Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 2:52:31 GMT
Kelly and Fabian shared on Hosting 911 in December 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100209
Help - Guests don't leave the house!
We have guests staying with us through 12/31, but we will be leaving in a few days. Our guests don't ever leave. They stated they were coming here to visit relatives, but here I sit on Christmas, with guests taking over our dining room.
Did I mention they also stopped our toliet 2 days ago and then blamed us for having bad plumbing? They soaked the floor and woke us up at 1am. They also have been eating our food and using our private cups and things. No boundaries.
I am just miffed that it's xmas and I have family here, we're trying to have some private time, and they're sitting watching you tube videos in the dining room. Has this ever happened to you? I understand the christmas spirit, but I don't want to deal with this.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
And in the future, I will be blocking out during holidays.
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Susan
Susana year ago
manage your calendar wisely, suggest rewriting your listing description to mention that "accommodations are best suited to those who have planned activities during their stay"
Susan
Susana year ago
I can't stress enough that a well written listing description will prevent these types of things occurring, re-visit your listing description, rewrite to attract the perfect guest best suited to your Hosting lifestyle.
Susan
Susana year ago
be aware that playing up your SH status welcomes negative reviews... I'd remove that, just let potential guests see the badge and that is enough. you're maybe looking at a negative review for the plumbing issue and that guests will interpret your SH status as one that is open to being taken advantage of.
Sonja
Sonjaa year ago
The listing actually does mention it wouldn't suit guests who want to 'just hang out'... However the description of 'feeling at home' and 'plenty of kitchen utensils' possibly contradicts that... Sorry you're in this situation!
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Sorry to hear about that -- it sounds quite awkward.
My situation is exactly the reverse -- I have 3 guests in different rooms right now, and all but one of them were gone overnight and haven't been home all day today. I know because I left presents (little bags of candy) tied to each of their doors and they haven't removed the presents yet.
You might try what Sheryl does with her listing, which is to explicitly state that her place is best for those who have plans during the day every day and will not be home all day every day. Maybe Sheryl can chime in with the exact wording she uses.
I also find that when you don't rent to couples, or families, or friends -- basically allow only one guest per room you rent (single occupancy), this is MUCH less likely to happen because people just don't have as much fun staying home all day by themselves every day. And if you refuse to keep them company all day, that pretty much requires them to go out each day to find entertainment and company, which is what most of us as hosts who have guests stay with us where we live, actually prefer.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Man you guys are so there for me. Thank you. I am so doing that in the future. I needed to vent, sorry! We've had about 103 groups come through in one year and this awkwardness has never happened. I just thought it would perfect - they're visiting family and needed somewhere to stay. Not just, they needed somewhere to stay.
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Well, the thing about problems with guests, is that the problems are always going to be fairly infrequent. Most guests will be just fine. So, when we write our house rules, in order to help avoid problems, we need to be thinking about the 1 time in 50, or 1 time in 100 or 200 where a certain problem will possibly arise. In other words, many of our rules and policies are there, not for the vast majority of guests, but for the small minority who will end up doing something we don't want, unless we nip that issue in the bud by addressing it beforehand. I wonder if your guests came to visit family and then found that they didn't enjoy visiting family as much as they thought they would? I visited family for Christmas about 10 years ago and had such an awful experience with these family members, I promised myself I would never again visit them for the holidays. :-(((
Leah
Leaha year ago
Aww, too bad. I feel for you cause there are no limits to these folks. At least this will be the Christmas to remember for future friends asking about your airbnb experiences. Are they setting a place at the table for your holiday meal? Sounds like you are hosting the black sheep loafers of someone's family. Try to make the most of your day and they will be gone soon!
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Alison
Alisona year ago
As much as it would be nice to have some income coming in, I blocked out the days before and after Christmas just in case this sort of thing happened! It is really nice with just the 3 of us lounging around the house, not worrying about the mess and cooking up a nice Christmas dinner! I definitely feel for you guys, enjoy the day and do your thing as much as you can working around your guests!
Mele Kalikimaka!
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I totally think you are right! I think they may be black sheep and it didn't work out. They did have some plans from dinner. They left when we asked if we could use the table for dinner. I do love income as well, but now I know it's not worth the stress. They're first time Airbnb users, so they may see if differently then my expectations.
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Susan
Susana year ago
rewrite your listing to attract guests that have planned activities during their stay.
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
I hear ya! I blocked Xmas out this year too as I had some really odd people last year. It's great with just the family
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
I'm Sheryl.
