My first negative experience - Communication

[Michelle140]

This is my 9th guest coming tonight (it's 9:40pm), and it's the first time I've felt some dread. She's booked my room (not the whole house) for a lengthy 33 days, which is a long time to be stuck with a housemate you don't get along with. I don't think she knows what airbnb is supposed to be.

Her first message indicated that she preferred to be left alone unless someone is bleeding or the house is on fire (literally said that). I tried to ask her this afternoon around when she expected to check-in and all she said was it could be anywhere from 6pm to 6am. I responded to keep me updated, as communication is a part of airbnb. I have not heard anything, and like I said, it's now almost 10pm, and I have ZERO clue what time she will be arriving.

I just don't feel right about the whole thing. Part of me just wants to get things started and if she wants zero interaction with me, then all the easier that money is to make, but at the same time, this is not why I started on airbnb.

I don't mind some (short term) guests being zero interaction, but I enjoy sharing stories and meeting people from all over, and over a month sharing my home with an enigma of a person doesn't sound like fun. Sigh. At this point, if nothing else, I think I'm going to write my first negative review =(

Is there any advice? I'm afraid to confront her, in fear of retaliation while I'm not at the house, but I'm not happy...

[Michelle140]

@C-C0, I think I started because it seemed like a nice way to make some money on the side, but as I've had guests, I've realized I really enjoy people coming to "visit" 😉 I don't mind the occasional guest who is there just to sleep and leave (as they certainly are a lot easier), but I most enjoy the interaction when it happens. I've learned a lot through this guest, adjusted my rules and description, added maximum trip length, etc. Adding a maximum trip length was the best lesson. If I had done that before her, she would have been out two days ago, and I would have survived. As it is, I have more than two weeks left, and we're just not fitting in together to be sharing the same space, and when she is there, I feel at a discomfort in my own home. Hopefully things will end absent any drama... It's hard to explain, but she was just really stressing me out yesterday. I live in a quiet home out in the country, and having someone stomping around slamming doors and fridge drawers was just setting my teeth on edge, as it was just on and on...

[Mike77]

@C-C0

"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!"

Another good signature line...

Mike
AirBnB Treehouse for Rent
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7292887


==============================
Here are your AirBnB phone numbers.
==============================

Argentina: +54 11 53 52 78 88

Australia: +61 2 8520 3333

Austria / Österreich: +43 72 08 83 800

Brazil / Brasil: +55 21 3958-5800

Canada: +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)

Chile: +56 229380777

China / Zhongguo - 中國 / 中国: +86 10 5904 5310 or 400 890 0309 (shared-cost)

Denmark / Danmark: +45 89 88 20 00

France: +33 1 84 88 40 00

Germany / Deutschland: +49 30 30 80 83 80

Greece / ελλάδα: +30 211 1989888

Hong Kong / Xianggang - 香港: +852 5808 8888

Ireland: +353 1 697 1831

Israel / Yisrael: +972 3 939 9977

Italy / Italia: +39 06 99366533

Japan / Nippon - 日本: +81 3 4580 0999 or +81 800 100 1008 (toll-free)

Mexico / Méjico: +52 55 41 70 43 33

Netherlands / Nederland: +31 20 52 22 333

New Zealand / Aotearoa: +64 4 4880 888

Norway / Norge: +47 21 61 16 88

Peru: +51 1 7089777

Poland / Polska: +48 22 30 72 000

Portugal: +351 30 880 3888

Puerto Rico: +1 787 919-0880

Russia / Rossiya - Россия: +7 4954658090 or 88003017104 (toll-free)

South Korea / Hanguk - 한국: +82 2 6022 2499 or +82 808 220 230 (toll-free)

Spain / España: +34 91 123 45 67

Sweden / Sverige: +46 844 68 12 34

Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse: +41 43 50 84 900

United Kingdom: +44 203 318 1111

United States (USA) / Estados Unidos de América (EEUU): +1-415-800-5959 (local San Francisco number) or +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)

[Michelle140]

@C-C0, forgot your first part... It took me forever to sweep up my first dead mouse from my cats 😉 Luckily, I haven't had near as many as you since my first one, but it did get easier with each passing one I had to deal with... I'm sure it will be the same with airbnb guests, and I should get better at dealing with atypical guests over time, but today, she's too much for me.

[Robin4]

@Michelle140 Hi again Michelle, I am being somewhat tongue in cheek here but, just as a matter of interest what do you do with the 5% of your life that has been left to you after dealing with this issue 🙂 !!!

Seriously I have never seen one other thread generate so much interest. I have had the flue and have not logged on for four days and I was staggered to see 67 posts relating to this guest!!

