Post by High Priestess on May 29, 2016 19:42:21 GMT
Andrea shared on NHF Dec 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-96801
A few questions
Hi everyone.1. I know this is odd but I'm pining for a group of people to hang out with, that want to drink wine, swap Host stories, trade cleaning and folding secrets and just generally have fun being Hosts while not vacuuming. I'm in Boston and can't seem to locate anyone. Ideas?2. I was under the impression that Airbnb issues a 1099 form for taxes. Then when they wrote to me, they said it will be a: W-9 which is: Request for TaxpayerIdentification Number and CertificationI've looked at everything I can find, off the site and on, and tried "adding a new taxpayer" (as Airbnb suggested) and also written through the help center (without response). I'm stumped about how to get the 1099 that I need to do my taxes. Any ideas?3. Incredibly curious about others experiences with long, clearly personal, heart-felt inquiries and then nothing. I'm trying so hard to do this well. Any input on my 2 listings?Thanks so much.I spend my spare time reading and re-reading posts and ideas.warmly.Andrea
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Elizabeth
Elizabetha year ago
It's probably bit soon to get the 1099. I'm new but I imagine there will be link on AirBNB come tax season for us to download our 1099's?
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hi Andrea! Wish I could meet up with you but I'm in LA. I have also REALLY wanted a group of hosts to meet in person and share stories. I should put out the suggestion in my local Airbnb online groups (there is one for Silver Lake, but it's not very active.) Are there any host groups/forums specific to Boston? Maybe you could start one on the site, and it could evolve into in-person meetings for stories and help and silliness. You could also post on this and other groups, saying "I'm in Boston and who else out there wants to get together?"
I'll check out your listings and see if I can offer any feedback, but I bet you're doing just fine.
Cheers!
As to your question #3, I have had that happen. It's weird - you get so caught up in the idea of hosting this person, then they just drop out of sight. It's just the nature of the business. I conclude that many guests send heartfelt and lengthy inquiries to several hosts, then they decide on where they most want to stay.
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Andrea
Andreaa year ago
Thank you so much. If I ever get the money to come visit all three (!) of my siblings in LA, maybe we can meet and toast to hospital corners or perfect muffins
It's the silliness mixed in with how awesome this is and how incredibly much work it takes to do it well. I'm loving it so much and wanting to know other people who feel similarly. This does not mean that I don't run many tracks of mental critique about how it's sometimes being managed but I'd love to talk and listen about this too.Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hey Andrea, I think your listings look great! I definitely get a sense that the places are tranquil and that you love hosting - it comes through. I would only offer one small suggestion. You might shorten a bit your listing description. It could be condensed here and there, and that makes it easier on a prospective guest. Just my two cents, but I think your places look great!
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Andrea
Andreaa year ago
Again, thank you so much Carolyn. I know I need to shorten. I tend to over-do on lots of fronts. I just haven't been able to figure out what I should pull out. Sigh. So many people don't read. It often seems like the guests who read, read all of it and love it and the others just don't.
Leah
Leaha year ago
I think there is a Dorchester group, which I saw an ad for a meet up not too long ago. Search on the full website version, not just app, for regional groups. I bet there is a Boston group. Yes, fill out the W9 and then at the beginning of the year, you will get the notice that your 1099 is ready for printing or download.
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Andrea
Andreaa year ago
Thank you Leah. It doesn't seem there is a Boston group through Airbnb but I'll keep looking. Just had an idea. Maybe I'll write something and then send it to each host in my area through the site - if I can figure out how to make that work.
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hey Andrea, yes, if you make it to LA let's toast the big and little things! And let's toast ourselves, because it appears we're both doing a great job with this. I always over-worry about the details of hosting, but I wouldn't trade it.
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Andrea
Andreaa year ago
Honestly I love doing this. And I keep marveling at how odd it is that I love it so much. But I do.
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
(1) Here is the Boston and Cambridge area group: www.airbnb.com/groups/1625
If you'd like to arrange or attend a meetup, I'd suggest writing a private message to Shefali the group organizer - s/he is the likeliest person to know how the local community is organized, and can assist with organizing an event if there isn't already one planned.
(3) Long, personal, heart-felt inquiries are often duplicates. It's easier to understand this when you make inquiries as a guest yourself, and 60-70% of hosts ignore or decline you despite having a complete profile, a heartfelt inquiry, and good reviews. Either you learn to contact lots of hosts at once or you give up and book through another site. The guests who send a Reservation Request rather than an inquiry ("Contact Hosts") are usually more seriously interested in your space, as they are ready to commit. Respond quickly to the ones who send mere inquiries, but assume that a large portion of them won't convert to bookings.
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Glenn
Glenna year ago
"Paging the Bitter party. Bitter, party of -- one." =)
Nic and Rach
Nic and Racha year ago
What happened to your number 2) just wondering what the contents may be ? LOL
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I don't reside in the US, so I have no useful comment on American taxes.
Andrea
Andreaa year ago
Thank you Andrew. Not sure why I was unable to locate it in groups but I really appreciate the link. It hadn't occurred to me that many Hosts don't respond or decline. I wonder why. Thank you.
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I think the hosts who use groups like this one are outliers - we're likelier than average to be really into hospitality and learning how to be the best we can at what we do, which is why we seek and share knowledge. Plenty of active listings are just put up carelessly by people who can't really be bothered and just have a vague idea of Airbnb as an easy way to make money. Maybe they put up a listing awhile back and never updated their calendar or checked their messages. You have to wade through a lot of these before you get to the good ones. I wouldn't really think about that side of the guest experience if I hadn't dealt with it so much myself, but it's the most frequent complaint my guests have about Airbnb. With that in mind, I don't take it personally when guests wind up booking with another host - in the big picture, it's still good for us when more people have positive experiences on Airbnb.
Andrea
Andreaa year ago
I'm thinking (hoping) that I'll take things less to heart (which is more what it seems like than personally - meaning I know that not all spaces are great for all people and vice-versa) but I just so much want to do this well. I think once I have a year under my belt things will feel more solid. At this point when I don't get a booking, I'm still looking at what I can improve. Always asking myself if there's another way to say something or maybe other things I wish I'd known to add in my responses. I'm loving the learning curve and researching wherever I can about hospitality. Finding the whole thing fascinating. It's asking a whole new set of questions and they are questions I'm really getting a kick out of. For example: thinking about if I place a particular object or amenity in just this particular way, will it bring a smile or comfort to my guest. Thanks for writing.
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
Ohhh, I think of the bookings that I don't get as the bookings that were not for me! I don't want any guest who isn't sure that they want o be here or, even if approaching with some newcomer trepidation, isn't open to the experience of a unique bed and breakfast experience. After a brief fall of my heart when an inquiry faded into nothing, I usually sigh in relief that that person chose to pass me by.
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
want "to" be here inquiry "fades"