We're new hosts, a little more than a month in. So far, we've had good success (or luck). 5 completed bookings so far, all great guests and all have given us 5-star glowing reviews (and vice versa). We'd be happy to have every one of them back. But I know sooner or later the party will be over.
We have a Ring doorbell and we do take a look when the guests check in just to make sure everything looks on the up and up, but that's it. What if things go sideways and we have to make a police report (or file suit, etc.)?
Should we require a photo of the driver's license of the person making the booking, and perhaps the make/model/license number of the vehicle(s) that will be parked on our property? When you check into a hotel this is standard procedure. They are booking the entire house and we have self-check-in with an electronic door lock, so we can't collect that info at check-in.
I know we can't ask for that info prior to booking, but I'm thinking we should say in our house rules that we need this info within a certain number of days after booking or it will be cancelled.
And yes, I understand there are situations that require you to obtain id, but we're not in a condo or HOA, etc. so we're not contractually or legally obligated to collect such information.
I don't feel as property owners that Airbnb gives us any real sort of protection. Certainly, they don't give us any real info about the guests.