Super dirty guests or am I overreacting?

[Angel49]

The community here is so helpful, and I’m hoping to get advice on how to leave an honest review and make sure I’m not overreacting. Most of my guests have left my casita pretty clean, even after month long stays. However, my last guests who were waiting for their new home to close, well, it took me 12 hours to clean up my 1 bed unit!

With a toddler in tow, I expected some spills and handprints, cheerios in the sofa, etc., but there was a large pee stain on the sofa, actual chunks of bacon under the cushions, what looked like cake smeared all over the closet mirrors, a huge juice spill on the carpet (spill mat had been removed), and the bottom sheet and some washcloths were ruined. Also, a full pan of bacon grease congealed in the oven and very messy fridge, range and floors. The Bluetooth alarm had been ripped away from its cord so the insert was stripped, and a bit of broken drinking glass near the nightstand. There was some arguing once and I wonder if those things had been thrown, not dropped. I expect a lot of cleaning after extended stays and little ones, but it’s normally 5-6 hours of work. Otherwise, my guests were quiet, friendly, and communicative. How do I review?

[Ocean50]

@Angel49 

Honest review, give them credit for communication but mention about how they left your place dirty too.

"They were quiet, friendly and communicative. But I am shock how dirty my place was when they left. There was a large pee stain on the sofa, actual chunks of bacon under the cushions, what looked like cake smeared all over the closet mirrors, a huge juice spill on the carpet (spill mat had been removed), and the bottom sheet and some washcloths were ruined. Also, a full pan of bacon grease congealed in the oven and very messy fridge, range and floors. The Bluetooth alarm had been ripped away from its cord so the insert was stripped, and a bit of broken drinking glass near the nightstand."

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Angel49 

Agree with @Ocean50  but I'd leave out the part about being shocked. 

My recommended version would be along the lines of - They were quiet, friendly and communicative. After check out, I  went in to clean and found a large pee stain on the sofa, actual chunks of bacon under the cushions, what looked like cake smeared all over the closet mirrors, a huge juice spill on the carpet (spill mat had been removed), and the bottom sheet and some washcloths were ruined. Also, a full pan of bacon grease congealed in the oven and very messy fridge, range and floors. The Bluetooth alarm had been ripped away from its cord so the insert was stripped, and a bit of broken drinking glass near the nightstand. Based on my own hosting experience, I would not welcome these guests back. 

[Anonymous]

@Angel49   You're not overreacting - the lack of respect shown by the adult guests is appalling.

I think @Jessica-and-Henry0 's version of the review would pass under the terms of the Content Policy, with the exception of the word "pee." Any mention of bodily excretions is likely to trigger removal of the review.

Personally, I don't think it needs to be quite this detailed. Nobody needs to know exactly what types of food and drink were smeared, spilled, and scattered around your house. What matters is the resulting condition.

Also, if any of these behaviors violated a stated rule or checkout requirement of yours, that is important to mention. If it didn't, try taking some responsibility in conclusion of your review - for example: "In hindsight, I wish I had insisted that food be consumed only in the dining area(s)."

[Angel49]

@Anonymous Thank you, this is great advice. I generally focus on the positives in my reviews and am vague about the nature of damage and clear about any recompense provided, and your suggestion about how to word this in a fair but honest way is really helpful. I hesitate to put down tons of restrictions since I welcome children, but I will add something about keeping foods that can stain or spill in the eating area if children are present. Normally I mention to incoming guests with children that I’m adding a spill mat for the table area and hope that makes it clear that I expect spills and have provided a safe place for that.

[Sarah977]

I just don't understand why parents let their kids walk around with food. Obviously they're going to smear it all over. There's no need for this at all. It's lazy parenting. If they don't mind constantly wiping up spills and stuck on food and smears in their own home, or living in a pig sty, that's their business, but doing it in someone else's home is just plain disrespectful. 

[Nanxing0]

**[Inappropriate content removed - Community Center Guidelines]

[Mark116]

@Angel49  I'd say something basic, like XX were quiet, friendly and easy to communicate with, but unfortunately, the unit required several hours of cleaning over and above what is normally required, and if you want, you could say that this group may not be a good fit for airbnb type rentals. 

[Yan3]

@Angel49 It's best to leave a brutally honest review so the next potential host doesn't have to suffer. I'd also make sure to give them 1 star each for cleanliness and rules followed. They are ungrateful and disrespected your place so you don't need to be nice and hold back in your review. Hope this helps!

[Debra300]

@Angel49,

I normally send our guests a message one day before checkout asking what time are they departing, and provide instructions on what they should before checkout:

1. Put all towels in the bathtub.
2. Leave the sheets and pillows on the bed.
3. Put all garbage in the trash bins, and empty bottles in the crate.
4. Ensure that you have cleaned your dishes, and any kitchen appliances and counters that you've used. 
5. Turn off the AC or heater.
6. Turn off the lights and TV.
7. Close windows and balcony door.
8. Place remotes on dresser or table.
9. Place guesthouse keys on dresser or table (This is if we cannot greet them before they leave).
10. Inform us of any breakage, stains, rips, or lost items.
11. Let us know when you've made it home or next destination safely.

[Angel49]

@Debra300 I appreciate your response. My checkout note is pretty simple, although I ask that beds not be stripped so it’s easier for me to see if they need to be hand washed to remove stains. I do request that spills or broken items be mentioned—this has been complied with about 50% of the time. My husband helped me make a checklist for myself to tick off after checkout—it has given me the proof I need when something was broken during a stay (garbage disposal/washing machine handle), so that guests know they will be held accountable for those things. I will need to add the Bluetooth and state of the oven to that list!

[Debra300]

@Angel49,

I am going to nick your idea about having a checkout checklist, and sharing with guests at check-in.

[Lakshmi11]

@Angel49  @Yan3 @Mark116 Thank you everyone, this is what I was looking for. Just had a quest/s check out yesterday that trashed the place. Dog poo found in a closet, and pee on throw rugs and under rugs.  Now there is a large fenced in yard, why the house? Blood? stains on bedding. Everything extremely filthy. Food caked on all surfaces in the kitchen and dining table. dishes not wash well( stuff on them still) dishwasher full. All surfaces were greasily in the living room, and in most bedrooms. Food on the floor, most places. Lets not forget the bathrooms, don't people know how to aim? Plus towel rod broken.  And the icing on the cake, two weeks of trash left rotting next to house covered in maggots. They had 2 pickup days during their stay and it was spelled out when to put out trash, plus I thought very clear house rules. All they had to do was walk the can 15 yards to the curb on a paved driveway. So it took 3 times as long to clean the place. Do I have any other options besides a review, cause I have to do, they have written one on me. First time having a really bad guest/s.  Just frustrated

[Sarah977]

@Lakshmi11  So sorry you had such pigs in your house. Please do leave an honest review- no need to go into all the gritty details, but as a fellow host I''d like to see a review which at least said "House left filthy.  Rotting garbage left on the side of house, ignoring the garbage pick-up days they had been advised of. Cannot recommend".