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Post by High Priestess on Feb 12, 2016 5:50:32 GMT
HI Suzanne P -- welcome to the new site for New Hosts Forum, glad to see you here!!!
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Post by Suzanne P on Feb 12, 2016 15:47:36 GMT
Thanks, Deborah! Glad to make the change from airbnb groups!!
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Post by erikam on Feb 12, 2016 18:13:01 GMT
Many thanks to you and Jordie, for keeping us all together. I'm sorry airbnb is being so short sighted in taking apart the networks that we've built (especially as it has proved to be in their favor so often!). Thank you for also creating one central place too so we can more easily tune in to any conversations and important issues.
Erika
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 13, 2016 2:07:36 GMT
Hi Erika, nice to see you here!
Yes, I think it's beneficial for the community to have one central place to go where hosts can read about things beyond just their local issues. This keeps the group more lively too as there is more news that way.
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Post by Kristi on Feb 15, 2016 15:25:13 GMT
Hello my old Airbnb Friends and nice to meet you new ones. So I have two issues in my Hosting life right now:
1. I had my first Guest cancel on me in over a year of Hosting and he did it on the day of arrival, on Valentine's & Presidents week-end!
2. My City is charming the Short Term Rental Laws and zoning!
So my first issue. Wow did I screw up on this one. I would have gone to the Airbnb Groups page if it had stayed the same but I called Airbnb instead. So I had a couple coming for 4 nights Saturday the 13th being the first night. I prepared the room, went to the grocery store and was off to the bakery and florist when the "ping" came on my phone. Sick, can't make it! I have a Moderate cancelation in place. So I am suppose to get full pay for that night & 50% for the next 3 nights. In his messaging back and he said he was sorry and really wanted to re-book the same dates in 3 weeks. I felt sorry for him! Yeah first mistake so when talking to Airbnb I told them I have to have that night and it would be ok to not charge him the 50% nights. In my mind I wanted to be fair. So I answered him and so did Airbnb. He never answered us back and within an hour Airbnb sent him the policy and told him he would only be charged for 1 night. Well, now I haven't heard from him to re-book. Surprise huh? I am so mad at myself. I had 2 other couples who wanted this week-end and in retrospect I should have had Valentine's Day at my week-end rate. I just feel like I rushed to being sweet and helpful and I wish Airbnb had given me advise like I know all of you would have. To top it off I have a 2 night minimum. Soooooo after going through all of this I should have..............requested 2 nights fee and being a good guy written off the other 2 nights. I am just telling you all so you don't do the same mistake as I did. I just should have breathed and waited for a little bit. Haha and he never re-booked at this point I don't want him too. I learned 3 lessons 1. the cancelation policy is the cancelation policy adhere by it 2. come here for advise 3. charge the week-end rate for Valentine's Day.
So my send issue is short term rental in the City of San Clemente. The bottom line for me is I have to be approved for this new license in April where Code Enforcement come review you and one City Council woman wants all Short Term Rentals banned in R-1 neighborhoods and that is where I live. So long story short I might be out of business. I will keep you all posted on this.
Thanks for reading over my morning rant but if I can help one person that's a good thing. Have a wonderful day everyone!
Kristi
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 15, 2016 16:14:56 GMT
Thanks Kristi for sharing your news! I'm sorry to hear of both things. Yes, as far as guest cancellations, it is always best, if you have any doubt whatsoever, to just adhere to the cancellation policy that you have on your listing. That makes things extremely simple, and you don't actually have to do ANYTHING. Airbnb does it all. All you need to do is respond to the guest in some way, it can be very minimal, such as "Sorry you couldn't make it. Hope to see you another time!" I recommend that hosts never get into offering special deals if the guest re-books, etc -- you are already losing money on moderate policy, in my view it's foolish to offer to give yet more away.
Your city -- keep in mind it's not over until it's over, and keep plugging and advocating for your interests. I hope the ban on R-1 neighborhoods doesn't go thru -- if it's only one woman who wants that ban, it's likely that she won't get her way, so keep things in perspective, keep plugging away, and let us know the news!
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Post by Nancy Drew on Feb 25, 2016 5:04:05 GMT
So did you guys leave air bnb?
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 25, 2016 6:07:19 GMT
No, Nancy -- we are still Airbnb hosts -- it's just that the Airbnb host community groups are closing ---
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Post by lynnc on Feb 25, 2016 20:18:42 GMT
Hi,
I just registered and I'd appreciate information on setting up a new post and how to advertise a cleaning service for airbnb hosts between guests. I appreciate your input.