As Susan and Deborah have suggested, clear language about how you expect guests to use your space can attract those compatible with your lifestyle. Feel free to borrow language from my listing. I would also advise asking, in pre-booking exchange, what their daily plans are.
But all of the advice is for future use. For now, I suggest a calm and polite talk with your guests. In a private space, let them know that you understood that they would be going out with relatives during their holiday visit. Ask them to work with you on a plan for sharing the space and to tell you when you can expect to have some time alone in your home. I know it can be hard to confront an issue with a guest. But it can be very satisfying to find a solution.
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Very good advice!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Hey guys, I re-worded my profile and took of the SH status. I definitely don't want to me taken advantage of. I guess, I was just hoping Christmas would be the most apparent holiday that people want to use their dining room and spend time with their family. Once we asked to use the dining room, our guests were cool and went on their way.
I agree with a previous comment - I don't think visiting their family has been great. Also, our female guest is looking for a long lost niece and it isn't working out well. She is going places she had worked or knows people but the niece isn't popping up.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
*off
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Sheryl you should work for the UN! Chief negotiator.
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
You are too funny! I actually do work as a Mediator.
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Right?! She's awesome. I booked a couple tonight and asked more questions before booking. When i first started out, I was so eager to have guests that we weren't as selective. I want to be a bit more selective and have more boundaries so I'm not feeling guest fatigue.
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Yep its definitely time to get picky! I've recently learnt this myself.
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
We have a family in our house right now. They were so thankful to have a homey place to stay over Christmas while visiting relatives. They didn't want to spend their Christmas in a hotel room. That said we hadn't intended on using the space much ourselves. They have been so thankful so far they stay till Monday so hopefully all goes well.
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I really like Sheryl's approach here. I find that it's very rare that I have to draw a line in the sand with guests - most of them are far too busy with tourism or work to make much of an appearance in the house - but it is ultimately my responsibility to communicate the boundaries clearly.
During my initial check-in and apartment tour, I tend to ask guests about their plans for their stay. One important question is, "do you plan to use the kitchen while you're here?" That winds up being a helpful segue into discussions about which items are available for guest use, what times I need to use the cooking/dining areas myself, and (if I feel like it) an opportunity to invite the guests to join in for a meal. By doing it that way, I can establish some boundaries without making them sound like restrictions.
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
Clever!
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
We had this type of guests too many times and we decided to give access to guests only to their master bedroom
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Susan
Susana year ago
Hosts must take all effort to write a superlative listing description to attract the best Guest for their Hosting lifestyle. Don't take just anyone upright and breathing, be selective. With that said, a well written listing description will weed out those that do not meet your accommodation requirements. A thorough walk-through is a must, as is interaction with the Guest, at least minimally, to assure that they feel comfortable and welcome and to remedy any issues that they feel are less than satisfactory. Clear cut House Rules with guidelines, reiterated at check in and walk through are a must. Be sure to let Guests know that you are accessible and provide them with your contact information and schedule as well. I know my comments are tiresome about the listing description, but it is the only way to help ensure that Guests most suited to your accommodations book in. Don't be afraid of instant book, just set your criteria accordingly. Be sure to interact/communicate with guests during the inquiry stage and don't be afraid to state that the accommodations are not suited if you feel that is the case. Lastly, keep your personal bias and opinions to yourself, don't let that bleed into your Hosting experience. Accept people for what they are from different cultures and perspectives, but don't be afraid to step up to have "a discussion" if the need arises but be diplomatic. I've hosted people from all over the Globe with different personalities and cultural traits and do my best to let them know that. Be flexible, open-minded and accommodating. Manage your calendar, block off dates if you need a breather from Hosting or for other reasons. Many issues can be resolved with clear communication via the listing description and at the welcome walk through.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I changed some things about our posting and will be more clear upon checkin. This is the first time it has ever been such an issue. Would you all provide feedback privately about this on the review? Or leave it alone? They only left today (actually the wife left for about a hour) and they went to dinner for about 45 minutes. Other then that, they stayed home all day. We had to move mr's computer and stuff from the dining room table to eat. We even tried to leave several times from the house for a breather. They're also leaving dirty dishes in the sink several times a day, even though their house booklet asks them to please put in the dishwasher. And lastly, even though we asked them to kindly leave when our cleaning lady came for a hour, Mr wanted to stay and play on his laptop. He asked if he could just stay while she came, so we obliged. They were notified of the cleaning lady coming 2 weeks before arrival and the day of. And, their toliet the continue to clog. The maintenance guy came by and fixed it. Then, when he was unavailable, we went and bought a snake from Home Depot. During preparation of Christmas dinner, our guest complained that it took him "four flushes to get down his bowel movement." I checked the toliet 5 times and it's fine and flushes normally. This evening he was singing hallelujah over and over with no music as loud as can be while sitting in our dining room. Oh man, I am so regretting this guest. By the way, no weird cultural issues, they're american.
