Just letting off steam

[Ann-Marie7]

I’ve been very fortunate to have had great guests for the most part the last five years that I’ve been a host. But my last guest has made my blood boil!

I rent out a very large apartment in my 221 year old farmhouse that has been in my family for 70 years. There are four permanent tenants who’ve been living in the house for years as well. Rules are no parties, be respectful of the other tenants, there is space for two cars, no pets. I don’t live on the property but just a couple miles away. The reservation was for one person, 5 nights.

She asked if her daughter’s service dog would be allowed to visit for the day with the daughter. I said fine as long as the dog doesn’t go on the furniture as I have people who stay who have allergies. When we went in to clean there was hair all over the furniture and they allowed the dog to roam free outside. The dog approached one of my tenants as he was getting out of his car and tried to jump on him so he gave him the knee. The guest had the audacity to make a comment about that. Also, most of the beds were used, countless towels, dishes left. I charge $10 per person per night after 2 people so she definitely got away with something.

The biggest thing was the last night she stayed she had several people over, very loud until the wee hours of the morning, several cars parked in the driveway and even parking in my tenants spaces. She broke so many rules and really didn’t give a hoot. 
She wrote in my guestbook that she had such a great time and wants to return in October. No way!!

I gave her a bad review and am still seething as I’m here cleaning up the mess which so far has taken us 3 days. I have another guest arriving in a couple days so I’m hoping it will be complete. 
When I get a one person reservation I assume the clean up will be minimal as compared to if 6 people stay and adjust my calendar accordingly. Thank God I have 5 days in between this time around.

Does anyone else’s blood boil as your cleaning up from the guests from hell?

Ann-Marie

[Sarah977]

@Stephen1203  I agree about the communication. Although my listing is only a private room in my home, so guests can't throw parties, sneak in extra guests or pets, I have also never used IB and usually exchange several messages with guests between the time they book and their arrival date. It sets up a sort of rapport so I feel we end up with a pretty good sense of each other before we even meet.

I would imagine that IB bookings where hosts are quite businesslike and only send necessary info, like door codes and rules, without much of a personal touch to the communication, tend to be the most problematic.

There are also areas that attract the partier types and those that don't. A big place in LA would likely experience more party, sneak in 20 extra people, types than ones like yours in upstate New York.

[Ann72]

@Stephen1203  Absolutely agree!  Actually the tone of the whole visit is set in the first communication.  I am friendly but firm, welcoming but in control.  Once they respect that we get along fine.

[Emilia42]

@Ann72 Yes! Deep down, when people complain about problematic guests, I just want to say Show me the conversation thread. And in turn, I would then say Yep. That's where things went wrong.

[Ann72]

@Emilia42  SO OFTEN!!!  That's why I don't take any complaints posted here at face value.  There is so often more to the story.

[Stephen1203]

@Anne72 @Emilia42 @Sarah977 100% agree with you guys. This sort of knowledge only comes to most through experience though so I am really happy to have found this thread and connected with like-minded hosts!