As a guest, You may hate me.

[Paul154]

I just had a 4 day vacation in the wonderful Oakland area. Long nature walks, swimming everyday, delicious food. I now feel prepared for the high season onslaught. I also learned a lot about guests, as I was one. It is really really hard to be a good guest.

My first stay was isolated, so I went to the grocery store before arriving. As I was putting my food into the refrigerator, I asked my hosts for permission. (Not before) It was then I realized that I did not know if kitchen use was allowed! I really did not read the listing. Fortunately, it was allowed. As they had a lovely patio, I asked if I could use it AS I was positioning their lounge chair. I am so independent, it never occurs to me to ask someone if I can do something in their house. I'm not being rude, I don't want to bother my hosts with mundane trivialities. Growing up, we learned "Get it yourself" I also, don't like being stuck in my bedroom. I do like to go the the living room and read or lounge on the patio. But I do feel that I may be invading the hosts' space. After making my 2nd reservation, I realized I DO NOT READ the listing! I look at price, location and some pictures. Then I buy. 

As a host, I will try to simplify my listing more. Less is more.  I will also try to give me guests more space, and to specify common area usage, so they feel more comfortable using. Hosts should be guests more often.

[Sarah977]

@Christine-And-Jacinta0   I actually don't mind cleaning the guest space at all, I have my routine down. What is hard for me is that my guests have full use of the kitchen, and I've been lucky in that they have all been great about cleaning up after themselves there. But when I'm alone, I tend to let dirty dishes pile up for a day and a half, don't keep the floor perfectly swept or washed, the shelves might get dusty and there might be a couple dead bugs or spider webs in the corners (here in the tropics dust and bugs are a constant cleaning chore), and don't immediately wipe up every spill on the stovetop, although I do always keep the counters clean and no food left out. So when I have guests, I have to change my normal lackadaisical kitchen habits and make sure it's all spotless all the time. 

I actually love it when it's all clean, I'm just super busy and am able to turn a blind eye to it when I don't have a guest in the house.

[Robin4]

@Christine-And-Jacinta0

Hi Chris and Jacinta and welcome to the Community Centre. 

These 'levels' that you talk about just mean there are a good few of us here who need to find something better to do with their time! The levels do not pertain to expertise or knowledge. They simply relate to activity here on the CC. You will note that on your first post you were classified as a level 1! You are now a level 2...by the time you get to 65-70 posts you will be classified as a level 10. That doesn't mean you know anything, it just means you now how to use a computer keyboard somewhat competently!

I was also offered the oportunity to move into the 'Select' program as it was called last year, but I declined the invitation. I host in an old cottage into which I have built as much homely character as possible and I felt that this program would bring to me a class of guest who would be more demanding and harder to satisfy so I am happy with where being a Superhost has taken me...I am now fully booked each month.

I would however like to hear from hosts who have taken part in this Plus scheme and compare what they are getting now with what they got previously!

All the best girls.

Cheers.....Rob

[Christine-And-Jacinta0]

Thankyou Rob for your answer which satisfied my curiosity 😊. 

It's probably a bit too early to say whether the Plus category is making a difference to bookings as we have always had good bookings.  One thing I don't like  is that you are restricted to using only the Airbnb photographer's photos  and cannot add your own and frankly I believe my own were better and more homely.

Christine 

[Jenny254]

Hi from ‘downunder’!  I’ve been a host for three years - it’s really annoying if guests don’t understand what they hav booked - MANY DONT READ THE DESCRIPTIONS of location etc etc.  also - surely you’d be booking either a private room OR an apartment. Private room usually, means just that - so access to kitchen facilities etc may not be included.  It’s really annoying if guests leave a negative remark re location or facilities when it’s clearly stated in the description.  I’ve been a guest as well,and I know what to look out for.

[J-Renato0]

@Paul154

It would be very interisting if you booked a @Zacharias 's listing 🙂

It would render a great story !!! 🙂

You know Zachary is back in the forum!

[Paul154]

I would love to stay at Zacharia's place. He is a formiable competitor from whom I would love to learn his tricks. His place is so neat and clean, but his prices are budget. 

How does he do it?

