Post by High Priestess on May 28, 2016 15:20:42 GMT
M shared on Anecdotes June 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-91127
Review for high maintenance guest
How would I leave a review for high maintenance guest, that left the place fine, but would ask a lot of questions and attempt to meet with me sooner than the anticipated date of arrival? It seemed creepy and was a little off. Was thinking of not leaving a review but he didn't do anything wrong, just acts weird for a gal host. It was odd to me that he'd ask me to meet sooner, when that's not my style. It just seemed like he needed a lot of communication, whereas my other guests were pretty independent
13 comments•1 like
Follow
Like
Sofia
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Hi Naz - you're a relatively new host - is it possible he reserved before you had all four of your reviews? Maybe he just wanted to be sure you were real. Did he come on to you? Were his questions about you in particular or the listing?
Does he have any other reviews, and what do they look like?
Wow, I have lots of questions too.
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
I had those reviews up. He wasn't directly coming on to me, he just asked to meet prior and asked a lot ofquestions about the listing. He have done feedback about not having a box of tissues off the record and thought it was a good idea, then again my listing is priced competitively to the area. He didn't have other reviews, and had a legitimate background (i google him beforehand). I never thought looks mattered and that's not why i hosted him, it was to accomodate a guest to this city. he was good overall, just frequently was in communication and asked several times before the official stay date if we could meet or my full physical address to mail tickets to. Just, fishy
Reply Like
Sofia
Sofia2 years ago
But you hosted him anyway?
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
This was all after accepting his reservation request
Reply Like
Sofia
Sofia2 years ago
Uffff :/
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Sounds like he was confused - if he booked, he had the address so he could have tickets sent there (if you allow that). It's odd that he asked several times to meet in person, especially for an entire place listing - I wonder if he was having a bad experience with another place where he was - since he was in your town. Did you ask why he wanted to meet in person?
How about something short and unemotional like "[Guest] was (something nice about his personality - pleasant/courteous/friendly) and extremely proactive in asking questions about the listing. He left the space in good condition."
It stands out from your other reviews and hosts who care will read those as well.
You also might want to include a male friend in your profile pic and use "our" instead of "my" for communications. It would help keep those with ulterior motives at bay.
Reply Like 2 likes
M
M2 years ago
I hadnt asked why. Good point!
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
He knew other guests were staying there, as he was in town and at another hosts place
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Oh - so did he want to see the place, or you?
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
PS - you should always leave a review for a guest. If you're undecided, you can leave "[Guest] stayed here November 2014."
Reply Like 8 replies
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Why do you say you should always leave a review for a guest?
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Reviews are a huge part of this experience. They provide invaluable information about hosts/guests/listings. All hosts should write reviews of all guests and vice versa, even if it's to state that the guest stayed at the listing. Do you think there are times when a host shouldn't leave a guest a review?
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Generally I do think that hosts should but so should guests. Your statement was so emphatic I thought maybe you knew something. I'm considering not leaving a review for my last guest. It was their first Airbnb and I think they might just have been trying it out and won't use it again in which case the review won't benefit them. I really liked them personally but they were problematic in that they didn't read the listing and caused a little upheaval but I don't want to leave them a bad review if they aren't going to be hosted by someone else who needs to worry about it. And, I don't think they "get" that reviews are important so are unlikely to leave a review for me.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I agree that guests should leave reviews, but I'm okay with me leaving 100% guest reviews and them reviewing me 80% of the time, especially with the blind review system and responses. If a guest didn't like something, I'd rather they not review at all than take a hit with a bad review. I hope every host leaves at least the most basic review for every guest - it would help bring the "red flagginess" into focus of guests who have had older profiles with no reviews or references - are they less-than-great guests no one wanted to write reviews for, or have they just not stayed anywhere yet?
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I think we are really mostly in agreement. You just stated it in black and white and I am seeing shades of grey. I've left reviews for every other guest so far before I knew whether or not they were going to leave one for me. I totally agree about giving other hosts a heads up on bad guests - I have someone who inquired for the entire month of January but she has been a member since 2013 without any reviews which makes one wonder.
Christina
Christina2 years ago
I sometimes won't leave a review for a guest when I have nothing of note to say or it wasn't a good fit, but they didn't do anything egregious. It was more of a personality clash. Sometimes for my 1-night-stay guests I have a 5 minute conversation at most and I never see them again and the room is usually in good shape because they only slept there for 6 hours. If I leave them a review, I mention it was just an overnight stay so if a future guest has a bad experience, they won't blame me for not being honest.
Alia
Alia2 years ago
Just had some guests for whom all I wrote was, "Guests were punctual." It seemed the safest thing to say.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Alia - that works great! Now there's a trail for a future hosts to reach out in case they have any questions. Or read between the lines. :-)
M
M2 years ago
He wanted to meet me at first but later wanted to find a way to check in early
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
I'm curious to know why a woman should have to claim herself "territorized" in order to not be harrassed? Arent women independent human beings who should receive respect, regardless of status?
Reply Like 2 replies
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
To the last sentence: in a perfect world, for *either gender* - sure. To the first: I've seen suggestive profiles on here. I'm not sure if these people are just naturally flirty, are looking for love, or using a suggestive/flirty look to increase traffic to their listings, but it may lead some to think that may be the case. None of your photos looked like that to me. When inviting people into our homes, it's easier to make things clear from the start in this imperfect world.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
*for *any gender*
Christina
Christina2 years ago
As far as asking for the address, I have accepted guests ask that too. Those guests aren't fishy but are the kind who read nothing both before and after booking.
