Post by High Priestess on Nov 15, 2015 21:11:28 GMT
Mary shared Nov 15 2015
Bad first experience
I put a room in my house up on airbnb a month ago. Soon after I posted the room I got a reservation request for a month. Being new to airbnb I didn't think too much about it and accepted.
I was excited about the arrival of my first guest and I was determined that they would have a nice experience in my house and town. I collected the guest from bus station and welcomed him into my home with a cup of tea and sandwiches. I showed him his room and everything he would need to settle in.
Over the next few days when I would arrive home from work (4pm) he would be in living /kitchen area watching TV. I would ask if he had gone anywhere and his reply each day was that he had no money. Every night I would wake up and hear TV on downstairs. On average it was 4am when he would go to bed. I woke up one night and he had the heating on and cooking sausages at 12 midnight. I went down stairs and asked him to turn the heating off upstairs. I opened the back door as there were strong fumes from the burning of sausages. I Found it difficult to get back to sleep and got up to open my bedroom windows at 3am. When I looked out my Window I saw him smoking upstairs.
The next day I explained that I was disappointed at him smoking in my house. I also said that in future I'd appreciate if he didn't cook after 9pm. He apologised. Unfortunately it all came to a head a few days ago when I just had enough. I had been woken by him going to bed at 5.30 am. That evening when I arrived home from work the kitchen was in a mess after his cooking. I waited til he ate and cleaned up. Later that evening at 5 to 9 he arrived downstairs and started cooking again. I got really angry and told him I wasn't happy with him staying any longer. I said I wasn't happy with the hours he was keeping and he ignores me when I said no cooking. His reply was that my (piece of shit) stairs was so creaky that it took him 5 mins to get up it and that he was only cooking a tortilla. He said he was going to leave anyway because he didn't feel welcome. I saw red and told him to leave straight away. That he obviously wasn't happy and I didn't want him staying in my home knowing he didn't want to be there. I got the rest of his money I owed him and made him leave. I've unlisted my room. I'm not sure what to do really. I'm sure he's going to leave a bad review and it's such a pity as I know I've a great house with plenty to offer. I really felt like this guy took the biscuit. He acted like the house was his own. Wearing pyjamas and vest only. He ate my cereal and took liberties with spices and oils I have. I know I should have cut his stay short when I caught him smoking. I updated my rules as needed. ( no cooking after 9pm etc.)
I know that it wasn't very professional throwing him out with no notice but I didn't see any other option as I didn't trust him to stay after his attitude. If he reviews me poorly will that stay on my profile?
Jeannette
Yes.
Joanna
That's too bad that your first experience was so poor. When someone contacts me about my place I always ask the reason for the visit, it usually gives me an idea of the hours they might keep. Screening your guests really makes a difference but even that is no guarantee.
Shirley
Even if you got a bad review, you could respond back a month is a long time to share spare with a stranger who didn't agree with your house rules.
Juliet and Ed
Mary, yes, he probably will review you, and if (as you fear) the review is unfavorable, you can respond to it publicly. Your response should be short and to the point, not mean, just stating the facts.
I am so sorry you had this horrible experience. Don't give up yet, let it be a learning experience. Before you re-list, read through MANY of the posts in this group, and also in "Hosting 911" (911 is the emergency phone number in theUSA, obviously non-Americans would not know this, so Hosting 911 is for problems and emergencies). Also, read other people's rules (mine, for example). And don't accept people for such a long stay. You can set the length of stay for whatever you like. One month, as you have found out, is too long. You run the risk of getting people who may not have anywhere else to live. And amend your rules as you see fit. And remember, you can also call Airbnb when you have a real problem, they will help.
Hope this helps.
Mary
Yes it most certainly has been a learning curve. If I do decide to host again, I think two or three days will be long enough.
