What should we think about this review of a potential guest?

[Jon2761]

"Clearly, G... & her family thoroughly enjoyed our townhouse." That's the whole review. 

They've requested to book our house for 3 months while building their own house, which happens to be right down the street from ours. They have two young kids who will be enrolled in school there. 

This is their only Airbnb review, and it doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement. Aside from that she seems fine. Very friendly and well-written introductory note and even included her last name. 

Any opinions?

Thanks!

Nancy 

[Pat271]

It sounds a little suspect to me. You could send a message to the host asking for further elaboration.

[Susan1188]

I think that is against tos, how many times did I want to do this but refrained.

[Jon2761]

@Pat271  Great idea, I  didn't know I could do that. Thank you!

[Helen350]

@Jon2761 Sounds like the whole family ran rampant...! On the plus side, if you're all going to be neighbours, for the rest of your lives, it would be nice to think they'd try & get off to a good start...?

But yes, message that host using the 'contact host' on her/his listing... - You'll have to put a date in, with an enquiry, & the host may get excited that you're trying to book, when you're not... Ah well, serve them right for being obtuse in the review & not telling it like it is! (Possibly...)

[Colleen253]

“Ah well, serve them right for being obtuse in the review....”

@Helen350 that’s exactly what I was thinking! Hopefully they get the hint to up their review game.

[Jon2761]

@Helen350 This made me laugh!

[Fred13]

Further communication may be revealing. Just as plausible, maybe the host is a drip that doesn't know how to put things in a somewhat interesting nor informative fashion.

[Helen350]

"Maybe the host is a drip...."

@Fred13 - exactly what I was thinking! - (I didn't like to say.......)

@Colleen253 

[Sarah977]

@Jon2761  I would assume this is one of those reviews where the host thinks they're leaving a "coded" review, the true meaning of which will be obvious to other hosts. I'd much prefer they wouldn't be such cowards and say "Place looked like a cyclone tore through it when these guests left. Not to mention they helped themselves to every piece of linen and towels stored for the next guests and made off with a 24 roll pack of t.p."

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Jon2761 

"Clearly, G... & her family thoroughly enjoyed our townhouse." 

Well, this message is very clear to me - they used everything and left everything dirty.

[Susan1188]

Exactly, pointed absence of “I hope they come back soon”

[Fred13]

And how did that host know the family thoroughly 'enjoyed' their townhouse? 

1. The guests went through every food item, linen, towels and toilet paper in the place.

2. The kids left finger print marks every inch of the home, including the ceiling.

3. The pool now looks like a swamp.

4. Everything in the house must be re-adjusted; screens, doors, legs on chairs and tables, etc.

5. The otherwise-friendly neighbor now gives you dirty looks.

[Jon2761]

So I contacted the hosts per the great advice I received here. (They were actually glad to be made aware of the option to contact fellow hosts.) From their explanation, there wasn't actual damage, but G. "forgot" to leave on her last day, and the host had to help her pack up the next day to get her out in time. G. apologized profusely and of course paid for the extra night. And left them a great review. We think we'll take a chance on them, since there is the unusual circumstance of their building a new home on our country road, a very rare occurance. Thank you to all who responded here, I value your insight!

[Colleen253]

@Jon2761 Ahhh, so “G” enjoyed the place so much she couldn’t bring herself to leave. Instead of being cryptic, the host could have simply iterated all the good things about the guest, then simply advised future hosts to be sure to send a reminder the day before checkout, as the guest failed to checkout on time.