People wanting to leave bags after checkout time has passed

[Viveca0]

Hello All!!

I’m starting to notice a trend of folks waiting til the day of checkout to state that they are leaving late in the day and ask if they can leave their bags or checkout late. I’m starting to get annoyed a bit with it since they are asked when booking what their departure is and I usually don’t get a response.

Any input?!? I have a few ideas floating in my head just want a few outside opinions!!!!

TIA!! And have a great day!

[Linda-And-Richard0]

Do you have a secure place to store their luggage?  With regards to late check-out, it would depend if you have to get the place ready for the next group of guests.  Maybe charge a storage fee or late check-out fee.  If you were in their shoes, what would you want your host to do?

[Viveca0]

The only secure space I have is the unit itself. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Victoria567]

@Viv11eca

I got caught out, with guests not adhering to checkout times.

I have changed my listing description, accordingly.

Check in 16:00 hours to 21:00 hours.

NO check in available before 16:00 hours.

Check out is BEFORE 10:00 hours.

The reason I work to these check in/ check out hours is that I personally do all the cleaning and  bed linen changes / room turnaround myself and do same day bookings.

I need around 4 hours to do all this work for two guest bedrooms and two guest bathrooms, as well as cleaning the breakfast dishes and cleaning the hallway, stairs and the kitchen.

I had one guest appear this season at noon for check in....I sent them away and reminded them check in was after 16:00 hours, but they were free to leave the car in the drive and explore the area meantime.

I had one guest still in their room at 10:30hours, I knocked on the door to tell them I was leaving in 5 mins as I had a physiotherapy appointment at 11am.

I had another guest still in their room at 10:30am charging up all their appliances, I went up to their room to remind them, I required to changeover/ turn around the bedroom and that I would be up in 5 minutes to start cleaning.

It took them 2 minutes to vacate.

If you politely ask guests to leave after overstaying the check out, I have found they vacate soon afterwards and I have 5 star reviews from them.

Regards luggage storage, I don’t offer it now, after a couple of guests were very late back.

I suggest they can leave their luggage in the vehicle and still keep it parked in my large driveway.

No problems now.

[Viveca0]

I haven’t had any guests stay after checkout yet. I’m sure that problem is coming tho lol. I like your check in and time  ideas tho! I think I may implement that myself.

[Gordon0]

Because we're in the hospitality 'business' (whether we want to admit it or not) I try to be flexible (and hospitable). If I have space for luggage storage, so be it,  likewise if I can get guests in earlier, I'll do that too. Guests pay my wages, so I'll do what I can to keep them happy. 

[Victoria567]

@Gordon0 

Yes indeedy

I’m in the hospitality business, but I am not a doormat or a servant.

My listing is very clear about what I offer.

I am not a 24/7 hotel chain...just a family home.

[Carmen19]

Totally agree with you Victoria567. I've been doing airbnb for 4 years now and run 3 of them. One is a studio and 2 rooms in my home. I have been more than accommodating all types of requests but the last 2 days have been testing my resilience and i've decided to come up with a plan that will suit both myself and the guest, hopefully. I was offered recently by a lovely guest to pay towards a later check out and i reluctantly accepted her offer but later thought that it was fair. That way, we as hosts don't begin to feel taken advantage of as i have begun feeling and if the guest feels that i'm obligated to extend my hospitality more than i can stretch, then too bad. They should read the listing first or make inquiries before booking instead of putting me into an awkward position which could turn a good review in the other direction. There's a difference in between "Airbnb" and "Couch Surfing" is what i'll say from now on!

[Victoria567]

PS.....I show warm hospitality in other ways that guests appreciate, but there are some amenities I don’t offer.

[Bryan10]

I'm with @Gordon0 on this one. Guests are my livelihood so I'm always flexible as far as I can be.  I always help guests with keeping baggage and early check-ins whever possible, unless it's putting me out a lot. Sometimes it simply doesn't work due to guests overlappping, but I have been known to sit them down in the lounge with a cup of tea and they can use the wifi while I clean the bedroom. It costs nothing and helps a lot. 

[Victoria567]

All respect to you @Bryan52

We all host for different reasons and seasons and we have different different styles of hosting.

Thats why it’s nicer for some guests to experience this on air bnb as big chain hotels for some guests are bland and impersonal.

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

if this is not convenient to you for any reason you don't have to do it. You can tell them to leave it in the storage at the bus or train station.

We can store their luggage for few hours while we clean if they have just 2 bags but if there is more luggage then it is on our way and this is inconvenient. We are off site hosts and when we are done with cleaning we are gone so we can store their luggage for few hours max.

[Fred13]

"I’m starting to notice a trend of folks waiting til the day of checkout to state that they are leaving late in the day and ask if they can leave their bags or checkout late."

You have a Noon check out, so let's start with the premise they have to leave by then, it's your place, not theirs.  And if you feel  like accomodating them with their luggage - no harm in that. 

Of course, such extensions of kindness are totally up to you, no one else.

[Mark116]

We have never said no to guests leaving their bags after check out, but waiting until the last day is a little inconsiderate, if someone wants an extra they need to ask for it in a timely manner.

[Gordon0]

I don't go out of my way to be unhelpful.
If I can help, I will.
My old mum would say it's not cutting off your nose despite your face. 
And it isn't about being a doormat or a servant. Grief.