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Oh no! The more I read details, this is not normal. They are pushing and pushing., I think to get a rea tion from you. Passive agressive behavior? Trying to make you snap? At this point all diplomacy skills must be used, but hope these rude guests leave soon. How many more days? I feel so bad for you. Please remember that as importan as writing tge
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
**** Writing good rules, it is important to enforce them kindly. Good luck!
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
You bought a 'snake' from Home Depot? Would love to know what you meant to say. I could ship you a couple of snakes from here, that would make them move pretty quickly I can tell you lol!
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
This is really not "normal" and so much overstepping boundaries! I keep my fingers crossed that they will leave SOON! I wish you enough mental energy to make it through their stay. Treat yourself afterwards to make up for these nerve sucking guests.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Fleur, a snake is a long metal device used to clear plumbing obstructions.
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Lol Leah! We refer to them as an 'electric eel' or a plumbers snake here. That makes sense now
Danny
Dannya year ago
Maybe the Hallelujah was because the four flushes finally cleaned him out? He wasn't moving so his digestion wasn't either.
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Hihi!!!! Love that! K&F, I hope that you have some nerves left to laugh too!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Sorry for the typos by the way. I'm typing this on my iPhone.
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
The only good to take from this is that these guys aren't the 'norm' and you'd be hard-pressed (fingers crossed) to get something similar very soon.
Personally I like my own space and my listing/comms and welcome reflects this. Guests don't get access to my kitchen etc. which makes for a harmonious situation.
Of 90+ guests, only a one or two haven't read the listing and thought a) they got the whole house and b) imagined they'd have use of the kitchen etc. But no grief either way.
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Susan
Susana year ago
There would have been no way to know these guests would be so odd. I'd just move and not leave a review until you see that they have done so since no review hurts them. But, be prepared that they may leave negative comments and with that said, you will need to offset them in a response then. Telling them anything privately will probably fall on deaf ears as they may be thinking YOU are strange and not them.
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
The more I read about these guests, the more I think you should definitely sit down and talk to them. THe dirty dishes in the sink -- I would speak to the guests immediately on that, and explain that they cannot do this one more time. I am pretty strict about guests not leaving dishes in the sink. Occasionally one will get left accidentally, but I have never yet had anyone leave the whole sink full. Really rude.
And the singing "Hallelujah" out loud , as loud as can be, in your dining room -- that is nothing but obnoxious. It would be just fine for him to do at home in his own home, but absolutely not when in someone else's home. He clearly doesn't have the right attitude to be a guest in someone's home. This too would be something I would put a stop to immediately, such as the minute he began singing. But, I also have rules about my house being a quiet environment and I state clearly that loud, boisterous behavior is not appropriate in my home. You might add something like that to your house rules.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
So this morning we were woken up to loud chanting and praying on the floor at 7am. We are trying to get one last bit of rest before driving down to Southern California. Guess that didn't happen. The worst part is, is that we have sliding doors to partition the house and I closed them after he opened them. He just opened them again. I'm definitely going to add the quiet environment thing to our rules. Last night, our guests went to dinner, came back and then said they forgot Mrs' purse. They ended up not forgetting it, and leaving it in their room. After freaking out and having us making calls to find it, they found it lying on the floor in their room. We are super laid back and comfortable with people from all cultures, religions etc but this was the worst idea on my part. I opened up our entire calendar and blocked all holidays until I decide to open them.
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Leah
Leaha year ago
So now they are going to be left alone in your home while you go to So Cal? I would have them out. Oh, I hope you return to an intact house.
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
Are you sure that this isn't some cruel reality show that you've inadvertently tripped into? It's sound like a hellishly bad prank!
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Fiona
Fionaa year ago
I totally agree. It's like the person who posted about a request to house a "service cat" in Hawaii. Someone is being punked here.
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
How can somebody put out with this? Time to complain is gone, are you going to make them leave ?
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Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Incredible... Do you have somebody around who could deal with "problems" these guests could have while you are away? (If so I would not reveal that to them , just as a back-up for a little bit peace of mind for you in case there is a REAL issue. I would communicate to them that you are "available" if there is a problem but it might take "a little while" until you can come back to their "needs"... )
I honestly wish some nice days although having these guests staying.
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Susan
Susana year ago
I would't leave them alone whatsoever. That is just asking for trouble. Any way to get them rehomed by airbnb?
