Why The Guest / Host Relationship Transcends Airbnb's Increasingly Hostless Vision

[Rebecca181]

THIS is why we traditional home-sharing hosts still matter. 

Here's a photo of the 'Thank You' card we received today from our first Airbnb guests in 9 months (I shut my Airbnb listing down last October after a two year sold-out run to take a break from the platform's ever-changing, chaotic policies that are increasingly guest-centric, at the expense of us home-sharing hosts). 

I believe there's still a place on the platform for hosts who share their personal homes. It would be great to see Airbnb nurture that space for the benefit of ALL (guests included), versus treating us traditional hosts as an after-thought while they focus on promoting Airbnb Plus, Luxe, Experiences, Beyond, 'Infinity'-whatever, etc. 

There's lots of ways that Airbnb could show us that they still value us and want us on the platform. For example, they could fix the faulty review system as we have been pleading with them to do for seemingly years and years. Or create a dedicated landing site on the platform that connects travelers with home-sharing hosts for those seeking a traditional Airbnb experience (e.g, create a category 'Home Stays' which are properties with hosts on site). Or promote various Super Hosts monthly at the top of the Airbnb home page. There's so much that Airbnb could do - If they wanted to. 

How about it, Airbnb?

Why I Love Being A Home-Sharing Host

[Gretia0]

My goodness 

I just now posted my home for a 1 bedroom rental.  But after reading  this  blog,  I'm  afraid I  made a mistake.  I agree with all you folks say. We just wanted a little  income to come in. Not to HASSLE with a bunch of red tape and bull. 

I hope they don't  post my room. 

I live in  Indiana. 

[Rebecca181]

@Gretia0 Although there is certainly a lot of 'bull' to deal with, you can learn how to get around pretty much all of it (most of the time) via learning tips and tricks about screening, creating and enforcing house rules, etc, from other hosts here. You'll read some scary things on these forums but you will also read about some amazing host / guest experiences; several guests of mine have become friends, for example. You might try it to see how you like it and just ignore all the silliness and mayhem (much of it generated by Airbnb with their constant policy and platform changes which rarely benefit the host); that's what most of us do around here and many hosts will tell you they are willing to put up with the chaos because the money and the host-guest experiences make it worth it. 

[Tammy242]

There is an occasional bump in the hosting road but my experience has been positive. Don’t be disheartened, give it a try before you give it up!

Hosting has been a great way to meet good people as well as make a little money.

Tammy

[David3483]

I have been hosting in my home for about 9 months now.  I have had LOTS of great experiences with guests; some have given me gifts even! I can think of one time I thought to myself "I never felt fully comfortable around them" and one "ugh, they left a bit of a mess in the bathroom". Mostly great people.  A couple of confusing moments as I have learned the site ropes, but it works pretty well for me.

[Kath9]

@Rebecca181, I would love if there were a dedicated space in Airbnb for people who want the traditional Airbnb accommodation and who stay at people's homes BECAUSE they want to meet locals and engage in cultural exchange, NOT just because they want somewhere cheap to stay. I despair the increasing commercialisation of the platform and am tired of the unrealistic expectations of guests these days. Thanks for sharing your ideas and your lovely thank you card.

[Rebecca181]

Hi @Kath9 I SO agree with you. I specifically state in the opening summary of my listing that we live on the property, and elsewhere I state that we love being traditional Airbnb hosts and if any guests want to socialize, walk on the beach, hang out at the fire-pit, etc, we would be happy to do so. I also keep my prices high, and still have no trouble getting bookings. So until if and when we have our own dedicated 'traditional home-sharing hosts' category, I am making it abundantly clear in my listing description that those who are seeking a 'traditional' Airbnb experience can find it at our place. Of course, we have self check-in so we can be invisible if the guest wants absolute privacy, but most all guests said they specifically WANTED a home-sharing experience - AND they have no problem paying top dollar for it. [Note to Airbnb: Yes, it can be done).

[Gretia0]

Well it sure  beats hotel cost. Airbnb offers  so much more  for the  price. Guest don't need to  complain about anything. 

[Sarah977]

Hear, hear, @Rebecca181.  As I think you're aware, I also get lovely guests. I can honestly say I've never had any of these horror guests we read about here all too often, never had anyone ask for a refund, complain about things, damage stuff, take over the kitchen, or impose themselves in any disrespectful way. In other words, they all seemed to understand what home sharing entailed. Not only that, they've brought me thoughtful little gifts, bought bottles of wine to share, invited me to partake of the dinner they cooked.