Now after all that's been and gone Michelle, I would just like you to do one thing....when she is not looking sneek out the panorama camera and take a picture of her and post it so we can all give her the widest berth possible should she come our way.

All the best Michelle....cheers.....Rob

[Michelle140]

@Robin4, now 67 is a bit of an exaggeration in four days 😉 But yeah, I have appreciated the support from the community as I work my way through my first strange hosting experience. Through Airbnb's encouragement, I messaged her on Airbnb saying it wasn't working out and I'd like to move her check-out date up, and then asked for her response. She's here tonight. Still not talking to me, and no response yet.

[Michelle140]

@Robin4 ("I would just like you to do one thing....when she is not looking sneek out the panorama camera and take a picture of her and post it so we can all give her the widest berth possible should she come our way.") Is it legal to respond to this with a freeze frame from my doorbell cam footage? Lol.

[Michelle140]

*I do have it noted in my listing (twice) that I have cameras.

[Robin4]

@Michelle140 Hey, that was tongue in cheek but....and I am not sure if privacy laws differ in the United States, but in Australia it is not ellegal to post a photo of someone, heaven knows you see enough random photos of people on Facebook! It is what you might attach to that photo in the way of comment that could be a problem. As long as you did not name her and restrict your comment to , "A person I would not care to host again" and leave it at that you would be in the clear legally! You have not defamed her. You have not insulted her. You have not accused her of anything illegal.....You have just given a personal feeling......and it is not illegal to publically expand on a personal feeling!

The real sticking point would be, would the forum moderators remove it!!!!!

Cheers.....Rob

[Mike77]

@C-C0

"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!" -- @C-C0

I think I am going to start collecting the good ones...

🙂 

Mike
AirBnB Treehouse for Rent
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7292887

"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!" -- @C-C0

==============================
Here are your AirBnB phone numbers.
==============================

Argentina: +54 11 53 52 78 88

Australia: +61 2 8520 3333

Austria / Österreich: +43 72 08 83 800

Brazil / Brasil: +55 21 3958-5800

Canada: +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)

Chile: +56 229380777

China / Zhongguo - 中國 / 中国: +86 10 5904 5310 or 400 890 0309 (shared-cost)

Denmark / Danmark: +45 89 88 20 00

France: +33 1 84 88 40 00

Germany / Deutschland: +49 30 30 80 83 80

Greece / ελλάδα: +30 211 1989888

Hong Kong / Xianggang - 香港: +852 5808 8888

Ireland: +353 1 697 1831

Israel / Yisrael: +972 3 939 9977

Italy / Italia: +39 06 99366533

Japan / Nippon - 日本: +81 3 4580 0999 or +81 800 100 1008 (toll-free)

Mexico / Méjico: +52 55 41 70 43 33

Netherlands / Nederland: +31 20 52 22 333

New Zealand / Aotearoa: +64 4 4880 888

Norway / Norge: +47 21 61 16 88

Peru: +51 1 7089777

Poland / Polska: +48 22 30 72 000

Portugal: +351 30 880 3888

Puerto Rico: +1 787 919-0880

Russia / Rossiya - Россия: +7 4954658090 or 88003017104 (toll-free)

South Korea / Hanguk - 한국: +82 2 6022 2499 or +82 808 220 230 (toll-free)

Spain / España: +34 91 123 45 67

Sweden / Sverige: +46 844 68 12 34

Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse: +41 43 50 84 900

United Kingdom: +44 203 318 1111

United States (USA) / Estados Unidos de América (EEUU): +1-415-800-5959 (local San Francisco number) or +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)

[Sandra126]

@Mike77, hosts - watch out! Coming soon to a bookstore near you: The Quotable Host by Mike the Beard

[Mike77]

@Sandra126

🙂

Mike
AirBnB Treehouse for Rent
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7292887

"Coming soon to a bookstore near you: The Quotable Host by Mike" -- @Sandra
"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!" -- @C C

