Post by High Priestess on Jan 15, 2016 6:29:10 GMT
From Anecdotes group Jan 14 2016
Dionne shared
FIrst time every one's worst nightmare come to reality
Next
Soooo where do I start....from the beginning I guess.
I am a newbie and my first adventure into airbnb was meet with much excitement and anticipation that after listing the place within hours I had a reservation and they wanted to move in on that very day. The lady called in personally to say how desperate she was as she couldn't book a hotel and my place was a blessing.
Of course immediately I said yep sure head on over. OH BOY...little did I know I was getting ready to enter hell!!.
The photo profile, the greeting set up was all a decoy. Let's call the lady LP and her guest (aka boyfriend) CW.
In her message she said she and her "partner" were staying over. When they arrived there was a party of 4. I asked who is staying over the other two couple said ,"oh we are here to help them move as we have been driving all day for a place to stay," the other couple I thought were staying over, one had shown her ID and the other followed me as I gave instructions.
I left, feeling very nervous and uncomfortable but I thought maybe it's a bit of hesitation entrusting two strangers into your place and I was overacting.
You know that inner voice they tell you to trust?
I was so right on the money.
A day later they ask for more towels and I was surprised to find it was the other couple (LP and CW) that were staying and not the one that showed her ID and her partner. They were so noisy, banging could be heard and I even heard their arguments through the walls. I started to feel more uneasy and even had to call them to turn their damn lousy music down.
Neighbours started to confide me that they witness disturbing scenes. Apparently one drunken night when they couldn't find their key they had tried to break in , keying in the door with a screw driver. Another thing they also mentioned was the number of DUBIOUS characters coming in and out (you know like hoes, pimps and junkies).
Now, I am blessed with living in a caring look out for your neighbour type of apartment so word got around pretty fast.
Let's speed this up forward to the graaaaand finale.
You ready for this big BANG!!!.
A police raid was conducted, all swat team, with guns big burly no bullshitting type of men. A part of me was a little (hello boys ) and another was like "shiiiiiittttt".
I could hear the raid with multiple men shouting "police, police, police", and the vibration tearing through the walls.
I was praying please don't break anything.
The boyfriend , CW was arrested from what I assumed, was drug dealing chargers. His girlfriend was released later that night.
They called me up to ask whether she was allowed to stay for the duration of her rental period. Of course I said no and I want her crap out in the presence of the police.
This is another information I omitted, the raid was conducted on christmas eve.
So after waiting of some sort of call for PL to collect her things. I gave her till the 26th.
The house was damaged. Items were missing and destroyed, my curtain rods was destroyed, spilling everywhere from the hallway, toilet to the living room. By this stage , I was stressed up to my non-existent balls. I called the police station to inform them that I had tried to get in touch for them to collect their items but I've heard nothing back so I am THROWING their crap out. Furthermore let's stay I found dangerous items that the police missed that I hand to hand in, like lots of burner phones, numerous keys, credit cards, other people's IDs , drug paraphernalia and even weapons.
Days later they wanted their stuff back, I replied it's in the trash.
So it's been a couple weeks since that incident and believe it or not, I've just handed in all of my claims for damages and reimbursement , the amount totalled to Aus $5000.
So here are a few tips and lessons I have learn about being a newbie, rules and airbnb.
1. Contact your police for advice and if they can't help. Make them take note. You got to be proactive. I was very fortunate that my neighbours looked out for me and I guess from a number of tips the police got ,it was pretty obvious who the common culprit was.
2. Set your rules and don't be afraid to lay down the law. At the end of the day you are cleaning up the mess even with the professional cleaners. They won't be doing everything for you.
3. When this happened , it was during the worst times of the year where everything is closed and airbnb give 2 days to claim compensation. Ask for an extension as realistic it is impossible to do in 2 days especially when people refuse to give out quotes in writing. Contact airbnb as soon as possible, I even got a personal phone call.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for a reasonable bond, mine was so cheap in comparison to what damages were made. I rather scare them about doing anything stupid then for them to feel like it's a good deal "I could wreck it and leave it" type of feeling.
5. TRUST your instincts. Mine was screaming like a loud queen on a sunday night in high stilettos and raging red lipstick but I dismissed it. I do know what airbnb says that you can cancel before hand but honestly, you can't judge a person solely on the phoney descriptions and lame "helpless" attitude. The property is yours, so protect it. There were so many days I was so stressed but felt I couldn't kick them out as I worried about the place.
6. Increase your security. I only accept people that have good reviews, or have more IDs verified, there is an option to do this. This was the one thing I failed to do because I was not use to the buttons. I suggest that you get familiar with the settings, read policies, tips and so on forth.
