Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 2:13:56 GMT
Kathy shared in May 2015 on Hosting 911
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100081
Check in time
Last night I had 2 Chinese guests who were coming to stay with me for 3 nights. They were driving from SF and left at 5 pm to go to LA. They let me know that they would arrive at 3 am or so. I stayed up waiting for them, and by the time they were settled it was 4 am. Maybe because they were Chinese, they did not realize that it was a holiday.
What would you do? Say that the door shuts at a certain time and not accept their arrival after that?
BTW, then, after all that, the cancelled the reservation after one night because they were allergic to something.
Airbnb has been very helpful. But, I am a wreck.
10 comments
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I would never wait up until 3am for a guest. I wouldn't wait up until 11pm for a guest. I go to bed at 10pm, and if a guest arrives after that, I leave the keys out in a prearranged spot for them, so they can let themselves in. Then, I show them around the next day. However, I understand that not all hosts are comfortable allowing a guest/guests to let themselves in. My policy is that if I don't feel comfortable with a guest possibly needing to let themselves in, then I don't rent to them in the first place.
You could theoretically state that the door shuts at a certain hour and they cannot arrive after that, but I would not advise this, as delays often occur which are beyond the guest's ability to control (eg delayed flights) and by not letting a guest in you could be leaving them in a dangerous situation (eg without a place to sleep for the night and perhaps with no way to get anywhere else!). So, I don't advise doing that. Certainly you can minimize the likelihood of guests arriving late, but instructing them in advance to please take an EARLY flight rather than a late one (though some guests book a place only after getting their plane ticket), and you could certainly also tell a guest that it is not a good idea for them to leave SF at 5pm to drive to your place in LA. You could advise them that you won't accept a PLANNED arrival at 3am (or after midnight -- whatever your cutoff time) but, (and you may not want to advertise this to them) you will still accept an UNPLANNED late arrival, eg they come late through no fault of their own or bad planning of their own. Leaving SF at 5pm for LA is poor planning.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Or I should say, Leaving SF at 5pm for LA is poor planning when your late arrival impacts someone else....if they wanted to just go to a Motel 6 or Holiday Inn and arrive at 3am, go for it, they aren't bothering anyone else --- assuming that most hotels/motels have 24/7 desk clerks....
Carrie
Carriea year ago
I use the lockbox, and send instructions for getting in/finding the room, etc. That works out really, really well. I can go out, I can go to sleep, etc.
Reply Like
Rick
Ricka year ago
this is a very timely post! I, like Deborah, generally leave them a key (for my own house) & go to bed---I've been known to sneak into bed & watch tv or read by 9pm sometimes!....For my free standing cottages, I generally have a lock box on the front porch railing...but here's where my question comes in...Apparently some people are very unskilled at lock boxes & unable to get them open...I've also had guests who could retrieve the keys, but not make them work in the door locks (??!)...In both cases, I have to get out of bed, get dressed & go over there to let them in...very annoying & has happened more than once! Now, tonight (Christmas!! )...I have a couple arriving at 8:30 to Atlanta from the west coast---they then propose to rent a car & drive here (at least 4 hours)...so that would put their arrival after 1am--earliest! I've given them the instructions & asked that they pay particular attention to the directions, as the cottages are located in an "alley"---with no street signs!---in addition to this, they will be fumbling with a lock box at 1am in a "changing" neighborhood.
I am concerned, but also a bit annoyed...how to avoid such situations?? strongly suggest that people arrive before dark? or before 10pm??? I would never go to a strange place & arrive after midnight!! That's just crazy to me... comments??
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
Some hosts here use the keyless lock system, which I think makes a lot of sense. Seems simpler than having to use keys & no risk of losing keys. I haven't switched over due to the initial expense, but think that could be useful in many, many situations.
I've only had a couple instances where people had trouble with the lockbox - and those were when guests didn't print out/couldn't find the combination. Luckily, I was at work & they called me on my cell phone & I was able to walk them through the process.
I have had people check in at night (in my own home) while I was asleep, and that's worked out fine - but had they rung the doorbell, I could have gotten up & let them in. I've written out very, very detailed instructions for using the lock box. Let me know if you want me to post my "dumbed down" instructions for using the Masterlock lockbox, and I'd be happy to do so.