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I also would not be comfortable leaving my home with these people in it. It almost sounds like they are intentionally doing things to make you uncomfortable, or else they are severely clueless people -- or both.
It's fine to be laid back, but don't lay back so far that you become a doormat. It helps to know where that line is between accepting different cultural behaviors and customs, and being able to step up and tell people when their behavior becomes out of line, disrespectful.
Also, keep in mind that it doesn't really matter what you state in your house rules if you aren't able or willing to step up and do the unpleasant work/confrontations that are sometimes needed to enforce such rules. One can do this in a polite but firm way, but often there is just no way to avoid the discomfort involved.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I totally get what you're saying Deborah. However, first, we have holiday plans that take us out of our home. I don't think these people are being passive aggressive, instead, I think they have no boundaries or class. The breaker for me was not letting us have space on christmas. Mr also traipsed through the house with dog poo on his shoes this morning. Mr is 70 and hasn't used Airbnb ever. And his wife is a little
Younger and I think wanted a place to basically leave him all day. She didn't tell me that on her initial conversations with me. All I can do is write my review and if something is not ok in the home when we get back, I'll address it then. I don't want the rest of our holiday plans ruined by the thought that something bad will happen when we are away. Our guests have relatives living locally, but this may be the reason why they're not staying with them. Mr is very sweet but an older gentleman. For example, he walked out in his undies while looking for cup to make his Metamucil. I think that I didn't get enough info on the initial inquiry, but I'll just need to figure out a diplomatic way to air my opinion of their visit.
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Leah
Leaha year ago
Ha! No wonder he is plugging up the toilet, too much fiber! LOL
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Leah! Thanks for the laugh.
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I honestly believe our guests just live this way. Mr really likes Fabian but is acting dismissive of me because I'm a woman. At this point, I'll just laugh my way to the bank and give the best review I can after their stay.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Haha awesome Leah.
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Nick
Nicka year ago
Wow. Best of luck to you guys. Early on I had a "troubled" guest, nothing like you describe, but I noticed as soon as they got out of the car that they were going to be sour with anyone, everything and everywhere. From that day forward I developed a screening process designed to help me understand what they hope to get from their trip and to help me get to know them a little bit before they arrive. I"ve not had a bad guest since (cross my fingers) The process seems to work well for me as I get "compatible" energy guests many of whom I continue to keep in touch with. Your post will encourage me to follow my process, even when I want to be lazy about it. Happy New Year and may 15 be better than 14!
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Please share a little about your process. Happy New Year!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Can you give us more info on your process? Sounds like good advice to share.
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Nick
Nicka year ago
Sure. Its rather simple really. First I don't pre-approve anyone. I figure if they want to stay here they will commit to it. After all I did. I respond to all reservations by thanking them for the inquiry (I don't accept right away either) and then I ask them to tell me a bit about themselves, their trip and where they're coming from and going to afterward. If they don't have any reviews or are new to Airbnb I look at their profile and ask if this is their first time on AirBnB. I let them know I don't see any reviews and also comment on their profile. For example I would say something like this "it appears that your profile is a bit thin and you don't have any reviews, so the more you tell me about yourself the more it helps me" I also encourage them to post picture on their profile and complete a full verification of their ID . Then I ask about their trip. We live really close to Yosemite so most of our guests are on vacation traveling to or from somewhere. Once they tell me their origin and destination and their interests (hiking, fishing, biking, golf, whatever) then I can begin to advise them on how to make the most of their time. I do this because distances are vast and if you don't know what you're doing you will spend all day in your car instead of appreciating the beauty of the park. Anyway, this always leads to more questions and based on how they answer or if they answer, they start self selecting and either really want to visit or not. The process takes a fair amount of work but I find it very satisfying because most folks really appreciate the guidance. Many people have actually changed their travel Itineraries based on the advice I provided and were glad they did. I have groups of climbers from Finland, tourists from Eastern Europe and all parts of Asia. Hikers from Australia, NZ and many many lovely people from France, UK, Spain and Latin America. I"ve also hosted folks from the east and west coasts as well and find that the process works with everyone so far. In summary the more I get to know them, the more I can help them. If they don't want to share or trust me with their info, that's ok, they don't get to come to my house. Finally I emphasize that trust is a huge reason why AirBnb is so different and trust has to be mutual. Without trust, they can stay home or go elsewhere. And I also check their data by looking at places like LinkdIN. If I smell anything fishy I keep asking questions until the listing expires or they pull it. I hope this helps. Happy New Year!
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Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100209
Help - Guests don't leave the house!
