Do you accept or decline first time Airbnb guests?

[TracieandJason0]

I tend to see the best in people and I think the same is true with other Airbnb hosts. I mean who else could open up their homes to total strangers?

I currently have a first time guest who is very very nice! But so many problems. Some first time airbnb guests forget that I am not a 24/7 concierge and unless it's an emergency, anything they have questions about or need help with should be communicated with the host with advance notice whenever possible or otherwise you just gotta wait. I've had to drive from far away late at night twice to help her. I've had to remind her of my house rules on different occasions. She's been very agreeable to resolution charges and is apologetic but I think she is maybe a bit inconsiderate and this type of understanding comes with more airbnb use. I've recommended to her that for future bookings, she should make sure her host is close by and can easily come help her.

I don't know if maybe it could also be my own naivety. It's been a learning curve for me and I've realized I need to stop accepting reservations for first time airbnb users. My hosting style is pretty hands off and my house is set up to be super guest friendly and you really don't even need me there. I've had plenty of great first time guests but the rest are not worth the headache. Anyways I think it's important to recognize if a guest's livestyle and manners fits with your hosting style or not. It's not to be discriminatory but just to ensure a good experience for both parties. 

[Sarah977]

@Branka-and-Silvia0  Another non-survivor of the end-game. The kind of person who manages to capsize the lifeboat when everyone else is working together to make sure everyone is safe, because they just can't look around and understand the program:-)

[Zappa0]

The only upside to some annoying guests is that we get to joke which ones will not survive the zombie apocalypse 😉

[Janet440]

I must be lucky but I’ve had no problems with first timers! I would think hosts would be great—hard to imagine someone not being considerate when they know what is appreciated! I text with guests versus calling and I think perhaps this keeps it from being less intrusive or too frequent. I ask that they text me when the arrive and get into the house and just to let me know that everything  is to their satisfaction. Most questions are dealt with then and I usually don’t get another text until they leave— at which time I remind them of the AC setting and other check out directions. 

[Gary382]

Brought an overnight guest....  To a shared house?  Crossing the line there.  If you have a rule against that then you should enforce it, if you do not have a rule against it then you should.  I would have either kicked out the 2nd person or made her pay my $300 extra guest charge.  Yes, $300 because I have a limit for a reason and would not accept over the limit, so anyone who gets the extra guest charge is trying to pull one over on me.

Gary

[Sarah977]

Well, @Letti0 , I'm glad you finally disclosed this gross oversight of not providing Vanilla Caramel coffee. Just crossed you off my wish list, as this would totally RUIN my stay 🙂

[Letti0]

@Sarah977  I did provide it, she just couldn't figure out how to put it into the machine. She ruined like 5 before calling. I have a tray under the machine that holds 42 capsules that we mix up with the various flavors. So you can still come 😉

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CFTOXYI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Lidia23]

my best reviews are from other superhost. they are always 5 star review. so I am very happy to host them.

I host first time airbnb guests. I avoid to host them only when they book the same day of arrival. I fear it!!!

Last week I had a last minute booking...after 20 minutes from accepting them they were by me! I accepted  them only because they had many reviews....and they were really very nice and prolunged their stay other days.

I cannot understand the last 'hour' booking. it is something that I fear. what do you think about it?

[TracieandJason0]

@Lidia23 I avoid last minute bookings too! It was tanking my reservation acceptance % so I just blocked each reservation the night before and after to avoid it altogether. I am not sure why exactly... maybe all the Airbnb horror stories I've read. I think last minute reservations are more high risk. Why are they booking so last minute? Did they just get kicked out of a different Airbnb? If they're from the same city, did they get kicked out of their apartment? If it's a holiday, are they just trying to last minute party? Of course there are exceptions to this when they have great reviews and tell me their reasons for traveling, but if not I think of all these fears and never accept!

[Zappa0]

Last minutes tend to be the worst. They are on their way down from the big city and searching for cheap hotels. When theu cant find them, they fire off requests to airbnb hosts to fish for a place without reading. "When I ask Are you aware you to kayak to your accommodations?" They usually drop off. 

I put a cut off time on mine since it has become such a headache. 

[Janet440]

I have a two day notice requirement — I can’t get to the beachhouse that often and it works.

[Sandra126]

I accept first timers all the time. Before Airbnb existed I accepted all and sundry without any kind of refs, so this is no different. Most guests are outstanding.

[Niel3]

I accept bookings from anyone, their giving me money to use my spare rooms at the end of the day. 🙂

At least 25% of my bookings to date (in my first year) have been new users and I have not had any issues, similarly no issues hosting other hosts either.

Of the 102 ratings I have received in the last 7 months, 98 have been 5 stars. Four have been 4 stars and all those have come from 'experienced' AirBNB guests & all gave what I would describe as silly reasons such as bedsheet not being cotton cotton, could not work out how to open the bedroom window etc.

[Michael956]

I accept all first timers and have had many of them.  None of them have been problematic.  I think it helps that I live in the home I host so I'm here to answer questions and guide them through the experience.  

[Emilia42]

I actually prefer first time airbnbers. In my experience, the guests who have a good amount of reviews on their profiles are the ones who barley communicate and leave dishes in the sink. From reading your experience with this guest I do not think that her having used Aribnb 5+ times would have changed anything. Some people just require more attention. I make it clear in my welcome message and check in message a few days prior to arrival that I respect and value the guests privacy and I hope they will respect mine. I spend most of my time up the street in my family business and I tell them that if they need anything they can come to me. Many people don’t want to bother me.

[Valerie55]

I accept first-time guests and see that I have a responsibility to introduce them to the Airbnb experience. I also accept hosts. I am competent in being an Ambassador of my hometown. Itreat all my guests pretty much the same. Those willing to engage more, I offer more when I can. I have a room share, not whole house, and I work from home. So I often have time to do an introduction to the the area and provide history. 

For first time guests, I do a few more basic things, but honestly, my listing details who I want as guests: "Uptown elegance Ideal for Visiting Professionals." And if the first question a guest asks is "how far is Bourbon Street?" I usually tell them " a pretty far walk."