7. Keep watch. I had listed out an entire apartment , so not a room, I would say be vigilant but not spying , more like , when you know something is not right, take note. Don't be afraid to call them to turn music down and such. I was getting so angry as they were playing very loud music on a sunday night, and mind you you can have the door shut, but that doesn't stop the vibration or the noise travelling through the walls.
Overall , I just submitted my compensation so I do not know how long it takes, but the process is interesting , as you can't hand in excel or word documents, you are assigned an officer and can only respond to their emails. I had screen shot everything as they couldn't accept much formats. So there was alot of emails being sent.
Will update with the compensation process.
So since then, I have continued to upgrade my security and still am in the processing of getting things fixed and replaced. I have changed my bond to be more expensive but lowered my monthly discount since I found alot of people who would like to stay longer for a lot cheaper.
I have been fortunate to have lovely guests since then and truly embrace the spirit that airbnb have created. The sense of community. Overall, my first time was ...an eye opener and I hope this helps anyone in trouble with "dubious" guests and that your first time can't be as bad as mine over christmas time as well.
helga
Did the burglars stay for a few days? - Is this your apartment after the guests left or you guesting in a students flat?
Dionne
This is my apartment that I've been renting out, the 'burglar's or drug dealers more like it stay for a few weeks. And yes this was the state they left it in. Was much worse in reality, there was more to it like they wrote things on the walls. Place heavy duty tapes on the walls that tore the paint apart, dishes not washed , rubbish was left outside on the balcony, threw out my outdoor broom , things are missing. Washing machine acted funny afterwards, they ripped out the door lock in the bathroom, my white shelves had nailpolish markings, even burnt plastic pipes on the balcony.
Let's just say they had no respect for the space.
helga
Sorry, there is a bug in your post. The text does not show or the app crashes when you try to scroll down (probably from copying formated Word text or something.). Therefore I did not see the text and posted the above remark.
Sounds awful. But strange : you jumped blindly into this business, got hit over the head by the first experience picking really terrible guests and lo and behold you come up with a complete manual to teach everyone how to proceed in the future. Sounds a bit off to me. Not all of us were born yesterday. You could profit yourself from reading a lot more on this forum, the new host forum, Deborah 's forum and ALL ghe pages in the airbnb help section. Take your time to think a out that. Otherwise you will just st pick the next red flag case and have to write another chapter of your How To Do Perfect Hosting book. I'm on the phone but someone will post you the links ;-)
Dionne
Well I did not copy from word, I just simply typed.
I did not jump into this blind, but like all things new, you need to learn how to navigate through things. I am not coming up with a COMPLETE MANUAL TO TEACH, I am sharing my own experience and what I think I could have done to help myself and others if they were in the same boat. I thought this was a forum to share ancedotes and stories of being a host?
How does this sound a bit off to you?? and as you said , you did not read the whole post and by the way, I am not the first person to have experience this, it was even in the news that someone's elses place was used to make meth. So please don't make assumptions that I came to to this blind. None of us were born yesterday but we learn by things that happen especially bad things.
I thought getting here would help share what happen to me, but seems like I'm being reprimanded.
Clare
Dionne, you get the Super Newbie Host Award for best story!! I'm so sorry for your experience. Seems like there is a certain kind of "guest" that preys on new hosts counting on their naivete and not knowing the ropes about vetting guests. etc. But you came back fighting and I applaud you for it. As Helga said, you came out of this with a manual for new hosts and I hope they read your story! I think one of the links Helga referred to was this one about red flags warnings on guests:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/455/red-flags-hosts
You are my hero and I wish you many, trouble free, years of hosting!
Dionne
That is the thing. There was no red flag warnings on this guest and with the numerous numbers of IDs and credit cards I found on them. I doubt it was hard for them to get a fake profile. As mentioned even their introduction was deceiving. My point is some people will go to arms length to deceive you and when that happens you got no one but yourself to deal with it. No help online is going to prepare you for this you just need to be patient and smart. As I said there was weapons found and the police bagged alot of evidence. So I wouldn't be surprised if they were off their faces most of the time. And that is the last thing you want to deal with. A high weapon wielding drug dealer.
Deborah
Story saved.
Yes, do pay attention to that "gut feeling."
And dont' wait for the walls to start shaking with loud music before you confront your guests.
I guess the moral of this story is....if you don't throw out your bad guests, the police will, and then the neighbors might end your hosting career before it's gotten off the ground.
