The New Black. Adjusting to the Down Season.

[Paul154]

What a whirlwind this summer has been.. 3 months of non-stop popularity,

I could do no wrong. People just booked without asking questions. People checked in, only to turn around and go out to see the sites. Besides a bed, fresh linens and a shower, guests had no other needs.

Hubris - I must be a great host.

Wrong!

Already the crazies are coming out. The endless questions, the small complaints, the requests for discounts…  

The market is like a big on/off switch.

How do I adjust? My neuroses are coming out. Guilt at not providing the perfect stay. The worry of choosing the correct price point  (people who don’t book my place don’t tell me their reasons, so how do I know?), the fear of getting manipulated.  .

Summer - it was great while it lasted.

[Welcome0]

I start getting nervous if I don't get future bookings. I suspect my listing does not get enough viewings. Thus far, I have earned 5 * and good reviews.  Sometimes, by revising my profile I get a bite. What generates being viewed? 

[Willow3]

Airbnb likes to see you "active" on your listing... so your listing will get a slight bump in listing placement.  In places like where I live, it really doesn't matter as there are only three pages of listings - but in areas with a lot of competition, every bit helps!

[Marie-Claire3]

My pet peeve is when a guest arrives with a huge suitcase for a two nights stay, and the second question they ask (after what's the WiFi password) is, can I use the washer/dryer?  You know that that suitcase is full of smelly clothes and that their previous hosts didn't offer laundry facilities.  Bums me out.

[Amy203]

Hi Paul.  I feel your pain!!  I have been a host for a bit more than a year and a Superhost since April...but LAST September was MUCH better than this one is shaping up to be, despite my new 'standing' and my stack of good reviews  😕

I reached out to the expert advisors and was told simply to be patient.  I was thinking about turning another space in my home to aribnb when my roommate of 2 years moves out this month, but now I'm a bit gunshy-I need the steady income to meet my BIG mortgage after almost losing my home of 28 years following the recession of '08

I asked if it could be because of the large influx of hosts, all vying for the same travellers?  I have not rec'd a reply to this question

ps- what does the 'level 10' mean under your name?

[Paul154]

I am so glad you were able to keep your home after the 08 debacle.

I too clutched on for dear life. Lost a lot in the process, but was more fortunate than many.

Level 10 just means that I blab too much on this message board, instead of providing guest service 🙂

[Jim-and-Marcia0]

I'm also in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA. We have an "entire home" listing. We tend to get very few bookings in December and January, which can be related to the weather when it changes to snow/ice. November and February tend to fill slowly, but does.  Certainly business is brisk in the summer. I changed our minimum stay from 2 nights to 3 nights for summer. Even with the longer minimum, this season we had more back-to-back bookings and many stays were 4 nights or longer.

I believe the type of listing also drives what type of guests will inquire or book a reservation. We tend to attract a steady stream of customers because we're not a resort/destination type of listing and we offer a good value. Weddings, funerals, conferences, business trips and other events happen year round. Summer brings out more vacationers, but guests who come for other reasons are great to host as well.

As to the type of requests...

Discounts: Yes for stays of seven nights or more (10%) or I'll consider it for a repeat good customer who plans to stay a minimum of 4 nights.

Lots of Prebooking Questions:  I welcome a good dialogue with potential guests and have no problem with them asking questions. One of our best guests booked an 8 night stay for hereslf and her family, it was her first Airbnb experience and she was a bit nervous about trying a homestay, so she had many questions and a few special requests. All fine by us! The more I know about a person, their needs and expectations, the better I can help them to have a great stay! I've had a few inquiries from questionable characters who self eliminated themselves after receiving my answers to their questions.

Instant Book: Works well for us. If a guest books and doesn't reveal much about themselves in the opening dialogue, I ask them for whatever I need to make me feel comfortable with the reservation. I will google their name for more backgroung information. If they IB, I know I can cancel without penalty if I don't feel comfortable hosting them. So far, I haven't had to exercise that option.

[Welcome0]

Hi @Jim-and-Marcia0 That gives me hope that my back to back bookings may return. I've gotten spoiled. Since January I was fortunate by getting frequent bookings. Suddenly, I think there is a problem with my settings. I am placing bets with myself when I open my Smartphone. Will I have a request?!? Nothing!

Oh well! In the meantime, I am sprucing up my place by redecorating and taking (much needed) new photos today.

I'll hit jackpot tomorrow,  for sure! 

Aija

[Basha0]

For awhile I was getting people who made inquiries about trade for photos or wanting discounts if they stayed several weeks. My sense was that there are "gypsies" who travel and basivally live in airbnb rentals and it turns out cheaper than the San Francisco Bay area reantal markets. I always follow my instincts

[Mi-Casa0]

Reviews are fickle. Our cleanliness is off the chart... yet those who regfuse to clean up after them selves in the kitchen or bathroom,

are always complain! They agree to the house rules - simple stuff that should be common sense - then they get upset that they requiered to follow through. We also had more damage in the last 8 months than we had in the last 10 years of hosting. 

Some guest go as fas as outright lie about their expereince, when quizzed of the nature of a mistery mark, a stain - not even I can budge... after they left. The latest is taking the towels with them... what??  I guess, this is what happens when people get comfortable. I used to delight in hosting... after this 8 months were thinking swithing back to getting students, local long term users and taking a safer more secure garanteed damage deposit. 

As others, I also see the same pattern. The population that practically want you to give your place out for free...  and the myriad of problems that follow them. 

The problem is we can't effect their rating as the 'lemings' create another account! 

I seen a guest use 4 diferent accounts... I only found out as I had many listing and tey used 3 of their accounts to communicate.

I had several of these allowed to book via instant book....   

Airbnb policy of how they punish hosts after the bad review of these terrible people should be changed. 

Were solving this low season problem with locals and student, whom are greatful and wonderful for a nice place. 

[Monica431]

My friend and I both are AirBnB hosts, she is just up the road. We keep an ongoing list of the funniest requests and comments. People always have suggestions and comments. For one it will be the greatest stay while for others it could be improved. I had a couple that stayed that said it was the greatest experience, but they would recommend me screwing some usb cords to the headboard for convience... OK nope 3k Cal King hand made log bed. Another loved the place but was upset there was garbage in the garbage can, I did let her know she was staying in my home - that I lived in - and did not make a habbit of throwing out the trash daily... Our favorite is the arrival time.. NEVER has this been correct - if they say between 8-9 it means 10-11 or midnight. I have had a couple show at 11 p. m . and start cooking dinner, they didn't go to bed till around 3 a.m. - So grain of salt is how I take everything. I really do not allow any guests to get to me. Instead it becomes part of the book of funny suggestions. I will say, there are days when I am so happy to have the house to myself. Happy Hosting. 

[Welcome0]

Hey @Monica0! You've got to have a huge sense of humor to put up with strangers invading not only your home, but also your private space. At the same time criticizing you for failing to take out the garbage! Yikes! I don't think I'd handle that too well. We have a separate unit/apt for our guests. I rarely let them in my area! Occasionally, we'll invite an interesting guest(s)  for a short social or dinner.  Keep up the good disposition!