Interesting opening lines from first time guests

[Melodie-And-John0]

I don't know about you but I've been getting lots of really short and somewhat meaningless requests to book by lots of first timer guests.   They immediately set off my spider senses when the profile is incomplete and has zero info about the possible guest.  No one liner gets a confirmation at Bearpath Lodging, this is not a party house, hosts live within!!!!!!    

Heres a couple recent ones, "Hey is this available" from a person that had no reviews and no location and really nothing but her first name, I thanked her for checking with us and asked her my normal barrage of  questions including where are you from (we have a statewide qt on guests from 30+ states right now) and expressed expectations and expected I would hear nothing.  The suite booked nicely from a guest with 25 perfect reviews for her dates 20 minutes later.  About 2 hours later she wrote "I’m from new York Syracuse to be exact do u guys except cash",  my last reply to her was "Hi ________the suite has already been booked I’m sorry, and no we don’t ever except cash payment we only work through Airbnb".  

Another prospect guest named "Angel" wrote, "Hey love , is it possible to see pictures of your hot tub ?"  This is the second person BTW that has wanted to see pictures of 1 person walk in spa tub we include in the listing in the bathroom, IDK why they cant just look at the pic's, its in there!   This Angel  had almost no info in their account info and Love isn't a standard intro in upstate NY (London maybe).  I sent my list of questions and pointed to the pics in the listing and never heard back, that's okay with us, we need more than that or no key code for you!

in the last 3 years, I've become a super sleuth hound dog when it comes to smelling a rat in a request or weeding out scammers and party barge guests.  I know you have had some odd opening requests, what are they and how did they turn out?   Safe hosting Folks!  JR

[Fred13]

@Jessica-and-Henry0 Common joke here among hotels when locals inquire - "Oh so you are a local,  bummer no discount, actually the price is double."

[Helen350]

@Melodie-And-John0  I had a newbie IB 9 days ago (at midday, for the same evening) with "Hello Helen, Looking forewards to spending 3 days in your home!! How far is the nearest bus link please? Am I better off getting a taxi?"

- I replied, asking what he was coming here to do, & that he would be quite isolated without a car. And that I am 2 miles from town. I also added a bit about it being a private house with a shared bathroom & a dog, & a few house rules....

- I never heard from him again! Did not show, did not respond to any of my messages re arrival time, did not tell me he wasn't coming! (He never cancelled, nor asked for a refund, so I got paid!) I'm waiting for Day 14....... 

[Brenda328]

Received a booking request last night for a one night stay for two people (in a 4 bedroom cabin) this coming Sunday night:

'Hi Brenda, you have a beautiful cabin!  Just had a few questions; Does the cabin have laundry machines and if so is detergent provided?  Also, does the wet bar come stocked with anything?'

Hmmm . . .  you want to check in for a single night, do a bunch of laundry (for free), and drink free booze?  I can't see how that could be a problem.

My response:  'Yes, the wet bar comes stocked with water.'

Booking request was withdrawn shortly after.

[Helen350]

Yes @Brenda328 , I remember the retired Australians who stayed ONE night in my £30 homeshare, said "Oh do YOU live here too?/Do YOU use our bathroom?" - then requested a load of laundry, which I allowed, detergent included! - all at no extra cost = 3 STARS! -  (Note to self...........!)

[Huma0]

@Brenda328 

I've had guests show up six hours before the agreed check in time (had been reiterated to them three times they could not come early) and within minutes want to do a load of laundry. They had just flown in from their home country. Who on earth takes their dirty laundry with them on holiday???

[Laura2592]

People ask me if my place has sheets or if they should bring their own. I always find that kind of strange. Of course I have sheets. Maybe there are some Airbnbs that don't? I have never run across one. 

I also had a guest ask if I had a cake stand mixer. One asked if I had a proving drawer on my oven. Its a cottage-- not the tent on the Great British Baking Show. Though that might be fun-- I could vote guests off if they didn't follow the house rules or supply me with enough cookies. 

[Melodie-And-John0]

Seems reasonable, no cookies, no rest!   I always wonder why my guests make their beds, dont they assume Im gonna rip it down to the bares and clean it (if not, thats gros!)?  

[Debra300]

@Laura2592,

In addition to the US locations that @Sarah977 mentioned, I have frequently seen travelers from various countries in Europe, Asia, Central and Sourth, and the Caribbean, bring their own linen and towels although we provide these items.  They informed me that it's customary where they are from.

[Sarah977]

@Laura2592  Yes, there are places where hosts don't supply linens. This came up a few years ago when Airbnb made linens mandatory. there was a huge outcry from hosts who don't supply them and never have. These appeared to be primarily beach cottages on the east coast of the US and also beach or lakeside cottages in Europe. The hosts said it was very traditional in those places for guests to supply their own linens and towels- these were remote listings that people drive to, so loading up that stuff in their car wasn't a big deal.

The hosts said there were no laundry services nearby, that their cabins slept large numbers of guests, and that having to supply and wash linens would make their rentals so expensive that they wouldn't be able to host anymore.

@Melodie-And-John0  I've had a few guests make the bed. I think they're just trying to leave it looking tidy, rather than assuming we aren't going to change out the linens 🙂 In my case, I actually prefer it- because there is so much dust and bugs where I live, I just leave the used bedding on the bed until I am ready to change it out for a new guest.

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Sarah977 , I understand and it doesn't really bother me but it actually does make it a tiny bit more work on clean-outs considering we arent really excited about any extra handling of used bedding that we don't have to.  

[Jennifer1351]

Had one newbie in the past, one review, no info say: "can't think of anything - but excited!"  I was excited to get this canceled.

Had a newbie recently, no reviews, no information, request to stay for a week and just say: "visiting parents."

Not staying here to visit parents. 

[Helen350]

I think you're being a bit harsh @Jennifer1351 ! Most of my (IB) newbies communicate like that! - They just don't understand! - Sometimes I let it go, & sometimes I ask for more info......  As, I said, the last one I chose to ask many questions of, I never heard from him again! No show, no word, no cancellation!

[Jennifer1351]

@Helen350 Sometimes I ask more questions. I've had lots of bookings with just basic info (like..."I'll be arriving at this time") with instant book.  I just don't want the stress of people I have concerns with if i can avoid it. If it's an easy decline, they haven't given any info, no reviews, I'll decline them. I have in my house rules to let me know who you are, who's coming with you and what brings you to my town to stay in my home. 

[Helen350]

Good idea!

[Ilda-and-Mike0]

@Melodie-And-John0 Here is a interesting inquiry we received on July 3 for July 12-19 for 1 guest:

“Guest: hey i am interested in your home !”

“I&M: So how can we help you?”

“Guest: i would like to reserve it for the 14-21 , is it available?”

“I&M: The calendar is up to date, so yes, they are available. How many guests will there be?”

“Guest: only 3 guest
i don’t have the money to pay at the moment but i was really hoping you could hold it until the 7th , that’s when i would have the full amount .
is there anyway i’m able to put a refundable deposit to secure your home for those dates”

“I&M: Sorry, AirBnB handles the payments and their service charges are non refundable. We recommend you book a place when you have 100% made up your mind.”

“Guest: i’ve made my mind on your home . i really love it”

We were flattered that he had made up his mind that he “loved” our home, but actually more interested in whether he would make up his mind to “stay” there. 😊

Anyways, as there were too many red flags and no point in continuing the conversation, there it ended...