review burnout!

[Jennifer73]

I have been hosting for about 7 years with over 1000 stays. I am starting to get PTSD with the review process! I am thinking people are reviewing me in my personal life now KRIKEY! I host so often and have to review and get reviewed that It is starting to affect my happy place (home and brain). Does anyone else have this issue? I clean my apartments top to bottom, upgrade and add special touches but sometimes it isn't enough for the expectations and entitled guest that occasionally stay in my homes. 

Example:

"The bath mat doesn't feel comfortable on my feet",  

low marks on check in because she didn't know that there are alleys behind homes? (clearly stated in check in instructions)

well you get the idea........

I want all of my guests to feel comfortable and give them ample opportunity to contact me right away if something is not to their liking.

This review burnout is real and not sure what to do about it.

[Basha0]

@Jennifer73  consider adding VRBO as the review process is so much simpler and less stressful. I’ve had great guests . 
also, block out a couple weeks as you deserve time off. 

[Fred13]

  You can approach this philosophically: worrying about reviews after one is hosting a few years  won't change a thing, about the only thing it can do is take the fun out of your hosting.

   Since your place is not about to change drastically, nor is your clientele, your reviews are not about to change either. So what is there to worry about, except for some occasional fruitcake that writes some nonsense that you can easily crush anyway once one has a long track record.

   I have 238 reviews after 8 years (750 stays), never have encourage them after the first year of hosting. That translate to about 2-3 reviews per month, which I consider more than enough to look current, which I think is important; otherwise I do not even think about them nowadays.

  Happy hosting. 😎

[Jennifer73]

Good advice Fred13! Thank you for the reply.

[Jana27]

Good point!

[Julia0]

Jennifer, just stop replying to these reviews! You've done your bit by reviewing your guests.. Especially do not respond to a good public review by highlighting their private complaints/comments!!!

You have fantastic reviews, take the compliments and move on.

[Jennifer73]

True I was just so mad about it ugh you are right. Thanks!~

[Robin839]

OMG!  This is exactly why I am on this forum today. I’m just sizzling over what I call “anomalous reviews.”  What is to be done when a guest says there “ unnecessary clutter” in the “cleanliness” category??? That is ONLY TIME in 6 years that any one has said that— and she was followed by one who asked delightedly if anyone ever asked to “stay forever” in my home because it is very interesting! Arghh!!

Recently though, I had just an infuriating experience. I allow pets and I state in my listing that I have two cats.  A guest stating she had TWO service dogs arrived recently. These were NOT service dogs as the term is legally understood— they were giant pets—emotional support, said their owner. On arrival and before I could say anything, she let them off leash and they rushed around my house in search of my cats and who knows what else!  When I asked her to control them, she got annoyed and said they were “getting familiar with the place”!!

Guests are generally not permitted beyond my dining room so having the dogs tearing around the rest of the downstairs was completely out of bounds!!  In her review, the guest said I was unfriendly— one aspect on which  receive the highest ratings— and she warned people not to bring dogs  here if they didn’t want to have to restrain them and because I have cats.  I need to note that once settled in, the dogs were perfect—which I plainly stated in her review.

She also claimed that the bedding was stained and dirty!  Quite a claim for an AirBnB, as you all know!  Turns out she did not recognize that one bed had no sheets because the other was made up fresh for her.  

But her review was not good. I am steaming !!! 

[Ann72]

@Jennifer73  I know your burnout is real!  I was feeling it last year.  One suggestion is to take some time off from reviewing guests.  You don't have to review them at all.  Just let their reviews roll in and then roll off your back.  As @Fred13 said, you've got everything covered so you don't have to obsess over their details.  

You could also go to "Insights -> Quality" and look at your metrics "compared to similar listings."  You will probably be pleasantly surprised.

Never forget that lower stars in the sub-categories don't affect your overall number.  If you get a 5 overall and lower numbers elsewhere, don't sweat it.  Some people are just not very nice.  I had a really mean guest this year, ranting and raving and complaining before she even got there (because I couldn't allow her to check in 4 hours early).  I salvaged a 5-star review from her somehow, but she gave me a 4 for communication.  And I answered her FROM MY HOSPITAL BED.  Which she knew.  Conclusion?  Just a mean (and probably envious) former host.  And don't worry - I gave her a 1 for communication.  So I won 🙂

[Jana27]

I still review everyone, but I don't read theirs to me often. I wait until I am feeling "strong". After 8 years it probably is not going to make a big difference. I do wish they would put the items on one page to click down rather than multiple pages. I keep the reviews clear and short. 

[Tony-And-Una0 · Accepted solution]

Hi Jennifer

We have 1,600reviews. 

We feel the same. I only review a guest now if they take the effort of messaging me when they check out or I need to flag an issue to other hosts. Many don't even bother to message when they leave.  I occasionally look at our reviews

We actually now find it amusing what new ridiculous comments that they can think of. We thought after 8 years we have heard it all.

Seagulls are too loud.  It was dark when we arrived at night which made it frightening. The instructions for opening the windows were not clear. (you push the handle down and they open out) etc etc

If you were to respond and act of every comment you would go crazy.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Tony-And-Una0 How sad that good guests no longer get reviews from you.

[Jennifer73]

That is great advice! I am thinking twice about reviewing every guest. I just need to step away and not worry about the reviews by not reviewing Brilliant!

[Jennifer73]

hi Tony and Una we could almost make a laugh of it if we wrote down all of the crazy things that people said about our Airbnb‘s then we could really get over it by laughing after all  it is the best medicine!  

[Martha60]

I too am starting to feel so stressed about it all. I still love it. It’s like being an in an abusive relationship when it’s good. It’s good. But regardless, I’m nervous every time because of a few bad reviewers. When one bad thing happens (bad matts)  and the guest is unhappy. I am torn up about it. My husband doesn’t get it, it’s affecting him and our relationship.