Guest claimed to be nurse....

[Laura2592]

In April we have only been able to host state residents and have had to refuse many many bookings from those who were of state trying to get away from COVID-19 lockdowns in places like NYC and Chicago. We blocked our month after having so many inquiries that we had to turn down. One guest that made it through said she was a nurse who had been called into work in a local hospital. We checked ID and all seemed kosher. 

We went to clean up.  It was clear some serious lovin' had gone on in both beds with lots of grossness in the way of biomatter. Cooking oil was all over the stove and some kind of crusty food baked on.  Things moved around-- lamps, bath goodies taken from one bathroom to the other and not returned, mirrors repositioned in the bedroom (don't want to think about that), decorative finials on the mantle taken down for some reason. The guest said she was staying alone but it was obviously a couple and a dog as our Ring doorbell and other evidence showed. We are pet friendly and do not charge extra for a couple. There was little to no communication during her stay despite our typical check in email ("did you get in okay? Have there been any changes to your reservation as it looks like you booked for one.") 

My husband said to leave it as she was "blowing off steam" if she really is a nurse-- that she has it rough right now and should get a pass.  I have not reviewed yet but am debating what to say. She has a 4.5 score overall from 2 reviews.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  "Blowing off steam" with a lover and a dog? How does leaving a filthy stovetop fit into that? I know several nurses, and I can assure you they are extremely clean at home- they don't leave stovetops swimming in grease and cooked-on crud. 

I'm curious as to how you checked ID. Did you phone the place she said she worked to confirm? I wouldn't be taking anyone's word for it right now.

I would review her the same way I'd review any guest. In this case, poorly.

[Laura2592]

@Sarah977 we checked her state ID but not her work ID. She definitely "talked the talk" about working in a local hospital where one of our neighbors does so we took her word for it. She knew a person there that our neighbor also works with so it sounded legit. Of course it might not have been. 

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  I used to just trust everyone unless they proved themselves untrustworthy, because I was used to hanging out with people who could be trusted. After getting taken advantage of and burned a few times, I now no longer either trust or distrust people I don't know, or don't know well, but only trust them if they prove themselves to be trustworthy. I don't care whether they have the best of intentions, what matters to me is their actions..

If someone booked under a program where they got a discount because of being a first responder or needing housing due to a disaster (the Open Homes program), I would call the place they claimed they worked for to verify.

[Tommy150]

You seem to be more worried about whether or not she's actually a nurse than the mess she left you. Nurses can be filthy or disgusting people too - grossness does not discriminate based on occupation. 

Regardless, hell no, don't give her a pass.  "Blowing off steam" or being "stressed" does not give someone the right to misrepresent themselves about their stay with you, break a legal contract, (this is what she did - she made a contract for 1 adult, not 2 plus an animal,) and leave a filthy mess beyond normal wear & tear/general stay.  This is NOT acceptable.  Not reviewing her appropriately does a disservice to other hosts and shows maybe you should not be in this business if you think behavior like this is acceptable.   This is your home/property, you have every right to expect people who rent it from you to treat it with care and respect. 

I would review her poorly and also request an extra cleaning fee and/or any fees for anything that may be soiled beyond washing. 

[Mark116]

@Laura2592  I doubt very much this person was any kind of covid first responder.  If she had been, why would she have brought along her BF to keep exposing him to potential infection?  She might be a nurse, but seems very doubtful she was working in any such pandemic capacity when she rented your place.  

I would give the review that the behavior deserves and forget about the idea that this person deserves special consideration because she told you she was a first responder.

[Alexandra316]

@Laura2592Truly curious what made you leave her a glowing review.