LynnC
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 25, 2016 21:15:16 GMT
Hi Lynn
I am only able to reply by phone now so I can't send you a link until later, but if you scroll down the forum page and look at the board names, you will see be that says "classified ads" and you an post your ads there for your business. To create a new post, click on the "create thread" button in black on right upper aide of the page-- I am not sure but I think it appears there in the mobile app as well.
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Post by lady on Feb 25, 2016 22:06:03 GMT
Hello. I'm not sure how to participate in this. I got here from learning home sharers of the east bay on airbnb is closing
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 26, 2016 2:56:14 GMT
Hi Lady -- Airbnb was scheduled to close the Airbnb host community groups as of today, and today they announced on the Community Center, that they will not be closing the groups until APril 29th!! WHich really makes me wonder if Bozo is at the helm. I really wish they would not have waited until the 11th hour and 58th minute to make that announcement! ANyhow -- here is the post on the Community Center which announces this --- community.airbnb.com/t5/Announcements/Groups-Closing-Update/m-p/35168#U35168So the Home Sharers East Bay group will not actually be closing until April 29th, --- so if you want you can just focus on that group. We will still be posting East Bay news here and when the groups do finally close we will be here. See the instructions on using this forum here: globalhosting.freeforums.net/board/29/forum-rules-mission-statement-infoBasically there are CATEGORIES, then BOARDS, and then SUB-BOARDs to organize the material on here. THe home sharers of the East Bay board is here: globalhosting.freeforums.net/board/17/home-sharers-east-bayYou can click on the thread names to read them, or click "create thread" to compose a thread of your own.
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Post by jamiestrayer on Feb 26, 2016 7:30:23 GMT
Deborah and new friends: I had a potential guest write with a question about pricing. It is their first time booking with Airbnb, and I do not know how to answer this question.
Guest Question: I see two different prices... $601 & $724. Can you confirm what total price would be? I'm a little confused on total price. Can you do a break down for me?
My reply: The price I charge is $601. Airbnb charges service fees and perhaps that is the difference. The price shows only the $601 on my side. My nightly pricing in July has you booking at $119 on the 20th, $119 on the 21st, $139 on the 22nd and $139 on the 23rd. That subtotal is: $516 plus an $85 cleaning fee. I do not charge a deposit.Total: $601
I want to help you figure this out. I apologize that I do not know, and I will try to obtain the answer.
Guest Reply: Seems confusing... Obviously $601 is better. I have never used Airbnb before. Have used vrbo a few times. What do I do?
My questions for the group: What is the $724 compared to the $601? Is that Airbnb service fees and taxes? Does Airbnb communicate breakdown between the room cost and their fees transparently to the guest, OR should this be a red flag about this potential guest?
Thanks for helping me to figure this out.
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Post by High Priestess on Feb 26, 2016 11:26:27 GMT
Hi Jamie So, one of the best ways for you as a host to help a guest with this type of question, is for you to go to your listing page, and act as though you were a guest wanting to stay at your own place. Go to "manage listing" then select the listing, then click on "view listing" which takes you to where you can see your own listing as any guest would see it. (You can also see your listing as any guest would, when you search for your own listing in your city and click on it as it appears there...or when you enter the URL of your listing, eg www.airbnb.com/rooms/XXXXXXX where XXXXXX is the number associated with your particular listing). Then when you get to your main listing page as guests see it, enter the dates in question in the box on the right side. (Eg, the dates that this particular guest wants to stay) You will automatically see the price breakdown exactly as the guest sees it. Unfortunately, some guests will somehow miss seeing this breakdown of all the parts of the total price, even though it is right there in front of them when they enter the dates they are interested in. That guests miss seeing this breakdown is not a "red flag" though it is unfortunate. Particularly for those new to using Airbnb, it may be a lot to take in at once, and they may not assimilate it all and miss some things. I wouldn't be worried about it -- just answer them as best you can. Usually guests will pay about 6-10% in AIrbnb fees, as well as cleaning fees, and for hosts in some cities, or states, there are TOT or transient occupancy taxes charged to the guest as well, which can vary from 6% to 17% of the total price you charge. Yes, guests can pay a lot of fees!
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Post by jamiestrayer on Feb 26, 2016 23:41:25 GMT
Great advice, Deborah. I am grateful and love this forum. I also appreciate your perspective on Airbnb's disloyalty to hosts. I've invested in converting another house and buying furnishings, etc. only to discover that bookings are decreasing and they are still are running their "refer a host" campaign.
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