Cancellations

[LeighAnn2]

I recently posted a new property. I’m a long time host. I noticed the cancellation policy has changed dramatically. I have a very narrow window for bookings and I previously had strict cancelations. I advise guests to purchase trip insurance. I learned the new policy I selected is not strict. I had a guest cancel last minute during prime season. I highly doubt I will get a new booking. 

I am very careful with accepting guests. I want committed guests. It turns out that this guest simply held her spot- my listing thus blocked on my calendar for over 3 months—until the last possible moment and then canceled. She had no real intention of following through. She must likely booked multiple properties. She fooled me. To make matters worse, she asked me for a ton of area information and suggestions. She inquired about a few items just before her last day to cancel. Then, suddenly she canceled without even a word of explanation or apology.  I’m very fed up with Airbnb. If a host cancels, we get a mark on our history. Big black mark. I never cancel. If a guest cancels, they get nothing. How do you warn other hosts to these sorts of bad actors? I’m happy to share her info. Do not accept a booking from **. I plan to complain to Airbnb and insist that cancelations show up on a guest’s statistics. I won’t accept a guest that cancels last minute. Fair warning to others about this woman. 

**[Name hidden due to privacy concerns - Community Center Guidelines]

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@LeighAnn2 Airbnb's only culpability here is that they default the cancellation policy to Flexible. You need to check everything on your listing and change it to Strict if that is what you want.

Jeanette will not have made multiple bookings as that would stop her getting a refund. What she will have done is hold your place and then see if anything cheaper/better available nearer the time. Given the over supply of property at present I think this will happen more and more often to people with Flexible cancellation policies.

[LeighAnn2]

Yes. I’m aware now and I changed my cancelation policy. Airbnb had recently changed their policies and the new options were unclear so I thought I had a strict setting in my listing. In fact, strict is no longer non-refundable. The true non/refundable option costs 10% extra. Airbnb is loosening policies to the detriment of hosts and  to the benefit of themselves in my opinion. 

I screen my guests pretty well and in no way did Jeanette indicate she was not fully committed to the rental. Had I known, (had she been honest), I never would have accepted her reservation. She admitted as much to me. 

I’ve changed my settings snd fingers crossed that this does not happen for the rest of my reservations that were made previously. 

My biggest point is that I think guests should have a cancellation statistic noted in their profile. I review profiles and reviews carefully. I try not to accept people without reviews unless they send me a thorough note to make me feel comfortable. Hosts carry the largest risk. Airbnb should offer more statistics for hosts to more thoroughly evaluate the guest. If Jeanette had a lot of cancellations in the past, and this was revealed to me at the outset, I could have avoided her. My guess this is something she does a lot based on her response and behavior. 

At any rate, I hope other hosts do not go though this experience with her. This woman has 0 consideration for hosts. 

Btw, I’m considering listing with a local agency with a long list of repeat clients. Traditional weekly rental leases are non refundable and are a better option for me to ensure committed guests. Plus, the guests are established guests that return to our area repeatedly.  I will not make quite as much, but the headache of managing and maintaining the property is removed from me. I’m a long time Superhost, but I’ve noticed a change in guest’s attitudes. The personal connection and the manners that used to go along with having people stay in your home, is disappearing.