It's truly unbelievable that Airbnb continues not only to ignore small-time home-share hosts, but actively relegates us to low search results and can't seem to see the value in separating us from the rest of the increasingly impersonal listings. I just can't fathom how it would be any skin off their noses to do so, and certainly doesn't require a huge amount of time or effort. They seem to have their fingers so off the pulse that they refuse to acknowledge that that sort of accommodation is exactly  what a whole segment of the guest population is looking for.

[Rebecca181]

Agreed @Sarah977 . Many of my guests have told me they specifically chose my listing because I emphasize that I am a traditional host. I am quite certain there is a huge market for traditional hosts like us, and Airbnb is really missing the boat at this point, not only from a marketing perspective, but from a financial perspective as well. It would be soooo easy to create a Home-Sharing Host category, yet they don't.

Why? At this point I can only think it is because they want to reduce competition between us home sharing hosts (whom they originally built the platform on) and their Plus, Luxe, and Commercial (property managed) listers. So we are stored further and further back in the closet, tucked not-so-neatly out of the way - A guest has to really dig around in the dark now to find us. It's a real shame.

[Gretia0]

I want to like guests  just a clean , convenient  place to stay.  Cheaper than a hotel cost. 

I'm all for the traditional host. Made it simple.  I'm sure that's what the hosts want. 

[Rebecca181]

@Sarah977 Wow, I wrote you a nifty response, and I see upon my return it has completely disappeared! I agree with all you say. Given that Airbnb is not stupid, I have to believe that they are intentionally stowing us traditional hosts in the back of the closet so that potential guests have to rummage around in the dark to find us. I'm thinking that it is to ensure that their main interests - which are obviously host-less properties, be they Plus, Luxe, or Commercial listers - do not have to 'compete' with us home-sharing listers - less clutter on the runway, so to speak. Now, let's see if this comment goes through (I am copying it this time in case it doesn't!) 

[Rachel0]

@Rebecca181 Like you, I  have had some lovely "thank you" cards,  honey from Slovenia, wine from Israel, chocolates from France, some very interesting sweets from Japan and countless bunches of flowers.  Last week I was given a lovely little carved wooden elephant from India!  I've been hosting  for 4.5 years now and like @Sarah977 most of my guests have been great - I've had a couple of horrors, but with about 550 guests having passed through here, that is to be expected.

Airbnb has forgotten its roots and forgotten the original home hosts, without whose hard work they would not have succeeded.  They are driven by greed of course.  I get sick and tired of reading about hosts with multiple listings as well - why should I feel that I ought to admire somebody  with 250 listings in Barcelona or some such place with an army of cleaners and "property managers" doing all the work when it bears no resemblance to the original concept.  Let them set up their own web sites. 

So yes, there should be a space on the site dedicated to "home sharing" hosts rather than us being hidden away like an embarrassing mistake.  They should be  singing our praises rather than forgetting us.

[Rebecca181]

@Rachel0 @Suzanne302 Well said, Rachel and Suzanne. Home Sharing hosts who consistently rate FOUR stars and above (given that Airbnb tells guests when reviewing that four stars is "good") and are in good standing on the platform should be featured in their own 'Home Sharing' category. Hosts who rate below four stars would then have something to aspire toward; and it is also a great way to weed out '3-star and below' hosts who are not managing their listings or properties adequately and make them harder to find on the platform. Thank you both for your rich and thoughtful replies.

[Suzanne302]

@Rebecca181  Amen to everything you've said! Homesharing is such a niche I am waiting for another company to realize this and make it their focus. Unless that happens, I see Airbnb chasing the big bucks as you said and catering more and more to Plus, Luxe, and all those "big" hosts that own hundreds of properties. Homeshare hosts bring in money and if you focus on the unique experience instead of it being a "cheap" way to travel, big bucks CAN be made.

The other issue I see, as I am a member of several Facebook groups, there are so many inexperienced hosts, and those hosts who just really shouldn't be hosts. They probably cause headaches for Airbnb and also may be bad ambassadors for homesharing and could turn people off of the concept. Literally ANYBODY can sign up and be a host with no vetting. This hurts those of us who truly care about hosting.

I've only been doing this a little over a year, but I don't have any horror stories, thankfully, and only a few guests that were less-than-desirable. I'd also say my guests have been 50/50 split on those who just wanted an economical place to stay (pleasant, but no more than a friendly "Hi") and those who truly use me for my knowledge of the area and want to have a "human" experience.

Best example of this was with my recent guests...I arrived home and the guy was in the driveway unloading a cooler. I said greeted him and asked if they settle in okay and he responds, "Hi! Everything is great! Would you like a beer?" Love these guests!