See the blog post about this -- tinyurl.com/jtmbpxr
Dionne shared
FIrst time every one's worst nightmare come to reality
Next
Soooo where do I start....from the beginning I guess.
I am a newbie and my first adventure into airbnb was meet with much excitement and anticipation that after listing the place within hours I had a reservation and they wanted to move in on that very day. The lady called in personally to say how desperate she was as she couldn't book a hotel and my place was a blessing.
Of course immediately I said yep sure head on over. OH BOY...little did I know I was getting ready to enter hell!!.
The photo profile, the greeting set up was all a decoy. Let's call the lady LP and her guest (aka boyfriend) CW.
In her message she said she and her "partner" were staying over. When they arrived there was a party of 4. I asked who is staying over the other two couple said ,"oh we are here to help them move as we have been driving all day for a place to stay," the other couple I thought were staying over, one had shown her ID and the other followed me as I gave instructions.
I left, feeling very nervous and uncomfortable but I thought maybe it's a bit of hesitation entrusting two strangers into your place and I was overacting.
You know that inner voice they tell you to trust?
I was so right on the money.
A day later they ask for more towels and I was surprised to find it was the other couple (LP and CW) that were staying and not the one that showed her ID and her partner. They were so noisy, banging could be heard and I even heard their arguments through the walls. I started to feel more uneasy and even had to call them to turn their damn lousy music down.
Neighbours started to confide me that they witness disturbing scenes. Apparently one drunken night when they couldn't find their key they had tried to break in , keying in the door with a screw driver. Another thing they also mentioned was the number of DUBIOUS characters coming in and out (you know like hoes, pimps and junkies).
Now, I am blessed with living in a caring look out for your neighbour type of apartment so word got around pretty fast.
Let's speed this up forward to the graaaaand finale.
You ready for this big BANG!!!.
A police raid was conducted, all swat team, with guns big burly no bullshitting type of men. A part of me was a little (hello boys ) and another was like "shiiiiiittttt".
I could hear the raid with multiple men shouting "police, police, police", and the vibration tearing through the walls.
I was praying please don't break anything.
The boyfriend , CW was arrested from what I assumed, was drug dealing chargers. His girlfriend was released later that night.
They called me up to ask whether she was allowed to stay for the duration of her rental period. Of course I said no and I want her crap out in the presence of the police.
This is another information I omitted, the raid was conducted on christmas eve.
So after waiting of some sort of call for PL to collect her things. I gave her till the 26th.
The house was damaged. Items were missing and destroyed, my curtain rods was destroyed, spilling everywhere from the hallway, toilet to the living room. By this stage , I was stressed up to my non-existent balls. I called the police station to inform them that I had tried to get in touch for them to collect their items but I've heard nothing back so I am THROWING their crap out. Furthermore let's stay I found dangerous items that the police missed that I hand to hand in, like lots of burner phones, numerous keys, credit cards, other people's IDs , drug paraphernalia and even weapons.
Days later they wanted their stuff back, I replied it's in the trash.
So it's been a couple weeks since that incident and believe it or not, I've just handed in all of my claims for damages and reimbursement , the amount totalled to Aus $5000.
So here are a few tips and lessons I have learn about being a newbie, rules and airbnb.
1. Contact your police for advice and if they can't help. Make them take note. You got to be proactive. I was very fortunate that my neighbours looked out for me and I guess from a number of tips the police got ,it was pretty obvious who the common culprit was.
2. Set your rules and don't be afraid to lay down the law. At the end of the day you are cleaning up the mess even with the professional cleaners. They won't be doing everything for you.
3. When this happened , it was during the worst times of the year where everything is closed and airbnb give 2 days to claim compensation. Ask for an extension as realistic it is impossible to do in 2 days especially when people refuse to give out quotes in writing. Contact airbnb as soon as possible, I even got a personal phone call.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for a reasonable bond, mine was so cheap in comparison to what damages were made. I rather scare them about doing anything stupid then for them to feel like it's a good deal "I could wreck it and leave it" type of feeling.
5. TRUST your instincts. Mine was screaming like a loud queen on a sunday night in high stilettos and raging red lipstick but I dismissed it. I do know what airbnb says that you can cancel before hand but honestly, you can't judge a person solely on the phoney descriptions and lame "helpless" attitude. The property is yours, so protect it. There were so many days I was so stressed but felt I couldn't kick them out as I worried about the place.
6. Increase your security. I only accept people that have good reviews, or have more IDs verified, there is an option to do this. This was the one thing I failed to do because I was not use to the buttons. I suggest that you get familiar with the settings, read policies, tips and so on forth.
