Guests left a mess and broke items but will they leave a bad review if I claim

[Sallie27]

I just had my first ever air bnb guests and they have left the place in a disgusting state, broken lamp, left mirror hanging off the bathroom wall, burn marks in the mattress protectors, broken the drain in the bath. Not to mention the five bags of rubbish they left (only stayed 4 days), pizza still in the oven, just so many other gross cleaning things. 

I know I can claim but I'm worried that if I do, they are going to leave me a bad review which would be a nightmare because it's my first guest and I don't have any reviews yet

What would you do?

[Helen744]

@Sallie27 . How awful ?. Be aware that guests will not see your review until after theirs is written so nothing you say will influence whatever they have to say . Make your claim through Airbnb if you have claimable items. Leave a truthful but brief review and click 'will not host again'.Try and put a few things in place to avoud this type of guest in the future ,maybe turn off IB for the time being and concentrate on perfecting house rules and using a co host and move on . Sorry this happened. H

[Sallie27]

Thanks @Helen744 I appreciate your thoughts. I'm more worried that making a claim for the breakages will prompt her to leave the bad review if you know what I mean?

I will turn off instant booking but weirdly this guest had good reviews so I probably would have booked her in anyway. 

[Helen744]

no need for you to leave a review at all if you do not wish to but remember to alert other hosts is probably the reason .there is no way to change a guests review , all you can do is be diplomatic inthe wording of asking the gust to pay for broken or damaged objects or extra cleaning. most hosts have at least one or two of these apalling guests who ,by the way ,do target newbies ,I hate to say.do not let this lesson go unlearned but bite the bullet message them with an amount for damage . Itemize and photograph and also start a claim with Airbnb. Good Luck . Most guests are fine H

[Sallie27]

I will do, thank you

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sallie27 you have 14 days to claim. I would leave a review quickly and hope the guest reviews you before the end of the 14 day period for claims. You can then claim without worrying about a bad review.

[Sallie27]

that's a good idea @Mike-And-Jane0  I will do that 

I guess sometimes they don't leave a review at all?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sallie27 they may well not leave a review or they might leave one to allege your place was damaged/dirty when they moved in!

Good luck and don't be too put off by this experience

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Sallie27 your listing does appear to be a little cheap. Are you sure you are covering heating and other costs over the winter?