Booking Requirements

[Jenny1662]

Hi 

After bad experience with a guest I received great support from Superhost support  but I now  no longer want to accept  guests with no  feedback or previous stays  I would l like to hear the views  of other hosts  on this topic and  last minute booking reuests  from people who show as living in my home town 

Thanks 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Jenny1662 last minute stays from locals can be absolutely fine - We have had a few but the guests have always been upfront as to why they were booking at the last minute. I don't know what happened with you but if you switch off instant book and ask people why they are coming before approving them (or not) I would have thought you would be fine.

[Helen744]

Jenny1662 the last minute checkin for an overnighter is a hazard for everyone. Make checkin time by 6pm in winter and later in summer. Add a three night minimum and make sure you ask for id from all guests and greet them . Problems are caused by the host being 'hands off ' . Most problems including ,'who is in my house ' can be sorted by due diligence and a co host , if you currently do not have one. A professional host does more checking than someone who simply accepts a booking and hands over their home to a stranger.Good Luck ... Maybe get a profile picture because guests want to know who their host is.... H

[Huma0 · Accepted solution]

@Jenny1662 

You used to be able to filter guests for instant bookings and require that they had verified government ID and positive reviews from previous hosts. However, Airbnb took away these filters in their November update.

I would suggest you turn off IB and vet your guests. As them the questions you need to ask to make you feel comfortable, e.g. to tell you a bit about themselves, the purpose of their trip etc. Of course, this will mean that you will end up declining some requests where there are either red flags or the guest is non-responsive, and that will affect your position in the search results (as will turning off IB). However, what is worse, potentially less bookings (depending on the demand for your listing) or problematic guests and potentially bad reviews/ratings?

As for last minute bookings, I don't do them. Sure, they could be fine, but I have heard too many horror stories about it and I want to be able to have some conversation with my guests beforehand, make sure they have read the listing and agree to the house rules. etc. I include an 'Easter Egg' question in the rules that they need to answer before I will accept them. As for hosting locals, well it depends on their reason for booking. 

You don't have to accept last minute bookings. You can just go to your settings and select a minimum notice period. I used to have this at one day but changed it to two. While many guests will have good reasons to book last minute, others are just disorganised and guests are less likely to pay attention to the listing/rules. Other times, they may have been kicked out of another airbnb.

[Ricardo85]

@Huma0 

Could you share with us your 'Easter Egg' question?

Ricardo

[Huma0]

@Ricardo85 

Yes, of course. I ask them to tell me the names of my cats.

I have three of them! So, this serves two purposes. Firstly, it confirms they have read (or at least skimmed through) the rules. Secondly, it means they definitely know I have three cats, in case they miss that in my description and photos (which strangely, a lot of guests used to).

[Ricardo85]

@Huma0 

Thanks for the reply.

In case they don't mention their cats name in the first message, what do you do?

Ricardo

[Huma0]

@Ricardo85 

I respond politely telling them I don't think they have found the full version of the house rules, as there is a question there that they need to answer. 

That usually works. If they still can't find it, I send them directions. The small minority of guests that repeatedly don't get this usually get declined.

[Alexis-and-Julie0]

Hi There -

I have been a Superhost since 2015 (as well as a guest).  I wrote my first-ever bad review about a guest who was a nightmare.  It was honest and accurate.  After 8 months, Will, the guest, must have been declined by a host because of my review, complained to Airbnb, and Airbnb removed the review. 

I understand that Airbnb does not want to lose a paying customer - but Will was NOT a good member of the Airbnb community.  I am very upset that we, as hosts, can no longer trust the process. 

So in summary, I agree with you.  If somebody has no reviews - I am not going to take a chance on them anymore either.  Especially knowing that Airbnb can remove a negative review that would help us make informed decisions. 

[Helen3]

I vet all my guests carefully @Jenny1662 that's the best way to minimise your risk for problem guests.

Would I have accepted a last minute booking from a local - no. But then I don't accept same day bookings and would ask the guest vetting questions before considering their booking.

I would say about 50% of my guests are new to Airbnb and I have had no issues with them.

What's your vetting procedures for ensuring your guests are a good fit?

Is there a reason you didn't leave an honest review about your experience of hosting these bad guests to warn your fellow hosts?