7. Keep watch. I had listed out an entire apartment , so not a room, I would say be vigilant but not spying , more like , when you know something is not right, take note. Don't be afraid to call them to turn music down and such. I was getting so angry as they were playing very loud music on a sunday night, and mind you you can have the door shut, but that doesn't stop the vibration or the noise travelling through the walls.
Overall , I just submitted my compensation so I do not know how long it takes, but the process is interesting , as you can't hand in excel or word documents, you are assigned an officer and can only respond to their emails. I had screen shot everything as they couldn't accept much formats. So there was alot of emails being sent.
Will update with the compensation process.
So since then, I have continued to upgrade my security and still am in the processing of getting things fixed and replaced. I have changed my bond to be more expensive but lowered my monthly discount since I found alot of people who would like to stay longer for a lot cheaper.
I have been fortunate to have lovely guests since then and truly embrace the spirit that airbnb have created. The sense of community. Overall, my first time was ...an eye opener and I hope this helps anyone in trouble with "dubious" guests and that your first time can't be as bad as mine over christmas time as well.
helga
Did the burglars stay for a few days? - Is this your apartment after the guests left or you guesting in a students flat?
Dionne
This is my apartment that I've been renting out, the 'burglar's or drug dealers more like it stay for a few weeks. And yes this was the state they left it in. Was much worse in reality, there was more to it like they wrote things on the walls. Place heavy duty tapes on the walls that tore the paint apart, dishes not washed , rubbish was left outside on the balcony, threw out my outdoor broom , things are missing. Washing machine acted funny afterwards, they ripped out the door lock in the bathroom, my white shelves had nailpolish markings, even burnt plastic pipes on the balcony.
Let's just say they had no respect for the space.
helga
Sorry, there is a bug in your post. The text does not show or the app crashes when you try to scroll down (probably from copying formated Word text or something.). Therefore I did not see the text and posted the above remark.
Sounds awful. But strange : you jumped blindly into this business, got hit over the head by the first experience picking really terrible guests and lo and behold you come up with a complete manual to teach everyone how to proceed in the future. Sounds a bit off to me. Not all of us were born yesterday. You could profit yourself from reading a lot more on this forum, the new host forum, Deborah 's forum and ALL ghe pages in the airbnb help section. Take your time to think a out that. Otherwise you will just st pick the next red flag case and have to write another chapter of your How To Do Perfect Hosting book. I'm on the phone but someone will post you the links ;-)
Dionne
Well I did not copy from word, I just simply typed.
I did not jump into this blind, but like all things new, you need to learn how to navigate through things. I am not coming up with a COMPLETE MANUAL TO TEACH, I am sharing my own experience and what I think I could have done to help myself and others if they were in the same boat. I thought this was a forum to share ancedotes and stories of being a host?
How does this sound a bit off to you?? and as you said , you did not read the whole post and by the way, I am not the first person to have experience this, it was even in the news that someone's elses place was used to make meth. So please don't make assumptions that I came to to this blind. None of us were born yesterday but we learn by things that happen especially bad things.
I thought getting here would help share what happen to me, but seems like I'm being reprimanded.
Clare
Dionne, you get the Super Newbie Host Award for best story!! I'm so sorry for your experience. Seems like there is a certain kind of "guest" that preys on new hosts counting on their naivete and not knowing the ropes about vetting guests. etc. But you came back fighting and I applaud you for it. As Helga said, you came out of this with a manual for new hosts and I hope they read your story! I think one of the links Helga referred to was this one about red flags warnings on guests:
globalhosting.freeforums.net/thread/455/red-flags-hosts
You are my hero and I wish you many, trouble free, years of hosting!
Dionne
That is the thing. There was no red flag warnings on this guest and with the numerous numbers of IDs and credit cards I found on them. I doubt it was hard for them to get a fake profile. As mentioned even their introduction was deceiving. My point is some people will go to arms length to deceive you and when that happens you got no one but yourself to deal with it. No help online is going to prepare you for this you just need to be patient and smart. As I said there was weapons found and the police bagged alot of evidence. So I wouldn't be surprised if they were off their faces most of the time. And that is the last thing you want to deal with. A high weapon wielding drug dealer.
Deborah
Story saved.
Yes, do pay attention to that "gut feeling."
And dont' wait for the walls to start shaking with loud music before you confront your guests.
I guess the moral of this story is....if you don't throw out your bad guests, the police will, and then the neighbors might end your hosting career before it's gotten off the ground.
See the blog post about this -- tinyurl.com/jtmbpxr