Angry drunken guest ranting about politics, how should I review?

[Kelly---Jack0]

We had a guest show up late last night pretty tipsy (she was in town hosting a wine tasting event). Within a few minutes of her arrival she cracked a beer, sat on our couch and started ranting about politics and every topic from gun violence and abortion, to dark money and lobbyists. We avoided her inquiries and tried to remain neutral but she became pretty hostile and demanded to know where we get our news. I informed her that we prefer the local news and that I had a mid-term in the morning and was going to bed.

It was an awful experience but I’m not sure how much of this I should include in her review. 

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Kelly---Jack0 

I actually agree with @Ann72 - $37/night is definitely way too low..... if doubling it makes you nervous, at least bring it up to $50/night and especially for 1-nighters don't offer any snacks or foods or "special" amenities - just the bare bone basics and 1~2 bottles of water 🙂 And if there is a "high-season" you should definitely keep you calendar updated and change to a 2 night min and up your prices accordingly. 

Also, the amenities that attract 1-nighers vs. guests staying for more than 3 nights is very different so you should adjust what you offer, how it is offered so that it is more tailored to the type of guests you want to attract. 

Right now, although you've listed that you're near Disney and other attractions, the fact that you are close to the airport leaves a very strong impression and I think this may be a big reason why you get so many 1-nighters. (maybe delete airport from you listing title?) You could also tweak your description a bit so that you are emphasizing what a great location you are to set up base and expore the area for several days. 

[Kelly---Jack0]

See response below. We are not normally $37/night. Our rate fluctuates between $45-65. 

[Kelly---Jack0]

Hi Ann, you’re actually mistaken. I’m guessing you are basing that off of today’s rate which I lowered manually this afternoon  because it’s the first day we have not booked since we started doing this several months ago. I recently bumped our rates up to $45/night and we have been getting last minute bookings the night before and morning of so I think we are pushing it at that rate, especially being it’s spring break peak season. Out of curiosity I upped the last half of April and all of May to $65 a night about 3 weeks ago and have not booked a single night at that rate. I don’t think that rate will sell in our area for what we offer, however I have been experimenting with it to see how far we can go. Less bookings with better quality people for more money does sound great and is definitely the goal! 

[Ann72]

You're right, @Kelly---Jack0, I just looked without any dates so it will show your minimum.  Sorry that raising your rates hasn't worked so far; it's always worked for me, that's why I suggested it.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Kelly---Jack0 

Imo, you should also look at prices of your competition outside of Airbnb such as local bed & breakfasts, motels or budget hotels. 

In my case, I always check what it would cost people to stay at dorm rooms, guest houses, and homestays. When I emphasize something about my home I make sure it's something positive that the guest will not be able to have if they were to stay at a dorm, a guest house or a homestay. 

[Ben551]

Ahhh the joys of an argumentative guest...

One of my in-laws, an English bloke, is very much like this. His version of an enjoyable interaction with strangers is to start an all out verbal war. Wife and I have actually taken bets on how many minutes will pass, when he comes to stay, before he delivers his first “bait and hook” attempt at starting a verbal fight. He enjoys it, it’s sport for him. He also lives alone so (we think) stores these things up and feels starved for people to verbally spar with.  

Half the stuff he says, he doesn’t agree with himself. He only says it because he knows it will cause a reaction. “How awesome is [insert name of a hated international leader]” or “Scientists know global warming is a complete myth” or “it’s been proven that smoking doesn’t cause cancer”...

We call this ‘bait and hook’. He picks something that is very, very hard not to react to. 

My wife, however, is brilliant at this game. Never play poker with her, she can do this thing where she turns her face into a welding mask, then say “aha”... “right”...”mmmm”... “no idea”... for hours.  I just go somewhere in my own head space where “this guy doesn’t matter” is on repeat.

These types of people are more common than you think. At the end of the day, you don’t have to like your guests. Some will be rude or have different views and behaviours than you. As long as they pay, respect your place, leave clean and tidy and on time... you can equip yourself with some skills to deal with the rest, without it feeling like work.

[Natalie145]

I would have been more concerned about the substance abuse.

That leads to breakage, spillage, and can lead to even more issues - trip and falls (liability) and more.

Let sleeping dogs lie, give a neutral review, and do not rent to her ever again.

I once paid a drunk couple their full security deposit (before airbnb) just to get rid of them, and to get off their radar.  Cost me a lot financially, but did not cost me my reputation.

[Anonymous]

@Natalie145  This is quite a difficult tack to take, especially seeing as how one person's moderation is another's excess. Hosts are well within their rights to require that guests not consume alcohol or drugs in the property, but it's neither possible nor desirable to make such demands of what adult guests do during their time out of the house.

There is certainly cause to terminate a booking and/or leave a negative review if a guest's behavior is destructive, dangerous, or in violation of house rules. But it would be pretty unethical to pre-emptively penalize someone merely because they happen to appear to be under the influence of substances.  Once again, it's the behavior that is the issue and not the substances we believe to have precipitated it.