Has the world changed, or have I changed?

[Ben205]

That's how Morrissey put it. My questions is, are your Airbnb guests getting worse?

I ask because, in the first 4 years as an Airbnb host, I probably only had 1 guest that I wouldn't host again. But I've had 3 in the past 6 months that I've clicked 'No' for when writing their review.

Maybe I'm just getting a bit jaded with hosting? But I also think there are changes that have made hosting on ABB less enjoyable and more stressful, and the system doesn't work in our favour.

All thoughts much appreciated.

[Ben205]

I'm not sure if this says something, but 6 of our next 10 bookings didn't send a message when they booked. Four years ago, 10 out of 10 would have sent a message when booking.

This is something that Airbnb could easily fix by only allowing a guests to click 'Book' once they have composed a message.

Of course, Airbnb won't do that, but it just adds to the stress of hosting.

Long-term rents are so high in the UK now that I'm sure others, like me, are considering leaving the holiday rental market.

[Anonymous]

@Ben205  Have you tried turning off Instant Book? 

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Ben205  you can set it as mandatory go to listing/ policy and rules / instant book/ edit / pre-booking message required

[Ben205]

@Anonymous @Branka-and-Silvia0 Thanks for the ideas. I haven't turned off IB nor set a message being a requirement of booking.

I'm going to look at those but sort of feel like I would be penalizing myself when Airbnb should be demanding more of its customers.

I tend to think that if I reject 10% of my guests, financially I'm better off doing long term let's because I will literally save 50 days work each year.

But maybe no IB and requiring a message won't reduce my bookings?

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Ben205  prebooking message goes with IB

[Anonymous]

@Ben205  Try not to think of it as "penalizing" yourself, but rather using all the tools at your disposal. Requiring guests to request to book won't reduce the bookings that are genuinely enthusiastic and well-suited to your listing, but it's a huge help in filtering out the duds. And while short stays are more work on the changeover dates, they have the advantage that if a dud manages to get through your filters, at least you're not stuck with them for long.

Longer stays means you're effectively a landlord, and the tenants tend to impose much more wear and tear on the home as they're using it more heavily than tourists who are out most of the day. I'm not sure whether it adds up to less work, or simply displaces the amount of maintenance work to less predictable dates.

[Dora486]

I’d agree, guests definitely more challenging this year.  We always try to vet before accepting especially in the case of few or no reviews.  Had a couple of not so great slip through this season already.  A recent one obviously thought we were a 5* hotel with concierge service and had loads of demands.  What would be a nice way of telling them during booking process difference between Airbnb and hotel, I think some just don’t get it?   Something along lines of it’s my home and no 24 hour butler service.  

[Mario2607]

I just had someone complain bcs there was a new open package of white printer paper under the bed. Guess what? Abnb gave them a refund.  I turned off the i nstant booking and 1 nighters. Not sure why someone would stay and then ask for a refund unless they are scamming

[Ben205]

@Mario2607Lol! I think people are trying to get money back. And they will. Airbnb will refund without your permission, but I've also given people money off in the hope they won't give a bad review.

[Tony-And-Una0]

Looks like we are about to lose our superhost  status which we have had since 2015.

It's  ironic, as we spent the lockdown  closures improving  the apartments.  They've never looked better. 

Pricing and cleaning  standards are exactly the same as before.

To be honest it's  almost  a relief.

[Ben205]

@Tony-And-Una0Are you saying that reviews have got worse? Because guests are more fussy and don't undertand the review system?

[Tony-And-Una0]

Exactly.

We have noticed a difference in guests attitude and reviews post covid.

Much quicker to mark us down for the smallest issue.

[Tony-And-Una0]

70%, of this summer's bookings are from other platforms anyway. Due to Airbnb's disastrous summer release.

[Tony-And-Una0]

Interestingly, our reviews on other platforms have improved.

[Fe16]

I’m not new to hosting, but I had a break and also used a property management company but gave them the chop after mismanagement of a nightmarish experience with terrible guests. 
Todat I had my first high-maintenance guest who checked in and not long after tells me she’s not happy and wants to leave tomorrow and only pay for one night. 
I’m very apologetic trying to sort through her issues which are actually silly, for example she said it’s too cold to open the windows so she cannot breathe. She said the house is too gloomy. It winter, and it’s raining. 
We go back and forth with me trying to resolve each of her issues which I haven’t received ANY comments or complaints despite letting my place for a year. 
The final straw for me though was her sending me three photos each with 2-3 ants walking along a cupboard  (ants are common for the area but we haven’t had them in food) and threatening to leave bad reviews if I didn’t release her and give her a refund. 
So I caved! And now because she’s cancelled after check-in I can’t even leave a review to warn other hosts about her. 

Should have known she wasn’t a great guest because she’s been on Airbnb since 2018 but had zero reviews. 

Although I was very calm and diplomatic I’m more annoyed now that she could potentially do this to other hosts! 

I’m really hoping most guests won’t be like this! But judging by these comments, it’s a growing trend.