==============================
Here are your AirBnB phone numbers.
==============================
Argentina: +54 11 53 52 78 88
Australia: +61 2 8520 3333
Austria / Österreich: +43 72 08 83 800
Brazil / Brasil: +55 21 3958-5800
Canada: +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)
Chile: +56 229380777
China / Zhongguo - 中國 / 中国: +86 10 5904 5310 or 400 890 0309 (shared-cost)
Denmark / Danmark: +45 89 88 20 00
France: +33 1 84 88 40 00
Germany / Deutschland: +49 30 30 80 83 80
Greece / ελλάδα: +30 211 1989888
Hong Kong / Xianggang - 香港: +852 5808 8888
Ireland: +353 1 697 1831
Israel / Yisrael: +972 3 939 9977
Italy / Italia: +39 06 99366533
Japan / Nippon - 日本: +81 3 4580 0999 or +81 800 100 1008 (toll-free)
Mexico / Méjico: +52 55 41 70 43 33
Netherlands / Nederland: +31 20 52 22 333
New Zealand / Aotearoa: +64 4 4880 888
Norway / Norge: +47 21 61 16 88
Peru: +51 1 7089777
Poland / Polska: +48 22 30 72 000
Portugal: +351 30 880 3888
Puerto Rico: +1 787 919-0880
Russia / Rossiya - Россия: +7 4954658090 or 88003017104 (toll-free)
South Korea / Hanguk - 한국: +82 2 6022 2499 or +82 808 220 230 (toll-free)
Spain / España: +34 91 123 45 67
Sweden / Sverige: +46 844 68 12 34
Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse: +41 43 50 84 900
United Kingdom: +44 203 318 1111
United States (USA) / Estados Unidos de América (EEUU): +1-415-800-5959 (local San Francisco number) or +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)

[C-C0]

@Mike0. Lol. Yeah. You can quote me on all of it! Btw, I didn't "like," but liked your comment recently about too many hosts unable to make decisions, etc.

[Michelle140]

Finally yelled at her. It was feeling cold in the house, so I checked the thermostat and she turned it down eight degrees, so my heat pump has been running non-stop for the past two hours. I told her before the reservation was approved that I don't keep the AC real low in the house, to make sure that was ok, and she said fine. She said she's paying for everything. I told her if my airbnb included free use of the utilities, I would be charging twice as much. It's cheap because I keep things cheap. I said all you have to do to make it more comfortable is cut it down a degree so it'll run for a short bit and cut the humidity back down to a comfortable level. You don't need to turn it down that far, and that if I hadn't have noticed, it would have run all night long. I realize all airbnbs are different, but this is mine. I think I'm going to flip off the heat pump surge tomorrow night when I leave in the evening and hope she doesn't figure out how to cut it back on =P I've invested heavily in the insulation abilities of my home, so the house will be fine for a couple hours in the evening with no heat pump. Sigh. I'm turning mean =P

[Michelle140]

Sorry if these activities make some of you think I'm a royal b*tch, lol. I'm a lot more flexible and accommodating when I am communicated with. I do not like someone coming in and trying to turn my house into (what I perceive to be) the arctic without talking to me about how we can possibly compromise or what they can do to make it more comfortable if they get home before me.

[Mike77]

@Michelle140

"Finally yelled at her."

About time.  Yell at her more so that she thinks you are crazy as she is.

Mike
AirBnB Treehouse for Rent
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/7292887

"Coming soon to a bookstore near you: The Quotable Host by Mike" -- @Sandra
"Guests neither scare nor intrigue me--and I'm ALL about the money!" -- @C C

==============================
Here are your AirBnB phone numbers.
==============================
Argentina: +54 11 53 52 78 88
Australia: +61 2 8520 3333
Austria / Österreich: +43 72 08 83 800
Brazil / Brasil: +55 21 3958-5800
Canada: +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)
Chile: +56 229380777
China / Zhongguo - 中國 / 中国: +86 10 5904 5310 or 400 890 0309 (shared-cost)
Denmark / Danmark: +45 89 88 20 00
France: +33 1 84 88 40 00
Germany / Deutschland: +49 30 30 80 83 80
Greece / ελλάδα: +30 211 1989888
Hong Kong / Xianggang - 香港: +852 5808 8888
Ireland: +353 1 697 1831
Israel / Yisrael: +972 3 939 9977
Italy / Italia: +39 06 99366533
Japan / Nippon - 日本: +81 3 4580 0999 or +81 800 100 1008 (toll-free)
Mexico / Méjico: +52 55 41 70 43 33
Netherlands / Nederland: +31 20 52 22 333
New Zealand / Aotearoa: +64 4 4880 888
Norway / Norge: +47 21 61 16 88
Peru: +51 1 7089777
Poland / Polska: +48 22 30 72 000
Portugal: +351 30 880 3888
Puerto Rico: +1 787 919-0880
Russia / Rossiya - Россия: +7 4954658090 or 88003017104 (toll-free)
South Korea / Hanguk - 한국: +82 2 6022 2499 or +82 808 220 230 (toll-free)
Spain / España: +34 91 123 45 67
Sweden / Sverige: +46 844 68 12 34
Switzerland / Schweiz / Suisse: +41 43 50 84 900
United Kingdom: +44 203 318 1111
United States (USA) / Estados Unidos de América (EEUU): +1-415-800-5959 (local San Francisco number) or +1-855-424-7262 / 1-855-4-AIRBNB (toll-free)