We have guests staying with us through 12/31, but we will be leaving in a few days. Our guests don't ever leave. They stated they were coming here to visit relatives, but here I sit on Christmas, with guests taking over our dining room.
Did I mention they also stopped our toliet 2 days ago and then blamed us for having bad plumbing? They soaked the floor and woke us up at 1am. They also have been eating our food and using our private cups and things. No boundaries.
I am just miffed that it's xmas and I have family here, we're trying to have some private time, and they're sitting watching you tube videos in the dining room. Has this ever happened to you? I understand the christmas spirit, but I don't want to deal with this.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
And in the future, I will be blocking out during holidays.
Reply Like 4 replies•2 likes
Susan
Susana year ago
manage your calendar wisely, suggest rewriting your listing description to mention that "accommodations are best suited to those who have planned activities during their stay"
Susan
Susana year ago
I can't stress enough that a well written listing description will prevent these types of things occurring, re-visit your listing description, rewrite to attract the perfect guest best suited to your Hosting lifestyle.
Susan
Susana year ago
be aware that playing up your SH status welcomes negative reviews... I'd remove that, just let potential guests see the badge and that is enough. you're maybe looking at a negative review for the plumbing issue and that guests will interpret your SH status as one that is open to being taken advantage of.
Sonja
Sonjaa year ago
The listing actually does mention it wouldn't suit guests who want to 'just hang out'... However the description of 'feeling at home' and 'plenty of kitchen utensils' possibly contradicts that... Sorry you're in this situation!
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Sorry to hear about that -- it sounds quite awkward.
My situation is exactly the reverse -- I have 3 guests in different rooms right now, and all but one of them were gone overnight and haven't been home all day today. I know because I left presents (little bags of candy) tied to each of their doors and they haven't removed the presents yet.
You might try what Sheryl does with her listing, which is to explicitly state that her place is best for those who have plans during the day every day and will not be home all day every day. Maybe Sheryl can chime in with the exact wording she uses.
I also find that when you don't rent to couples, or families, or friends -- basically allow only one guest per room you rent (single occupancy), this is MUCH less likely to happen because people just don't have as much fun staying home all day by themselves every day. And if you refuse to keep them company all day, that pretty much requires them to go out each day to find entertainment and company, which is what most of us as hosts who have guests stay with us where we live, actually prefer.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Man you guys are so there for me. Thank you. I am so doing that in the future. I needed to vent, sorry! We've had about 103 groups come through in one year and this awkwardness has never happened. I just thought it would perfect - they're visiting family and needed somewhere to stay. Not just, they needed somewhere to stay.
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Well, the thing about problems with guests, is that the problems are always going to be fairly infrequent. Most guests will be just fine. So, when we write our house rules, in order to help avoid problems, we need to be thinking about the 1 time in 50, or 1 time in 100 or 200 where a certain problem will possibly arise. In other words, many of our rules and policies are there, not for the vast majority of guests, but for the small minority who will end up doing something we don't want, unless we nip that issue in the bud by addressing it beforehand. I wonder if your guests came to visit family and then found that they didn't enjoy visiting family as much as they thought they would? I visited family for Christmas about 10 years ago and had such an awful experience with these family members, I promised myself I would never again visit them for the holidays. :-(((
Leah
Leaha year ago
Aww, too bad. I feel for you cause there are no limits to these folks. At least this will be the Christmas to remember for future friends asking about your airbnb experiences. Are they setting a place at the table for your holiday meal? Sounds like you are hosting the black sheep loafers of someone's family. Try to make the most of your day and they will be gone soon!
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Alison
Alisona year ago
As much as it would be nice to have some income coming in, I blocked out the days before and after Christmas just in case this sort of thing happened! It is really nice with just the 3 of us lounging around the house, not worrying about the mess and cooking up a nice Christmas dinner! I definitely feel for you guys, enjoy the day and do your thing as much as you can working around your guests!
Mele Kalikimaka!
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I totally think you are right! I think they may be black sheep and it didn't work out. They did have some plans from dinner. They left when we asked if we could use the table for dinner. I do love income as well, but now I know it's not worth the stress. They're first time Airbnb users, so they may see if differently then my expectations.
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Susan
Susana year ago
rewrite your listing to attract guests that have planned activities during their stay.
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
I hear ya! I blocked Xmas out this year too as I had some really odd people last year. It's great with just the family
Reply Like 1 like
Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
I'm Sheryl.
