Guest Red Flags - Tips for New Airbnb Hosts:

[Jo191]

Hi Airbnb Community!

In the two years that I've hosted with Airbnb, I've had my share of nightmare guests. When I started hosting, I had zero experience, and quickly learned that Airbnb has no real way of pre-verifying if a guest is going to be good or bad. Airbnb provides a Name, maybe Photo, maybe Verification, and maybe some reviews, but it's really not enough.

Now that I've had a little more than 80 reservations with +100 guests, I learned that there was a common thread linking all my bad guest experiences. These "red flags" had been present the whole or presented themselves quite early in the process. Some of these are obvious, but some are less so, but each one of them is a strict 100% dealbreaker, do not pass go do not collect $200.  I'll decline and refer them to a local hotel or bed and breakfast. Because often enough, what they really want is a hotel but at airbnb prices. 

Obvious Deal Breakers:

1. No Reviews

2. No Picture

3. No Verification

4. Bad Review(s)

Additional Deal Breakers:

5. Asks for a discount

6. Asks to for an early check in and/or late check out/hold luggage, etc

7. Asks to bring more than the maximum guests

8. It becomes clear they have not read the house rules

How have you guys selected guests in the past? Has it changed? Do you guys have any deal breakers that have really helped?

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Julie1315

I personally do not accept locals.

[Julie1315]

Yeah seems like an odd concept unless you are using the house for something you don’t want to use your own home for

[Ange2]

@Julie1315    I have accepted locals, with some trepidation and questions. They have always been people who have roommates and want some private time and space with family member or partner and all have been good experiences.  But I would be more leery if I did not live here.

[Julie1315]

Ty yes I hate to be a skeptic but gut feelings are hard to beat. Don’t like a request to lower prices right out of the shoot/ makes you feel like they are group on shoppers .

[Summer64]

I accepted a local....he was using my house to cheat on his wife. I'm not accepting locals anymore.

[Rachel0]

@Julie1315 Warning bells  - local, wants a discount and you are suspicious of her photo.  It would be pointless to put yourself into a sitution where you feel uncomfortable so I would politely decline.  You have a lovely place and will get better bookings.

[Julie1315]

ty for your response and reminding me I am not competing with local hotels - I have put this young lady off and will decline-I did immediately refuse a lower rate and now I see air Bnb is pushing pushing pushing just for any booking and marking you down for not jumping certain hoops / I do think a lot of their advice is good - do you also list on other sites? I am looking into Home away from home

[Ginni0]

@Julie0, Airbnb does suggest lower rates, but I use rates that are comfortable for me, regardless of the suggestions.  I am on Home Away as well.   (Home Away isn't nearly as pushy, in my experience so far) I have bookings from both!  I have to say that MANY inquiries ask for discounts.  I already discount for weekly and monthly, if they ask for further, I respectfully decline.   I don't think non host travelers understand the costs associated with hosting.  Some seem to have the perception that it is just a space in your home.  They don't stop to consider you might be giving up something in order to be home to greet people, hot water, electric, etc.

[Helen427]

@Julie0

Perhaps she needs a safe house because her marriage isn't working out, or a family member / friend is visiting the area and she doesn't have a room at her house to have them stay..

[Mary-and-Col0]

The guests that pay the least are usually the most demanding,  however we have had delightful guests so far and all left property spotless. We always check out reviews first before accepting a guest, and can be stressful at  times but in most cases have been very happy.  

About picture, you will recognise your guest when they arrive also look at the eyes this tells you if they are a psychopath. If no picture they have something to hide and do not want to be recognised. Warning bells.

[Carole155]

If I made someone with no reviews be a dealbreaker, I would not have many bookings.  Most of my bookings are first timers and I they come away with a great impression of Airbnb.   I also often have people ask for an early/late check out, and I am lucky that I can usually oblige.  The most frustrating thing for me is that I think you can never really know who the "bad" guests are.  Every guest to me is a gamble, and other than a few slobs, my experiences have been good.  (Knock on some wood now.)

[Michael-And-Lynne0]

I appreciate your thoughtfullness in sharing your experience and tips with me and others.

We are brand new and have had one set of great guests and a family of slobs. Both sets had great reviews!

The 'disappointing family' organizer was not prompt in replying to requests. All I was asking was whether he felt the home guide answered their question or if they wanted an orientation. I only asked twice and let it go. Finally he said they wanted an orientation. We went out of our way to meet them early in the morning Thanksgiving Day - at his request - and were completely and rudely ignored. He saw us drive up - I saw him, he saw me. He didn't come to the door when we rang. I had to walk around to the kitchen window to catch his wife's eye to let us in. Since this person comes back to town frequently I don't want to engage in a negative review and have my home targeted (seems like the vendictive type).

They damaged the finish on an antique night stand with a spill they didn't clean up. They ate food all over the house and furniture, spilled and left it where it fell and didn't bother to clean up. Well, except for the vomit they left dried in a towel. There are soot marks from the baby's hands up high on a wall from the fire they made one night - really - why???

Does anyone have any recommendations for dealing with this kind of sociopath?

What happens when you don't review guests, other than their review of you or your property isn't published? (ABB CS didn't expand on this. They just answered "No" when I asked if I had to review them. When prompted about the reprecussions she remained quiet.)

Are there any code words that are used among the community to indicate a guest that might be less than desirable? One of the hosts gave a one word review saying; "Wonderful!!!" I wondered if that meant she got screwed literally or figurativley. (Sorry to sound crass but I was wondering if this was code? Maybe we just caught this guy at a bad time in his life?!?)

My interaction with ABB CS hasn't been helpful. They agents really don't seem to have a firm grasp on policies,  and the website is so light on their policies that it seems like a very nebulous arrangement. It really has me rethinking whether I want to continue. We are doing this to hold on to our dream home while we help aging parents by being closer to attend to their needs. So it is somewhat financial for us, but I don't want everything ruined in the house by the time we can get back to it.

We don't offer discounts. We are priced higher than market just because we aren't after volume, but rather quality tenants. I'm thinking about not allowing children but I think that will really impact our bookings too far. Does anyone have experience with a 'no children' limitation? (I think this is why most of the damage occured. Previous family had older children with no damage.) 

We have one more family booked for Christmas so I am hoping for the best and that they are respectful of the property. Would that be asking for a Christmas miracle? 

For all of you who have had nightmare renters my heart goes out to you. For those of you who have never had a problem I truly hope your luck holds!

Just as a matter of interest - Out of the three bookings we have had so far all of them have 'misrepresented' the number of guests.

Wishing you Happy Hosting:)

[Ginni0]

Here is my little opinion about reviews of guests that I find uncomfortable, They know where you live... So I don't nessesarily think the reviews are always honest and I understand why.

[Sarah977]

@Michael-And-Lynne0  "What happens when you don't review guests, other than their review of you or your property isn't published? "

Wrong. All reviews get published, regardless of whether only one party writes a review or both do. If you fail to leave a review, one downside is that you will forfeit the right to respond to the guest review.

[Michael-And-Lynne0]

Thank you for correcting my assumption and responding to my query.

Happy Hosting and Happy Holidays!