And so it begins, Why are they messaging me so much?

[Kelly149]

I turned the Barn listing back on late last night after being closed since 6/1/2021. I shortened every section of text (no one reads anyway), deleted some pictures, and added a note about how the nearby highway is under construction. The only "rules" are No additional guests and tell me the full names of everyone in the reservation and what brings you to town.

Request only listing, so I wake up this morning to my first Request: 2 Guests, 1 night, "my husband, 4 kids and baby are looking forward to coming to Austin for Valentine's Day". I've now sent her the house rules and have received no less than 4 messages from ABB telling me to HURRY AND ACCEPT THIS REQUEST.

grrrr... this may be a short-lived experiment

[Debra300 · Accepted solution]

@Kelly149, 

I hear you.  We rent our Atlanta apartment only longer-term, and it was unavailable on Airbnb for awhile. Now that the ABB calendar is open again, the poor quality inquiries have resumed.  During the past three days, I've received two inquiries asking for further reduction on the monthly discounted rate, and the following.

Inquirer (joined in 2020, no reviews): My son has relocated to Atlanta and is I need of a rental asap. Is there anyway he could check in tonight? If not, how early could he check in tomorrow?

Me:  Per Airbnb and our policy, reservations can be made only by the person who is staying at the rental: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/427/booking-for-friends-and-family. Your son needs to sign up for Airbnb, and make the reservation inquiry. You cannot make a reservation for someone else. If you do so, your son may not be admitted into the rental, or it will be canceled, and you may not get a full refund.

Inquirer:  I understand. He is driving so I was doing the leg work for him.
Would he be able to check in this evening or would he need to wait till tomorrow?

Me:  We will not be able to host your son. I know that a person has to have their first Airbnb stay at some point, but last minute urgent requests from people who are brand new to the platform (no reviews from prior stays and a sudden need for housing), and have had someone else try to book on their behalf raises too many red flags (responsible adults who have an Airbnb account in good standing can handle these matters for themselves).

Please note that booking an Airbnb is not anonymous like reserving a hotel. Guests are asking to stay in the homes or personal property of their hosts. As a result, guests are vetted to determine their suitability to stay at the host's place.

Inquirer: I understand your concerns. I am just a Mom trying to help her son. I have my own vacation rental business and usually just inquire more about a person circumstance before making judgements but thank you for your time.

(My inner voice that can't type, thankfully): Really, you have your own STR business???  This is quite incredulous since you tried to book for someone else, provided no explanation why you're were doing so, and gave no reason for your son's sudden urgent need for housing.  You still failed to address these concerns when brought to your attention.  If you've always handled your son's affair for him, and done so in this manner, it goes to reason that he's driving around Atlanta homeless.  Bye, Felicia.

[Sarah977]

@Debra300  Love your inner voice message. 🙂

[Kelly149]

@Debra300  Yeah, cause at what point does desperate, entitled & clueless seem appealing?

put your best foot forward and all those normal social cues that are just gone. 

and to @Kendra114 ‘s point, once they’re booked it’s too late so there is a very short leash on how many red flags a guest can display and not get an immediate “no thanks”

again, it’s a missed opportunity for ABB. If I thought I had ANY protection from bad actors, I’d be more flexible. But if it’s the Wild West then the gates are very high. So once again an attitude that was supposed to be “generous” just restricts who we’ll take. 

[Mark116]

@Debra300  LOL, well that was a bullet dodged and then some.  I have no doubt that the son would have rolled up in a car full of giant garbage bags of his stuff that he intended to drag into your house as a result of whatever calamity befell him that he's 'relocating' but has no place to stay 'tonight' or in the future.  Ya know, if something fell through at the last minute [probably not, but being charitable], why not book him a hotel for 1-2 nights, and then give time to try and find a long term rental instead of a hysterical attempt to book something Right Now.  People are crazy.

[Kendra114]

Watch out or you will be accused of “verbally assaulting” someone or “threatening” them like I have been accused of doing when I simply reiterate my rules to the lying guests. 

Airbnb allowed this particular person to even make a review even though he never stayed at my property. I have spent the last 12 hours working on getting his review removed and reporting him and his account so other hosts don’t have to experience this. It is still ongoing but at least I got the review removed.