Quest would like to inspect apartment before booking

[Olaf88]

I have looked at other postings, but not found how to handle this. Pre-approval of the booking is done, but I could not add any information about suitable time for the guest to come for a preview.

I am just a co-host and my spose is travelling. I assume this is very easy, but I just cannot find out how.

[Gordon0]

Assuming this is a long-term booking (as it isn’t ordinarily normal to allow previews), ask to meet would-be guest at a cross street close to the location, @Olaf88. Look out for your safety first.

[Olaf88]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the quest would like to book for 1 or 2 months, so I understand his interest to take a look at the apartment first.

If not allowed, it is fine, but I am not sure where and how I can tell him so. 

[Huma0 · Accepted solution]

@Olaf88 

Technically, it's not allowed, as you're not supposed to communicate off platform before the booking is confirmed. Also, until then, you are not supposed to exchange contact details so that includes addresses and phone numbers. The Airbnb system will try to delete these from the message thread if it detects them.

I host long term guests but I do not allow viewings. I do understand why guests would want to come and have a look first, but most of my guests do not feel the need to, even if they are staying much longer than one or two months.

Apart from the obvious concerns about the safety of you and the property, and not wanting random people in and out of your listing (especially these days with COVID), it's just time consuming and there's no guarantee of a booking coming out of it or even of them showing up for the appointment. I choose to host long term guests on Airbnb rather than regular lodgers partly because I don't want the hassle of having to do viewings etc.

I have a very detailed listing with plenty of photos (taken by an Airbnb photographer and therefore verified) and I am happy to answer as many questions as the guest wants to ask.

If that is still not enough, I offer a call/video call with me once they have booked and are still in the 48 hour grace period to cancel penalty free. This never actually ends up happening though. Most guests are fine to book with the info provided and the few that are not don't book and that's okay by me.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Olaf88 Airbnb don't make it easy to pre-inspect as they don't want people making a deal off-platform.

[Quincy]

I couldn't agree more with you here @Huma0.  I've had a small amount of long term bookings in the past, but nobody has ever asked me to view the property before booking. Personally (and from a safety perspective), I would not allow people to view/visit before booking. 

As Huma mentioned, I would perhaps also offer to do a video call of some sort, but that's pretty much it. 

[Huma0]

@Quincy 

When I first listed rooms in my house, I did a viewing with my first long term guest. It wasn't really a viewing though, more of a chance for the two of us to meet each other (I was also nervous as I'd never had a long term Airbnb guest before) and it was AFTER he booked. 

The next long term guest was also going to come to visit because he was coming to London briefly on business. His trip got cancelled, so we just talked on the phone instead. We actually chatted for nearly an hour and both ended the call feeling very happy about the booking. Again, this was after he booked.

Both guests turned out to be wonderful, we stayed in touch and both have visited or stayed again as friends rather than paying guests.

I was reassured enough at this point not to need to do viewings but, even if I wasn't, I wouldn't do them pre-booking. Guests need to understand that this is my home and also that there are other guests staying. It's not an open house that people can browse around!