Queenie & Ted
I'm so sorry this was your first hosting experience. The disrespect shown by your guest for house rules was horrible. Short term stays are recommended for new hosts because of the need to build up some hosting 'muscle' and be able to nip bad behaviour in the bud. I strongly recommend Deborah's article on long term guests - globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/787/long-term-guests - .
I also suggest all hosts develop a list of screening questions for guests so that they are not finding out what a guest's plans are after they've arrived. I have a list that I use. It's on this link
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/460/guests-inquiring-stay-screening
You don't state who cancelled the rest of his reservation. If it was him, he should not be able to leave a review at all. If it were you, I suggest you follow up with airbnb with details on why you needed him to go. It sounds like you refunded him the rest of his stay with cash. That's a big no-no as he can contact airbnb and request a refund since they have no knowledge of your personal refund to him. Please contact airbnb right away and get the whole story on record.
Mary
Ya I just refunded him cash. I just wanted him gone. I have tried contacting them but the page just goes blank.
Mary
Thanks for your help. X
Jeannette
Good points. Queenie, I *think* we are hearing on these fora that a mid-stay cancellation can indeed result in a guest review. (vs. a no-show cancellation)
Anastasia
Don't let this scare you. I list two rooms in my home and have been booked, just now slowing down. All of my guest have been here for just a few days and are here just to sleep. I have had requests for a month while people look for an apartment and I turn them down. It would be easy enough to get a roommate if that's what we wanted. we want travelers !!!
Deborah (High Priestess)
I'm sorry to hear your first experience with a guest was a bad one. As you are starting to see, there is a learning curve associated with hosting, and we as experienced hosts are always trying to this that across emphatically to new hosts, who all too easily can view a few dreamy AIrbnb ads about belonging and not realize what they are getting into. Which is the often complicated business of property rental.
I'm glad you got this guest out, very glad you had the strength to do that (many hosts would not have the strength to do that) and I think your plan to only take guests for a few days is a good one. Do that for a while at least until you have the opportunity to learn more.
This story serves as a good illustration that it could actually be the very first guest who is a problematic one, which is why it's good to take some precautions and develop some skills even before you set your listing up to go live.
Bad first experience
I put a room in my house up on airbnb a month ago. Soon after I posted the room I got a reservation request for a month. Being new to airbnb I didn't think too much about it and accepted.
I was excited about the arrival of my first guest and I was determined that they would have a nice experience in my house and town. I collected the guest from bus station and welcomed him into my home with a cup of tea and sandwiches. I showed him his room and everything he would need to settle in.
Over the next few days when I would arrive home from work (4pm) he would be in living /kitchen area watching TV. I would ask if he had gone anywhere and his reply each day was that he had no money. Every night I would wake up and hear TV on downstairs. On average it was 4am when he would go to bed. I woke up one night and he had the heating on and cooking sausages at 12 midnight. I went down stairs and asked him to turn the heating off upstairs. I opened the back door as there were strong fumes from the burning of sausages. I Found it difficult to get back to sleep and got up to open my bedroom windows at 3am. When I looked out my Window I saw him smoking upstairs.
The next day I explained that I was disappointed at him smoking in my house. I also said that in future I'd appreciate if he didn't cook after 9pm. He apologised. Unfortunately it all came to a head a few days ago when I just had enough. I had been woken by him going to bed at 5.30 am. That evening when I arrived home from work the kitchen was in a mess after his cooking. I waited til he ate and cleaned up. Later that evening at 5 to 9 he arrived downstairs and started cooking again. I got really angry and told him I wasn't happy with him staying any longer. I said I wasn't happy with the hours he was keeping and he ignores me when I said no cooking. His reply was that my (piece of shit) stairs was so creaky that it took him 5 mins to get up it and that he was only cooking a tortilla. He said he was going to leave anyway because he didn't feel welcome. I saw red and told him to leave straight away. That he obviously wasn't happy and I didn't want him staying in my home knowing he didn't want to be there. I got the rest of his money I owed him and made him leave. I've unlisted my room. I'm not sure what to do really. I'm sure he's going to leave a bad review and it's such a pity as I know I've a great house with plenty to offer. I really felt like this guy took the biscuit. He acted like the house was his own. Wearing pyjamas and vest only. He ate my cereal and took liberties with spices and oils I have. I know I should have cut his stay short when I caught him smoking. I updated my rules as needed. ( no cooking after 9pm etc.)