[Christine1]

@Paul154

This is a great posting Paul and a timely reminder to us all about the pressures of the review system on both guests & hosts.  

Some of my guests go out of their way to clean and tidy and leave everything immaculate. Some realise what's available and others have not checked, they misunderstood or forgot. 

But if guests were sincere & honest,  & behaved as they thought was appropriate & expected. If they demonstrated respect and appreciation, then  I consider they have made a 5 star effort. Surely that's enough to cover reasonable expectations by hosts and to safely & credibly recommend guests to future hosts.

Mostly,  I get the same consideration from my guests. 

Sadly I was recently heavily marked down by a travel professional who doesn't normally deal with Airbnb.  In the end after some copy and paste reminders and links to the information and services which were promised, provided & available the guest acknowledged they had been very remiss in their conduct, & their ratings were reflective of their own neglect; rather than mine.

I know I am not alone in this experience due to the letters from other hosts.

I am now nervous of future travel &  tourism professionals in case of a repeat. 

Omissions by guests, I put down to experience, I will learn from them & move on.

However as other hosts have indicated the punitive & offensive auto emails and down grades subsequently sent by Airbnb really stung. They had the same effect as being accused and reprimanded by an inline manager on the basis of an unproven & baseless accusation. Definitely not best practice on the part of Airbnb, & damaging to loyalty & trust.

Perhaps Airbnb can implement a "report this review button" for Hosts to challenge a review or rating in a more efficient manner than is currently available. Like the review system in tennis. Limited at a %  or pa basis but activated by a button. After all, if a host has correspondence from a guest acknowledging that their ratings or review was based on ignorance or error then it should be easier to mitigate the effect of this on the host.

Would it be so wrong for an ethical adjustment to be made? And can't it be made a whole lot easier to address statistical anomalies with evidence based challenges. 

Thanks @Paul154 for a 5 star posting.

[Marian80]

Oh dear God...... I am new to this chat area & on reading poor Christine’s post, (and other previous replies) I nearly want to shut down my listing!! The generalised back-lash that comes from Airbnb is very dictatorial & allows no real defense  on our behalf. I still struggle with their mobile site & had a ding-dong with the call centre on Friday over a non responsive calendar ( they blamed my new phone & poor reception!! It’s been the same for the past 3 years!!). 

It seems the cogs that run this huge conglomerate are just minions who have to do it their way or no way. 

I do believe I have been very lucky (bar a few fixable guest disasters) with my old house in the west of Ireland where it rains occasionally & gets the odd wood-louse inside!! (Honestly, they leave comments about the weather too).

Thank-you for being here to question & vent. 

Marian. 

[Paul154]

Follow-up to my Oakland stay.

As a guest, I was very suprised at the review is was asked to leave.

Stars are applied to all sub-categories like cleanliness, accuracy, location...

However stars are not applied to the most important question "Over-all how was your stay"

The middle grade was something like "My stay was like I expected"

The 4th grade was "My stay was better than expected"

The top grade was "My stay exceeded my expectations"

This wording is problematic. I would be very happy with "My stay was as I expected". It means my listing was 100% accurate and I have met my guests' expectations.

Unfortunately,  the middle grade is not good enough for Airbnb 😞

[Sarah977]

@Paul154  Actually, the 4th grade is not good enough for hosts. As of July, they are saying that any host with below 4.7 average will be delisted.

How by the furthest stretch of illogic can Airbnb tell guests that 4*s means "My stay was better than expected" and then turn around and delist hosts for that? It's beyond comprehension.

[Kathleen285]

By saying delisted you be taken off Airbnb?

[Sarah977]

@Kathleen285    Yes, exactly.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Sarah977where is this information about delisting all hosts bellow 4,7  writen?

[Sarah977]

@Branka-and-Silvia0  I've been reading it here on this forum. That anything below 4.8 means we'll lose Superhost status and below 4.7 will suspend a listing. Maybe not totally delisted, but warned and maybe listing suspended for awhile.  Search the thread "Is 4.7 the new minimum?"

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

Hehe @Paul154 if you would book our place without reading you could stay without your free parking place and would have to wait for our arrival to check you in about an hour. And you would lose a chocolate 🙂 You would not be the first 😉