Instant Book guest requirements

[Willene1]

Are guests who are eligible to use Instant Book not required to have a 5 star rating and recommendation from other hosts???
Our current guest used IB with a less than stellar rating or review. Red flags everywhere from poor communication, 3 hour later arrival to agreed on time, so many questions to bend the rules to not confirming he read and agreed to the house rules.  

I was very uncomfortable from the get go but too scared to go with my gut instinct and cancel. That horrible fear of cancelling.  Right now just watching and hoping all goes well. I have turned Instant Book off as I feel it’s best to have communication with guests prior to accepting.  
Thx for helping to clarify the IB requirements. 

[Willene1]

@Kelly149  I do that as well and usually search their name too. This particular one just didn’t feel right. I think I’m more comfortable without IB. Most people are great to communicate with.  Thx for reply. 

[Emilia42]

@Willene1 

If this previous host had clicked "No, would not host again" then this guest would not have been able to instant book with you (since you have the recommendation requirement set.) So this previous host does recommend the guest regardless of what star ratings they choose to give. I put very little weight into reviews less a previous host flat out says beware. Fortunately, you can now have the power to write an honest review about your experience that won't confuse future hosts. 

[Willene1]

@Emilia42  Thank you for that clarification!  That’s really good to know!  I’ve only answered No to that once before and often wondered what effect it had. Thank you! 

[Willene1]

 @Emilia42  I will be putting NO this time!  They checked out today ( 1 1/2 hours late but did ask) and after cleaning for 6 hours, I’m still not done. Stains and grease on everything, torn robe, filthy crap left everywhere.  Yet they left a nice note saying they want to come back!  Fat chance!   Now I have to be honest and diplomatic in my review.  Will cool off for a week first.   Learned a valuable lesson to trust my gut instinct from now on. 

[Suzy143]

Hi Emilia, I totally sympathize with you and urge you to check the box that says you would not rent to them again and please write an honest but diplomatic review and rate them down on the ratings.  

I had a bad experience last week and used some very good guidance from the community chat for the review.  I also checked all the boxes to give a 3* rating.  His average rating is now 3.5* and I also checked the box that said I would not rent to him again.  Now I have to make a claim .... I can see that will go down like a lead balloon and he will probably refuse to pay. 

From a host point of view, I would like the opportunity of NOT renting to people who have less than a 4 star rating.  I think that Airbnb need to give this some serious thought in order to protect Hosts from bad guests.   

Suzy 

[Colleen633]

Hey suzy, thanks for sharing! So did airbnb require that you make a claim simply because you rated them as 3 stars and did not recommend them again? Im looking to give a 3 star rating to a guest and not recommend them too, but dont want to deal with a disgruntled guest or an argument.