Post by High Priestess on May 30, 2016 0:09:15 GMT
Ted shared on Hosting 911 Jan 12015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-101751
Should I rent if a guest has no reviews?
I am new to AirBNB and have only rented once, to a family that had several great reviews. I just received another request from a party that describes themselves as "young professionals and business owners from the Boston area," but they have no reviews, and no verified ID. I'm not sure based on this if I should rent to them. How can I go about getting more info without coming off like a jerk?
12 comments
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Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
You're not a jerk for wanting to know more about your prospective guest! But they are not jerks for not having given you enough information to put you at ease. They are probably just new to AIRBNB.
That said, you can fill the gap between you by 1) setting the requirement, in your listing, that all guests have verified ID and 2) asking questions to find out more about your prospective guests and their plans for the visit. Just ask them what you want to know!
Every guest was new once. While I firmly believe that you should screen to the degree that you need to to make an informed decision about whether to accept or reject a reservation request, I do think you should give everyone a
chance.
Reply Like 4 likes
John
Johna year ago
I would also find it odd that guests are from Boston area and you're showing as being there also...that would make me wonder the purpose of rental and who actually would be there.
Reply Like 1 like
Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
And you can ask them all of those things!
Reply Like
Susan
Susana year ago
my criteria are at least 3 verifications/1 of which offline and photo and purpose of stay. those with the former are fine, even if they have no reviews. I host newbies all the time with no problem.
Reply Like
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I don't accept anyone without verified ID. The guests will probably be happy to verify their ID on their Airbnb profiles. Once that's done, I tell prospective guests I can host them as long as they assure me that they can provide references (usually one reference for each person in the party.) Since these folks are usually new to Airbnb, I tell them that the references don't have to come from someone on the site. If they assure me that they can provide refs, I accept the reservation. At that point I can email them my personal email address (emails are blocked out until after a reservation is made.) I ask that they have someone send me, to my own email address, a reference, including the referring person's contact info. I've only once had a guest refuse to do this, out of hundreds of inquiries and reservations. Many many guests have been happy to provide references this way. It's a way for them to get started on Airbnb, since like me, many hosts prefer not to rent to guests with no reviews or references.
Reply Like
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Be respectful but ask questions! Once a guest from my town, working and living very nearby and a newbie wanted to stay with me. I asked back and it turned out that he broke up with his wife and wanted a place to stay near his Kids and work until he had found a small, decent appartment for himself. I was a little worried to read this because these kind of domestic problems can be brought into your home. But I felt good about his honest and polite communication and it turned out to be a very nice guest!
Reply Like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I suggest that before making your listing active on Airbnb, you sit down and come up with a plan about what type of person or people you want to rent to, or what type you don't want to rent to. If you don't know whom you want, read over old posts on the forums and get a sense of the kinds of problems other hosts have had with guests. THink about what sort of people you like and whom you would be comfortable with.
See my posts about tips for new hosts and red flags for hosts. If you want to be a successful host, you need to learn how to effectively screen guests.
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-78645
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-94737
Reply Like 2 likes
Santa Fe International Hostel
Santa Fe International Hostela year ago
Well Salvia, It can flop the other way ... Had a (non AIRBnB) guest check in for four nights ... After he had not been seen for a couple days, staff entered the room today. To find it full of personal possessions(he had a large van) and a restraint order dated the 29th from the local Court. At this time, we speculate the restraint order was violated & our boy is in Jail waiting to see the judge ! I believe that being the case, we have to pack up his "stuff' & hold it for 30 days ... Were on hold for now. as the room is "out of service" continuing to charge by the night ... Welcome to the New Year !
Reply Like 1 reply
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Heilandsack! That indeed took a different way! Any news of him?
Leah
Leaha year ago
How are you able to collect that if he is in jail?
Reply Like 1 like
Sharon
Sharona year ago
It boils down to asking questions and getting the responses you need to elevate your comfort level to the point where you feel ok accepting this person in your home. Like many hosts here, I have accepted guests with less documentation than others and they turned out to be great and as such got a good review for future reference. Alternatively, I also have declined potential guests with good reviews because I just did not feel like my place would be the right fit. It can sometimes come down to a fine balance between getting the right answers and sixth sense.
Reply Like 2 likes
Santa Fe International Hostel
Santa Fe International Hostela year ago
Well we do have all his "stuff" ! However this may be part of a cascade of issues ... He just apparently lost his domestic relationship & housing. If he was driving the van at the time of apprehension, it was towed & is in expensive storage ... If he has, a job & is given "30 days & court costs" ... That may be gone as well. If the this speculation is correct. The poor guy may never get outta the "hole" & we may be making a large donation to a charity thrift store ...
Reply Like 2 replies
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
:-) I like that image, of all the belongings of the guest with a restraining order, either going to charity, or going out to the curb as "free" items.... I am so done with guests who plan to use my room as a storage unit, and after checking in with one suitcase, then rent a van and bring back 15 boxes of things to put in my room. I just added something to my house rules to prohibit that today after I discovered one recent guest had done that.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Ebay, amazon, or CL
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
That is indeed a tough case, SantaFe, but for me again a sign that there is never a 100% safety to get "good" & easy to handle guests. But asking appropriate questions, evaluating communication & cooperation of/with guests prior to booking and selection by guts definitely help to minimize risks.
