Post by High Priestess on Oct 13, 2015 21:03:38 GMT
Dhaval and Namrata:
Verification
I need my guests to be verified before they can book my listing. Since this morning my calendar is blocked from 15-17 Oct and shows "pending verification". I haven't received any email about a booking or which guest is trying to get verified. All it says is "This reservation is pending verification. For your safety, we request that some users provide additional verification before being allowed to contact you.". I am just wondering how long the process can take since it does affect my bookings. What if this person who is getting verified doesn't book it in the end?
Update:
Airbnb gave me a response. They said they give guests 12 hours to complete the verification.
Nancy:
That's why I prefer to work with the guest directly to have them do the verifications before moving on to accept a booking. Sometimes if their response to my request to get an ID verified is not cooperative I just decline the inquiry. But 99% of potential guests appreciate the help and take care of it right away.
If you have Verification required via Airbnb this is what happens and the guest may need a bit more instruction or a better understanding of why the verifications are important to upload.
I am a bit of a control freak but if I can manage the guest experience from the very beginning and help the new to Airbnb guests it usually works out in a positive experience for them, me and their impression of Airbnb.
If you have Verification required via Airbnb this is what happens: the 12 hour hold and no other bookings can happen while you wonder what the hold up is...
Dhaval and Namrata:
Thanks for the information Nancy. How long do you give unverified guests to complete the verification process if they book your place? Doesn't declining reservations affect search placement?
Nancy
Just to be clear I'm talking about an Inquiry only when declining. It doesn't affect search placement if you decline and indicate a reason and don't do it very often.
If I'm responding quickly to their inquiry generally I get a response of some sort back from the guest right away. The key is for you to send a message to them as quickly as possible to maintain your response rate.
Since they are just Inquiring it doesn't really matter how long it takes for them to respond since it's not tying up my ability to book another guest. So I don't really stress about it. It's only happened one time that I can remember where I never heard back at all. I've had a couple that booked elsewhere but the majority appreciate the help and ultimately book with me.
Dhaval and Namrata
Yup but you could get a reservation from an unverified guest and what if they do not respond to your request to verify themselves. You have only 24 hours to accept or decline and they might be travelling by the time you send them the request.
Nancy
That does happen pretty often. I do respond to their reservation request as quickly as possible. In addition to any questions I may have to clarify their needs I also will ask them to upload a picture and ID (if needed) for security purposes. If the rest of their reservation info meets my criteria then I tell them to message me once they have uploaded what I need (picture and ID are my requirements) and I'll approve their reservation.
When they have sent a reservation request I know they are serious about booking so the request for a picture and/or ID is met generally within a short time. Or they will let me know if they are having trouble and then I can help. I've never had to decline an actual reservation.
Verification
I need my guests to be verified before they can book my listing. Since this morning my calendar is blocked from 15-17 Oct and shows "pending verification". I haven't received any email about a booking or which guest is trying to get verified. All it says is "This reservation is pending verification. For your safety, we request that some users provide additional verification before being allowed to contact you.". I am just wondering how long the process can take since it does affect my bookings. What if this person who is getting verified doesn't book it in the end?
Update:
Airbnb gave me a response. They said they give guests 12 hours to complete the verification.
Nancy:
That's why I prefer to work with the guest directly to have them do the verifications before moving on to accept a booking. Sometimes if their response to my request to get an ID verified is not cooperative I just decline the inquiry. But 99% of potential guests appreciate the help and take care of it right away.
If you have Verification required via Airbnb this is what happens and the guest may need a bit more instruction or a better understanding of why the verifications are important to upload.
I am a bit of a control freak but if I can manage the guest experience from the very beginning and help the new to Airbnb guests it usually works out in a positive experience for them, me and their impression of Airbnb.
If you have Verification required via Airbnb this is what happens: the 12 hour hold and no other bookings can happen while you wonder what the hold up is...
Dhaval and Namrata:
Thanks for the information Nancy. How long do you give unverified guests to complete the verification process if they book your place? Doesn't declining reservations affect search placement?
Nancy
Just to be clear I'm talking about an Inquiry only when declining. It doesn't affect search placement if you decline and indicate a reason and don't do it very often.
If I'm responding quickly to their inquiry generally I get a response of some sort back from the guest right away. The key is for you to send a message to them as quickly as possible to maintain your response rate.
Since they are just Inquiring it doesn't really matter how long it takes for them to respond since it's not tying up my ability to book another guest. So I don't really stress about it. It's only happened one time that I can remember where I never heard back at all. I've had a couple that booked elsewhere but the majority appreciate the help and ultimately book with me.
Dhaval and Namrata
Yup but you could get a reservation from an unverified guest and what if they do not respond to your request to verify themselves. You have only 24 hours to accept or decline and they might be travelling by the time you send them the request.
Nancy
That does happen pretty often. I do respond to their reservation request as quickly as possible. In addition to any questions I may have to clarify their needs I also will ask them to upload a picture and ID (if needed) for security purposes. If the rest of their reservation info meets my criteria then I tell them to message me once they have uploaded what I need (picture and ID are my requirements) and I'll approve their reservation.
When they have sent a reservation request I know they are serious about booking so the request for a picture and/or ID is met generally within a short time. Or they will let me know if they are having trouble and then I can help. I've never had to decline an actual reservation.