As Susan and Deborah have suggested, clear language about how you expect guests to use your space can attract those compatible with your lifestyle. Feel free to borrow language from my listing. I would also advise asking, in pre-booking exchange, what their daily plans are. But all of the advice is for future use. For now, I suggest a calm and polite talk with your guests. In a private space, let them know that you understood that they would be going out with relatives during their holiday visit. Ask them to work with you on a plan for sharing the space and to tell you when you can expect to have some time alone in your home. I know it can be hard to confront an issue with a guest. But it can be very satisfying to find a solution.
Reply Like 1 reply•5 likes
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Very good advice!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Hey guys, I re-worded my profile and took of the SH status. I definitely don't want to me taken advantage of. I guess, I was just hoping Christmas would be the most apparent holiday that people want to use their dining room and spend time with their family. Once we asked to use the dining room, our guests were cool and went on their way.
I agree with a previous comment - I don't think visiting their family has been great. Also, our female guest is looking for a long lost niece and it isn't working out well. She is going places she had worked or knows people but the niece isn't popping up.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
*off
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Sheryl you should work for the UN! Chief negotiator.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like
Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
You are too funny! I actually do work as a Mediator.
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Right?! She's awesome. I booked a couple tonight and asked more questions before booking. When i first started out, I was so eager to have guests that we weren't as selective. I want to be a bit more selective and have more boundaries so I'm not feeling guest fatigue.
Reply Like 1 reply
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Yep its definitely time to get picky! I've recently learnt this myself.
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
We have a family in our house right now. They were so thankful to have a homey place to stay over Christmas while visiting relatives. They didn't want to spend their Christmas in a hotel room. That said we hadn't intended on using the space much ourselves. They have been so thankful so far they stay till Monday so hopefully all goes well.
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I really like Sheryl's approach here. I find that it's very rare that I have to draw a line in the sand with guests - most of them are far too busy with tourism or work to make much of an appearance in the house - but it is ultimately my responsibility to communicate the boundaries clearly.
During my initial check-in and apartment tour, I tend to ask guests about their plans for their stay. One important question is, "do you plan to use the kitchen while you're here?" That winds up being a helpful segue into discussions about which items are available for guest use, what times I need to use the cooking/dining areas myself, and (if I feel like it) an opportunity to invite the guests to join in for a meal. By doing it that way, I can establish some boundaries without making them sound like restrictions.
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
Clever!
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
We had this type of guests too many times and we decided to give access to guests only to their master bedroom
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Susan
Susana year ago
Hosts must take all effort to write a superlative listing description to attract the best Guest for their Hosting lifestyle. Don't take just anyone upright and breathing, be selective. With that said, a well written listing description will weed out those that do not meet your accommodation requirements. A thorough walk-through is a must, as is interaction with the Guest, at least minimally, to assure that they feel comfortable and welcome and to remedy any issues that they feel are less than satisfactory. Clear cut House Rules with guidelines, reiterated at check in and walk through are a must. Be sure to let Guests know that you are accessible and provide them with your contact information and schedule as well. I know my comments are tiresome about the listing description, but it is the only way to help ensure that Guests most suited to your accommodations book in. Don't be afraid of instant book, just set your criteria accordingly. Be sure to interact/communicate with guests during the inquiry stage and don't be afraid to state that the accommodations are not suited if you feel that is the case. Lastly, keep your personal bias and opinions to yourself, don't let that bleed into your Hosting experience. Accept people for what they are from different cultures and perspectives, but don't be afraid to step up to have "a discussion" if the need arises but be diplomatic. I've hosted people from all over the Globe with different personalities and cultural traits and do my best to let them know that. Be flexible, open-minded and accommodating. Manage your calendar, block off dates if you need a breather from Hosting or for other reasons. Many issues can be resolved with clear communication via the listing description and at the welcome walk through.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I changed some things about our posting and will be more clear upon checkin. This is the first time it has ever been such an issue. Would you all provide feedback privately about this on the review? Or leave it alone? They only left today (actually the wife left for about a hour) and they went to dinner for about 45 minutes. Other then that, they stayed home all day. We had to move mr's computer and stuff from the dining room table to eat. We even tried to leave several times from the house for a breather. They're also leaving dirty dishes in the sink several times a day, even though their house booklet asks them to please put in the dishwasher. And lastly, even though we asked them to kindly leave when our cleaning lady came for a hour, Mr wanted to stay and play on his laptop. He asked if he could just stay while she came, so we obliged. They were notified of the cleaning lady coming 2 weeks before arrival and the day of. And, their toliet the continue to clog. The maintenance guy came by and fixed it. Then, when he was unavailable, we went and bought a snake from Home Depot. During preparation of Christmas dinner, our guest complained that it took him "four flushes to get down his bowel movement." I checked the toliet 5 times and it's fine and flushes normally. This evening he was singing hallelujah over and over with no music as loud as can be while sitting in our dining room. Oh man, I am so regretting this guest. By the way, no weird cultural issues, they're american.