I know that it wasn't very professional throwing him out with no notice but I didn't see any other option as I didn't trust him to stay after his attitude. If he reviews me poorly will that stay on my profile?
Jeannette
Yes.
Joanna
That's too bad that your first experience was so poor. When someone contacts me about my place I always ask the reason for the visit, it usually gives me an idea of the hours they might keep. Screening your guests really makes a difference but even that is no guarantee.
Shirley
Even if you got a bad review, you could respond back a month is a long time to share spare with a stranger who didn't agree with your house rules.
Juliet and Ed
Mary, yes, he probably will review you, and if (as you fear) the review is unfavorable, you can respond to it publicly. Your response should be short and to the point, not mean, just stating the facts.
I am so sorry you had this horrible experience. Don't give up yet, let it be a learning experience. Before you re-list, read through MANY of the posts in this group, and also in "Hosting 911" (911 is the emergency phone number in theUSA, obviously non-Americans would not know this, so Hosting 911 is for problems and emergencies). Also, read other people's rules (mine, for example). And don't accept people for such a long stay. You can set the length of stay for whatever you like. One month, as you have found out, is too long. You run the risk of getting people who may not have anywhere else to live. And amend your rules as you see fit. And remember, you can also call Airbnb when you have a real problem, they will help.
Hope this helps.
Mary
Yes it most certainly has been a learning curve. If I do decide to host again, I think two or three days will be long enough.
Queenie & Ted
I'm so sorry this was your first hosting experience. The disrespect shown by your guest for house rules was horrible. Short term stays are recommended for new hosts because of the need to build up some hosting 'muscle' and be able to nip bad behaviour in the bud. I strongly recommend Deborah's article on long term guests - globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/787/long-term-guests - .
I also suggest all hosts develop a list of screening questions for guests so that they are not finding out what a guest's plans are after they've arrived. I have a list that I use. It's on this link
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/460/guests-inquiring-stay-screening
You don't state who cancelled the rest of his reservation. If it was him, he should not be able to leave a review at all. If it were you, I suggest you follow up with airbnb with details on why you needed him to go. It sounds like you refunded him the rest of his stay with cash. That's a big no-no as he can contact airbnb and request a refund since they have no knowledge of your personal refund to him. Please contact airbnb right away and get the whole story on record.
Mary
Ya I just refunded him cash. I just wanted him gone. I have tried contacting them but the page just goes blank.
Mary
Thanks for your help. X
Jeannette
Good points. Queenie, I *think* we are hearing on these fora that a mid-stay cancellation can indeed result in a guest review. (vs. a no-show cancellation)
Anastasia
Don't let this scare you. I list two rooms in my home and have been booked, just now slowing down. All of my guest have been here for just a few days and are here just to sleep. I have had requests for a month while people look for an apartment and I turn them down. It would be easy enough to get a roommate if that's what we wanted. we want travelers !!!
Deborah (High Priestess)
I'm sorry to hear your first experience with a guest was a bad one. As you are starting to see, there is a learning curve associated with hosting, and we as experienced hosts are always trying to this that across emphatically to new hosts, who all too easily can view a few dreamy AIrbnb ads about belonging and not realize what they are getting into. Which is the often complicated business of property rental.
I'm glad you got this guest out, very glad you had the strength to do that (many hosts would not have the strength to do that) and I think your plan to only take guests for a few days is a good one. Do that for a while at least until you have the opportunity to learn more.
This story serves as a good illustration that it could actually be the very first guest who is a problematic one, which is why it's good to take some precautions and develop some skills even before you set your listing up to go live.
