I live in a private living area in my basement when I book the first floor on AirBnb. So I can tell for the most part if someone is in the space due to the hard wood floors. The pipes run thru a couple of the rooms, so I can hear if the water running . If I'm in the mechanical room, I can also hear the water meter ticking.
At 7:10, I noticed the water was running. After 45 minutes, I sent this message via the web site: "Sorry to bother you, but I think maybe the toilet is running or did not shut off. Haven't had any problems myself with it ... it doesn't sound like the shower. Not sure if anyone is up there or whether I should check on it. "
I waited another 10-15 minutes, thinking I could have a tub overflowing or high water bills, and then called the guest. She said it was probably her son taking a shower. I but its been over 45 mintues! She said, Oh, he usually takes at least an hour shower. I kind of stuttered and said well ok ....
The parents arrived home after 2 hours. I knocked on the front door because the water was still running. The son answered and I said the water has been running non-stop for 2 hours now and asked if the toilet was left running or other water faucets. He said he just got out of the shower and flushed the toilet and that the water should shut off in a few minutes.
Note that I could hear footsteps so he must of have been getting in and out of the shower for the 2 hour period--but left the water (hot water) running !!!!!!!!!!!
Do I have to spell out everything in my house manual?????? I can't imagine, paying or not-- a guest in my home would think it was OK to run hot water in the shower for 2 hours or more (let alone more than 20 mintues). I wasn't really happy about my good bath towels left on kitchen floor with dog hair, grass, dirt, and lint from the floor all over them.
So, since all of this wasn't in the hosue rules, I did not feel that I could fairly mentioned this instance in the reviews. I really think my rules and lisitng are way too long, but I've got to CYA becuase ...
What really annoys me is guests so leave bad reviews about info that is clearly stated in my listings
*expecting to use the porch (I give them 900 sq ft full 1st floor \2 bdrs for $45 base per night). Maybe I should move out of the basement and live in the garage (no heat or indoor plumbing)
*complaints about 2x2 area of newly purchase wall decor in the corner of the dining room -- gave 2 stars for cleaning when the whole house was spotless. (the guest's own house rents for $1200 a night and no space closets full, fridge top full of stuff, and photos will her wall decor on the floor and under futons). The child's lost beannie bag so messaged me. I looked everywhere, moved beds, pulled out drawers, looked in every cabinet, etc. and let her know it was not here. She waited 2 days and asked for the 2nd search, repeated the same search and this time including pulling everything out of my linnen closet. When she knew for sure I could not find it, she went for the jugular on the private comments and gave very few stars for each other category. Made comments about the owner living in the home and "moving thru the space" (open side door, open basement door walk 2 ft, close basement door). She so did not read the listing (mentioned 4x's), view the 2 pics with the owner entrance and gave bad reviews under amenenties . So I've now bought and hung bi-fold doors on the kitchen wall and moved a large oak storage cabinet to block the dining room doorway. Moved the decorations to the dining room closet, not much room left.
* A 2 night guest complained there was no washer and dryer (not checked under amenities). The listing reads to get to the w/d you have to go thru my bedroom (the finished room at the bottom of the stars) to get to the mechanical room.
*A 1 night guest put in 1 guest, but was bringing his girlfriend. I caught him and sent thru the adjustment. Pissed him off, gave all bad stars and commented that it would have cost him less to go to a motel. ($60 total, $30 apiece for 900 sq ft., 2 bdrs, LR, DR, BA, etc.....)
*I could go on all night.....I keep spending more $ everytime a guest finds something to nit-pick about...
Sigh .... I just wish guests were as forgiving as I am. In the meantime, I'm in living in fear the nasty gram message I get from AirBnb threatening that I'd better start getting better reviews or they'll pull my listings.....