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Oh no! The more I read details, this is not normal. They are pushing and pushing., I think to get a rea tion from you. Passive agressive behavior? Trying to make you snap? At this point all diplomacy skills must be used, but hope these rude guests leave soon. How many more days? I feel so bad for you. Please remember that as importan as writing tge
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
**** Writing good rules, it is important to enforce them kindly. Good luck!
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
You bought a 'snake' from Home Depot? Would love to know what you meant to say. I could ship you a couple of snakes from here, that would make them move pretty quickly I can tell you lol!
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
This is really not "normal" and so much overstepping boundaries! I keep my fingers crossed that they will leave SOON! I wish you enough mental energy to make it through their stay. Treat yourself afterwards to make up for these nerve sucking guests.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Fleur, a snake is a long metal device used to clear plumbing obstructions.
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Lol Leah! We refer to them as an 'electric eel' or a plumbers snake here. That makes sense now
Danny
Dannya year ago
Maybe the Hallelujah was because the four flushes finally cleaned him out? He wasn't moving so his digestion wasn't either.
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Hihi!!!! Love that! K&F, I hope that you have some nerves left to laugh too!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Sorry for the typos by the way. I'm typing this on my iPhone.
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
The only good to take from this is that these guys aren't the 'norm' and you'd be hard-pressed (fingers crossed) to get something similar very soon.
Personally I like my own space and my listing/comms and welcome reflects this. Guests don't get access to my kitchen etc. which makes for a harmonious situation.
Of 90+ guests, only a one or two haven't read the listing and thought a) they got the whole house and b) imagined they'd have use of the kitchen etc. But no grief either way.
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Susan
Susana year ago
There would have been no way to know these guests would be so odd. I'd just move and not leave a review until you see that they have done so since no review hurts them. But, be prepared that they may leave negative comments and with that said, you will need to offset them in a response then. Telling them anything privately will probably fall on deaf ears as they may be thinking YOU are strange and not them.
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
The more I read about these guests, the more I think you should definitely sit down and talk to them. THe dirty dishes in the sink -- I would speak to the guests immediately on that, and explain that they cannot do this one more time. I am pretty strict about guests not leaving dishes in the sink. Occasionally one will get left accidentally, but I have never yet had anyone leave the whole sink full. Really rude.
And the singing "Hallelujah" out loud , as loud as can be, in your dining room -- that is nothing but obnoxious. It would be just fine for him to do at home in his own home, but absolutely not when in someone else's home. He clearly doesn't have the right attitude to be a guest in someone's home. This too would be something I would put a stop to immediately, such as the minute he began singing. But, I also have rules about my house being a quiet environment and I state clearly that loud, boisterous behavior is not appropriate in my home. You might add something like that to your house rules.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
So this morning we were woken up to loud chanting and praying on the floor at 7am. We are trying to get one last bit of rest before driving down to Southern California. Guess that didn't happen. The worst part is, is that we have sliding doors to partition the house and I closed them after he opened them. He just opened them again. I'm definitely going to add the quiet environment thing to our rules. Last night, our guests went to dinner, came back and then said they forgot Mrs' purse. They ended up not forgetting it, and leaving it in their room. After freaking out and having us making calls to find it, they found it lying on the floor in their room. We are super laid back and comfortable with people from all cultures, religions etc but this was the worst idea on my part. I opened up our entire calendar and blocked all holidays until I decide to open them.
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Leah
Leaha year ago
So now they are going to be left alone in your home while you go to So Cal? I would have them out. Oh, I hope you return to an intact house.
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
Are you sure that this isn't some cruel reality show that you've inadvertently tripped into? It's sound like a hellishly bad prank!
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Fiona
Fionaa year ago
I totally agree. It's like the person who posted about a request to house a "service cat" in Hawaii. Someone is being punked here.
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
How can somebody put out with this? Time to complain is gone, are you going to make them leave ?
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Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Incredible... Do you have somebody around who could deal with "problems" these guests could have while you are away? (If so I would not reveal that to them , just as a back-up for a little bit peace of mind for you in case there is a REAL issue. I would communicate to them that you are "available" if there is a problem but it might take "a little while" until you can come back to their "needs"... )
I honestly wish some nice days although having these guests staying.
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Susan
Susana year ago
I would't leave them alone whatsoever. That is just asking for trouble. Any way to get them rehomed by airbnb?
