the guest) and should be accepted as such except where these are unreasonable. To please every guest every time is impossible. I just get sick of doing my best to provide a clean and comfortable place for them to stay only for it to be judged because it's not perfect.
I am in this caper to provide a little bit of income on the side, I will make improvements etc for ME as and when I can afford to. Guests will obviously benefit from same eventually and once I start doing this my rate will go up I can guarantee that.