Reply Like 1 like
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-91127
Review for high maintenance guest
How would I leave a review for high maintenance guest, that left the place fine, but would ask a lot of questions and attempt to meet with me sooner than the anticipated date of arrival? It seemed creepy and was a little off. Was thinking of not leaving a review but he didn't do anything wrong, just acts weird for a gal host. It was odd to me that he'd ask me to meet sooner, when that's not my style. It just seemed like he needed a lot of communication, whereas my other guests were pretty independent
13 comments•1 like
Follow
Like
Sofia
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Hi Naz - you're a relatively new host - is it possible he reserved before you had all four of your reviews? Maybe he just wanted to be sure you were real. Did he come on to you? Were his questions about you in particular or the listing?
Does he have any other reviews, and what do they look like?
Wow, I have lots of questions too.
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
I had those reviews up. He wasn't directly coming on to me, he just asked to meet prior and asked a lot ofquestions about the listing. He have done feedback about not having a box of tissues off the record and thought it was a good idea, then again my listing is priced competitively to the area. He didn't have other reviews, and had a legitimate background (i google him beforehand). I never thought looks mattered and that's not why i hosted him, it was to accomodate a guest to this city. he was good overall, just frequently was in communication and asked several times before the official stay date if we could meet or my full physical address to mail tickets to. Just, fishy
Reply Like
Sofia
Sofia2 years ago
But you hosted him anyway?
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
This was all after accepting his reservation request
Reply Like
Sofia
Sofia2 years ago
Uffff :/
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Sounds like he was confused - if he booked, he had the address so he could have tickets sent there (if you allow that). It's odd that he asked several times to meet in person, especially for an entire place listing - I wonder if he was having a bad experience with another place where he was - since he was in your town. Did you ask why he wanted to meet in person?
How about something short and unemotional like "[Guest] was (something nice about his personality - pleasant/courteous/friendly) and extremely proactive in asking questions about the listing. He left the space in good condition."
It stands out from your other reviews and hosts who care will read those as well.
You also might want to include a male friend in your profile pic and use "our" instead of "my" for communications. It would help keep those with ulterior motives at bay.
Reply Like 2 likes
M
M2 years ago
I hadnt asked why. Good point!
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
He knew other guests were staying there, as he was in town and at another hosts place
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Oh - so did he want to see the place, or you?
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
PS - you should always leave a review for a guest. If you're undecided, you can leave "[Guest] stayed here November 2014."
Reply Like 8 replies
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Why do you say you should always leave a review for a guest?
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Reviews are a huge part of this experience. They provide invaluable information about hosts/guests/listings. All hosts should write reviews of all guests and vice versa, even if it's to state that the guest stayed at the listing. Do you think there are times when a host shouldn't leave a guest a review?
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
Generally I do think that hosts should but so should guests. Your statement was so emphatic I thought maybe you knew something. I'm considering not leaving a review for my last guest. It was their first Airbnb and I think they might just have been trying it out and won't use it again in which case the review won't benefit them. I really liked them personally but they were problematic in that they didn't read the listing and caused a little upheaval but I don't want to leave them a bad review if they aren't going to be hosted by someone else who needs to worry about it. And, I don't think they "get" that reviews are important so are unlikely to leave a review for me.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
I agree that guests should leave reviews, but I'm okay with me leaving 100% guest reviews and them reviewing me 80% of the time, especially with the blind review system and responses. If a guest didn't like something, I'd rather they not review at all than take a hit with a bad review. I hope every host leaves at least the most basic review for every guest - it would help bring the "red flagginess" into focus of guests who have had older profiles with no reviews or references - are they less-than-great guests no one wanted to write reviews for, or have they just not stayed anywhere yet?
Fiona
Fiona2 years ago
I think we are really mostly in agreement. You just stated it in black and white and I am seeing shades of grey. I've left reviews for every other guest so far before I knew whether or not they were going to leave one for me. I totally agree about giving other hosts a heads up on bad guests - I have someone who inquired for the entire month of January but she has been a member since 2013 without any reviews which makes one wonder.
Christina
Christina2 years ago
I sometimes won't leave a review for a guest when I have nothing of note to say or it wasn't a good fit, but they didn't do anything egregious. It was more of a personality clash. Sometimes for my 1-night-stay guests I have a 5 minute conversation at most and I never see them again and the room is usually in good shape because they only slept there for 6 hours. If I leave them a review, I mention it was just an overnight stay so if a future guest has a bad experience, they won't blame me for not being honest.
Alia
Alia2 years ago
Just had some guests for whom all I wrote was, "Guests were punctual." It seemed the safest thing to say.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
Alia - that works great! Now there's a trail for a future hosts to reach out in case they have any questions. Or read between the lines. :-)
M
M2 years ago
He wanted to meet me at first but later wanted to find a way to check in early
Reply Like
M
M2 years ago
I'm curious to know why a woman should have to claim herself "territorized" in order to not be harrassed? Arent women independent human beings who should receive respect, regardless of status?
Reply Like 2 replies
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
To the last sentence: in a perfect world, for *either gender* - sure. To the first: I've seen suggestive profiles on here. I'm not sure if these people are just naturally flirty, are looking for love, or using a suggestive/flirty look to increase traffic to their listings, but it may lead some to think that may be the case. None of your photos looked like that to me. When inviting people into our homes, it's easier to make things clear from the start in this imperfect world.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Eric2 years ago
*for *any gender*
Christina
Christina2 years ago
As far as asking for the address, I have accepted guests ask that too. Those guests aren't fishy but are the kind who read nothing both before and after booking.
Reply Like 1 like
Deborah