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Carrie – I would like to compare yours with mine. :-) "To open the lock - pull the CLEAR button down and release, enter the code (redacted), then pull and hold the open button down while pulling the gray front door open. If you grab the key and close the door without letting go of the open button, you are done, otherwise repeat the process to close the door (please ensure it's LOCKED all the time)."
I tell the guests that if they have trouble getting in to call me – and if it's between 10 PM and 7 AM to ring twice to bypass the do not disturb mode on my phone. Sometimes I'm asleep by 9:30. :-)
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
Julie & Eric (et al,)
Here are my lock box instructions:
The lock box will be attached to the security gate. Pull down the little black shutter door on the lock box to reveal the combination dials. Set the number dials for the combination (redacted). Then pull down the little lever just to the left of the numbers to open the door. Remove the keys inside, close the lock box & re-scramble the numbers. The key with the round top will open the security gate, and the key with the square top will open the upper lock on the door (lower lock does not work.) The door key may be a bit sticky - please don't worry - it works.
Reply Like
Susan
Susana year ago
no way would I allow check in at that time whatsoever, they either check in prior to Midnight (with prior notice) or not at all. Set and stay firm with clear check in/out times.
Reply Like
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
Well, actually I'm pretty impressed they arrived within an hour of their stated time! I've had loads of guests hours and hours later than they said they'd arrive. I'd highly recommend keyless entry locks and a word in your listing requiring a reasonable span of arrival/check out times. 0300 is not at all reasonable in my book. I also don't allow check in or out on Thankgiving, Christmas and Mardi Gras. I vote make some clear parameters and this won't happen to you again.
Reply Like
Kathy
Kathya year ago
These are great suggestions. I added to my rules that I prefer people arrive by 9 pm. Will look into the lock box.
Reply Like
Nick
Nicka year ago
Great suggestions, thank you. I'm with Deborah. I only host folks that I'm ok leaving the key out for. Happy New Year everyone!
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100081
Check in time
Last night I had 2 Chinese guests who were coming to stay with me for 3 nights. They were driving from SF and left at 5 pm to go to LA. They let me know that they would arrive at 3 am or so. I stayed up waiting for them, and by the time they were settled it was 4 am. Maybe because they were Chinese, they did not realize that it was a holiday.
What would you do? Say that the door shuts at a certain time and not accept their arrival after that?
BTW, then, after all that, the cancelled the reservation after one night because they were allergic to something.
Airbnb has been very helpful. But, I am a wreck.
10 comments
Following
Like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I would never wait up until 3am for a guest. I wouldn't wait up until 11pm for a guest. I go to bed at 10pm, and if a guest arrives after that, I leave the keys out in a prearranged spot for them, so they can let themselves in. Then, I show them around the next day. However, I understand that not all hosts are comfortable allowing a guest/guests to let themselves in. My policy is that if I don't feel comfortable with a guest possibly needing to let themselves in, then I don't rent to them in the first place.
You could theoretically state that the door shuts at a certain hour and they cannot arrive after that, but I would not advise this, as delays often occur which are beyond the guest's ability to control (eg delayed flights) and by not letting a guest in you could be leaving them in a dangerous situation (eg without a place to sleep for the night and perhaps with no way to get anywhere else!). So, I don't advise doing that. Certainly you can minimize the likelihood of guests arriving late, but instructing them in advance to please take an EARLY flight rather than a late one (though some guests book a place only after getting their plane ticket), and you could certainly also tell a guest that it is not a good idea for them to leave SF at 5pm to drive to your place in LA. You could advise them that you won't accept a PLANNED arrival at 3am (or after midnight -- whatever your cutoff time) but, (and you may not want to advertise this to them) you will still accept an UNPLANNED late arrival, eg they come late through no fault of their own or bad planning of their own. Leaving SF at 5pm for LA is poor planning.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Or I should say, Leaving SF at 5pm for LA is poor planning when your late arrival impacts someone else....if they wanted to just go to a Motel 6 or Holiday Inn and arrive at 3am, go for it, they aren't bothering anyone else --- assuming that most hotels/motels have 24/7 desk clerks....