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-101751
Should I rent if a guest has no reviews?
I am new to AirBNB and have only rented once, to a family that had several great reviews. I just received another request from a party that describes themselves as "young professionals and business owners from the Boston area," but they have no reviews, and no verified ID. I'm not sure based on this if I should rent to them. How can I go about getting more info without coming off like a jerk?
12 comments
Following
Like
Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
You're not a jerk for wanting to know more about your prospective guest! But they are not jerks for not having given you enough information to put you at ease. They are probably just new to AIRBNB.
That said, you can fill the gap between you by 1) setting the requirement, in your listing, that all guests have verified ID and 2) asking questions to find out more about your prospective guests and their plans for the visit. Just ask them what you want to know!
Every guest was new once. While I firmly believe that you should screen to the degree that you need to to make an informed decision about whether to accept or reject a reservation request, I do think you should give everyone a
chance.
Reply Like 4 likes
John
Johna year ago
I would also find it odd that guests are from Boston area and you're showing as being there also...that would make me wonder the purpose of rental and who actually would be there.
Reply Like 1 like
Sheryl
Sheryl a year ago
And you can ask them all of those things!
Reply Like
Susan
Susana year ago
my criteria are at least 3 verifications/1 of which offline and photo and purpose of stay. those with the former are fine, even if they have no reviews. I host newbies all the time with no problem.
Reply Like
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I don't accept anyone without verified ID. The guests will probably be happy to verify their ID on their Airbnb profiles. Once that's done, I tell prospective guests I can host them as long as they assure me that they can provide references (usually one reference for each person in the party.) Since these folks are usually new to Airbnb, I tell them that the references don't have to come from someone on the site. If they assure me that they can provide refs, I accept the reservation. At that point I can email them my personal email address (emails are blocked out until after a reservation is made.) I ask that they have someone send me, to my own email address, a reference, including the referring person's contact info. I've only once had a guest refuse to do this, out of hundreds of inquiries and reservations. Many many guests have been happy to provide references this way. It's a way for them to get started on Airbnb, since like me, many hosts prefer not to rent to guests with no reviews or references.
Reply Like
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Be respectful but ask questions! Once a guest from my town, working and living very nearby and a newbie wanted to stay with me. I asked back and it turned out that he broke up with his wife and wanted a place to stay near his Kids and work until he had found a small, decent appartment for himself. I was a little worried to read this because these kind of domestic problems can be brought into your home. But I felt good about his honest and polite communication and it turned out to be a very nice guest!
Reply Like
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I suggest that before making your listing active on Airbnb, you sit down and come up with a plan about what type of person or people you want to rent to, or what type you don't want to rent to. If you don't know whom you want, read over old posts on the forums and get a sense of the kinds of problems other hosts have had with guests. THink about what sort of people you like and whom you would be comfortable with.
See my posts about tips for new hosts and red flags for hosts. If you want to be a successful host, you need to learn how to effectively screen guests.
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-78645
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-94737
Reply Like 2 likes
Santa Fe International Hostel
Santa Fe International Hostela year ago
Well Salvia, It can flop the other way ... Had a (non AIRBnB) guest check in for four nights ... After he had not been seen for a couple days, staff entered the room today. To find it full of personal possessions(he had a large van) and a restraint order dated the 29th from the local Court. At this time, we speculate the restraint order was violated & our boy is in Jail waiting to see the judge ! I believe that being the case, we have to pack up his "stuff' & hold it for 30 days ... Were on hold for now. as the room is "out of service" continuing to charge by the night ... Welcome to the New Year !
Reply Like 1 reply
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
Heilandsack! That indeed took a different way! Any news of him?
Leah
Leaha year ago
How are you able to collect that if he is in jail?
Reply Like 1 like
Sharon
Sharona year ago
It boils down to asking questions and getting the responses you need to elevate your comfort level to the point where you feel ok accepting this person in your home. Like many hosts here, I have accepted guests with less documentation than others and they turned out to be great and as such got a good review for future reference. Alternatively, I also have declined potential guests with good reviews because I just did not feel like my place would be the right fit. It can sometimes come down to a fine balance between getting the right answers and sixth sense.
Reply Like 2 likes
Santa Fe International Hostel
Santa Fe International Hostela year ago
Well we do have all his "stuff" ! However this may be part of a cascade of issues ... He just apparently lost his domestic relationship & housing. If he was driving the van at the time of apprehension, it was towed & is in expensive storage ... If he has, a job & is given "30 days & court costs" ... That may be gone as well. If the this speculation is correct. The poor guy may never get outta the "hole" & we may be making a large donation to a charity thrift store ...
Reply Like 2 replies
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
:-) I like that image, of all the belongings of the guest with a restraining order, either going to charity, or going out to the curb as "free" items.... I am so done with guests who plan to use my room as a storage unit, and after checking in with one suitcase, then rent a van and bring back 15 boxes of things to put in my room. I just added something to my house rules to prohibit that today after I discovered one recent guest had done that.
Leah
Leaha year ago
Ebay, amazon, or CL
Salvia
Salviaa year ago
That is indeed a tough case, SantaFe, but for me again a sign that there is never a 100% safety to get "good" & easy to handle guests. But asking appropriate questions, evaluating communication & cooperation of/with guests prior to booking and selection by guts definitely help to minimize risks.