@Harmony26 I assume you are using Instant Book? If you turn that off and require guests to send booking requests, you will have 24 hours to exchange messages with them before deciding whether to accept or decline. Not to mention reading their reviews- (yes, I know hosts can require positive reviews to IB, but that doesn't mean there might not be some enlightening negative info in some of the reviews).
So if their communication is poor or non-existent, or they ask a bunch of questions that make it obvious they haven't read anything, you can decline their request.
Some hosts put a secret word or phrase in their listing info, telling guests to quote it when they send the request.
And when you send info like about check-in, ask the guest to message back, letting you know they received and read it, as you certainly wouldn't want them to be left standing outside, unable to get in (if you make it about the guest's convenience, they are more likely to read and respond- they don't care about the host's desires).
Guests who don't respond to Airbnb messages can also be nudged by sending them a phone text or whatssapp, asking them to please respond to your Airbnb message.
And yes, face-to-face check-in seems to lead to more respectful guests, and gives you the opportunity to reiterate what they need to know (like it's crucial that they read the house manual) and gives you an idea of how clueless they may be.