Carrie
Carriea year ago
I use the lockbox, and send instructions for getting in/finding the room, etc. That works out really, really well. I can go out, I can go to sleep, etc.
Reply Like
Rick
Ricka year ago
this is a very timely post! I, like Deborah, generally leave them a key (for my own house) & go to bed---I've been known to sneak into bed & watch tv or read by 9pm sometimes!....For my free standing cottages, I generally have a lock box on the front porch railing...but here's where my question comes in...Apparently some people are very unskilled at lock boxes & unable to get them open...I've also had guests who could retrieve the keys, but not make them work in the door locks (??!)...In both cases, I have to get out of bed, get dressed & go over there to let them in...very annoying & has happened more than once! Now, tonight (Christmas!! )...I have a couple arriving at 8:30 to Atlanta from the west coast---they then propose to rent a car & drive here (at least 4 hours)...so that would put their arrival after 1am--earliest! I've given them the instructions & asked that they pay particular attention to the directions, as the cottages are located in an "alley"---with no street signs!---in addition to this, they will be fumbling with a lock box at 1am in a "changing" neighborhood.
I am concerned, but also a bit annoyed...how to avoid such situations?? strongly suggest that people arrive before dark? or before 10pm??? I would never go to a strange place & arrive after midnight!! That's just crazy to me... comments??
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
Some hosts here use the keyless lock system, which I think makes a lot of sense. Seems simpler than having to use keys & no risk of losing keys. I haven't switched over due to the initial expense, but think that could be useful in many, many situations.
I've only had a couple instances where people had trouble with the lockbox - and those were when guests didn't print out/couldn't find the combination. Luckily, I was at work & they called me on my cell phone & I was able to walk them through the process.
I have had people check in at night (in my own home) while I was asleep, and that's worked out fine - but had they rung the doorbell, I could have gotten up & let them in. I've written out very, very detailed instructions for using the lock box. Let me know if you want me to post my "dumbed down" instructions for using the Masterlock lockbox, and I'd be happy to do so.
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Carrie – I would like to compare yours with mine. :-) "To open the lock - pull the CLEAR button down and release, enter the code (redacted), then pull and hold the open button down while pulling the gray front door open. If you grab the key and close the door without letting go of the open button, you are done, otherwise repeat the process to close the door (please ensure it's LOCKED all the time)."
I tell the guests that if they have trouble getting in to call me – and if it's between 10 PM and 7 AM to ring twice to bypass the do not disturb mode on my phone. Sometimes I'm asleep by 9:30. :-)
Reply Like
Carrie
Carriea year ago
Julie & Eric (et al,)
Here are my lock box instructions:
The lock box will be attached to the security gate. Pull down the little black shutter door on the lock box to reveal the combination dials. Set the number dials for the combination (redacted). Then pull down the little lever just to the left of the numbers to open the door. Remove the keys inside, close the lock box & re-scramble the numbers. The key with the round top will open the security gate, and the key with the square top will open the upper lock on the door (lower lock does not work.) The door key may be a bit sticky - please don't worry - it works.
Reply Like
Susan
Susana year ago
no way would I allow check in at that time whatsoever, they either check in prior to Midnight (with prior notice) or not at all. Set and stay firm with clear check in/out times.
Reply Like
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
Well, actually I'm pretty impressed they arrived within an hour of their stated time! I've had loads of guests hours and hours later than they said they'd arrive. I'd highly recommend keyless entry locks and a word in your listing requiring a reasonable span of arrival/check out times. 0300 is not at all reasonable in my book. I also don't allow check in or out on Thankgiving, Christmas and Mardi Gras. I vote make some clear parameters and this won't happen to you again.
Reply Like
Kathy
Kathya year ago
These are great suggestions. I added to my rules that I prefer people arrive by 9 pm. Will look into the lock box.
Reply Like
Nick
Nicka year ago
Great suggestions, thank you. I'm with Deborah. I only host folks that I'm ok leaving the key out for. Happy New Year everyone!