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Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I also would not be comfortable leaving my home with these people in it. It almost sounds like they are intentionally doing things to make you uncomfortable, or else they are severely clueless people -- or both.
It's fine to be laid back, but don't lay back so far that you become a doormat. It helps to know where that line is between accepting different cultural behaviors and customs, and being able to step up and tell people when their behavior becomes out of line, disrespectful.
Also, keep in mind that it doesn't really matter what you state in your house rules if you aren't able or willing to step up and do the unpleasant work/confrontations that are sometimes needed to enforce such rules. One can do this in a polite but firm way, but often there is just no way to avoid the discomfort involved.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I totally get what you're saying Deborah. However, first, we have holiday plans that take us out of our home. I don't think these people are being passive aggressive, instead, I think they have no boundaries or class. The breaker for me was not letting us have space on christmas. Mr also traipsed through the house with dog poo on his shoes this morning. Mr is 70 and hasn't used Airbnb ever. And his wife is a little
Younger and I think wanted a place to basically leave him all day. She didn't tell me that on her initial conversations with me. All I can do is write my review and if something is not ok in the home when we get back, I'll address it then. I don't want the rest of our holiday plans ruined by the thought that something bad will happen when we are away. Our guests have relatives living locally, but this may be the reason why they're not staying with them. Mr is very sweet but an older gentleman. For example, he walked out in his undies while looking for cup to make his Metamucil. I think that I didn't get enough info on the initial inquiry, but I'll just need to figure out a diplomatic way to air my opinion of their visit.
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Leah
Leaha year ago
Ha! No wonder he is plugging up the toilet, too much fiber! LOL
Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Leah! Thanks for the laugh.
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
I honestly believe our guests just live this way. Mr really likes Fabian but is acting dismissive of me because I'm a woman. At this point, I'll just laugh my way to the bank and give the best review I can after their stay.
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Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Haha awesome Leah.
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Nick
Nicka year ago
Wow. Best of luck to you guys. Early on I had a "troubled" guest, nothing like you describe, but I noticed as soon as they got out of the car that they were going to be sour with anyone, everything and everywhere. From that day forward I developed a screening process designed to help me understand what they hope to get from their trip and to help me get to know them a little bit before they arrive. I"ve not had a bad guest since (cross my fingers) The process seems to work well for me as I get "compatible" energy guests many of whom I continue to keep in touch with. Your post will encourage me to follow my process, even when I want to be lazy about it. Happy New Year and may 15 be better than 14!
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
Please share a little about your process. Happy New Year!
Kelly and Fabian
Kelly and Fabiana year ago
Can you give us more info on your process? Sounds like good advice to share.
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Nick
Nicka year ago
Sure. Its rather simple really. First I don't pre-approve anyone. I figure if they want to stay here they will commit to it. After all I did. I respond to all reservations by thanking them for the inquiry (I don't accept right away either) and then I ask them to tell me a bit about themselves, their trip and where they're coming from and going to afterward. If they don't have any reviews or are new to Airbnb I look at their profile and ask if this is their first time on AirBnB. I let them know I don't see any reviews and also comment on their profile. For example I would say something like this "it appears that your profile is a bit thin and you don't have any reviews, so the more you tell me about yourself the more it helps me" I also encourage them to post picture on their profile and complete a full verification of their ID . Then I ask about their trip. We live really close to Yosemite so most of our guests are on vacation traveling to or from somewhere. Once they tell me their origin and destination and their interests (hiking, fishing, biking, golf, whatever) then I can begin to advise them on how to make the most of their time. I do this because distances are vast and if you don't know what you're doing you will spend all day in your car instead of appreciating the beauty of the park. Anyway, this always leads to more questions and based on how they answer or if they answer, they start self selecting and either really want to visit or not. The process takes a fair amount of work but I find it very satisfying because most folks really appreciate the guidance. Many people have actually changed their travel Itineraries based on the advice I provided and were glad they did. I have groups of climbers from Finland, tourists from Eastern Europe and all parts of Asia. Hikers from Australia, NZ and many many lovely people from France, UK, Spain and Latin America. I"ve also hosted folks from the east and west coasts as well and find that the process works with everyone so far. In summary the more I get to know them, the more I can help them. If they don't want to share or trust me with their info, that's ok, they don't get to come to my house. Finally I emphasize that trust is a huge reason why AirBnb is so different and trust has to be mutual. Without trust, they can stay home or go elsewhere. And I also check their data by looking at places like LinkdIN. If I smell anything fishy I keep asking questions until the listing expires or they pull it. I hope this helps. Happy New Year!
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Deborah