Post by High Priestess on May 30, 2016 16:38:41 GMT
Heiko and Lea shared on Boring Bits Nov 2013
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-1011
Asking for more info
Hey there,How do you guys ask for more info? I sometimes get enquiries like "Hi, I would like to stay at your place, is it available in this&that time?" (yes, obviously it is, as otherwise it wouldn't show up..) I would like to hear a bit more about the guests, but how do you ask without sounding rude?
11 comments
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Will
Will3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I would normally say that you would like to know your guests better and ask questions like their occupation, reasons for staying and also have they used Airbnb before so they know the set up. And finish by saying that they can ask questions about you too, so its a mutual thing. I found most are happy and very forthcoming with their answers, so give a try and its not rude at all...
Like 1 like
Gordon
Gordon3 years ago
Sometimes you are lucky to get that level of friendliness. Some just fire a reservation through. I always write back to explain the concept of airbnb and ask for more info.
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Debra
Debra 3 years ago
If someone hasnt completed their airbnb profile, I always write back and ask them to complete it, including photo and all verifications, I say 'as this is our home we like to get to know our guests better' those people who are genuine are always happy to oblige.
Like 2 likes
Gina
Gina3 years ago
agree with all .. sometimes people have their property on the system as available but when you ask they are using it for something so it cannot be booked. I always ask to check before booking when i travel. Gina
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Heiko and Lea
Heiko and Lea3 years ago
I totally agree, but how do you ask?
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Liam
Liam3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I personally ask for information about everyone who's staying and just explain that as its my home I think thats a reasonable request. The great thing about asking is that it's a filter question so if they believe this is intrusive or something they are unwilling to do, then I absolutely do not want them staying in my home....
Like 1 like
Penny
Penny3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I do the same as Liam. If someone hasn't bothered to fill in their profile, then I decline the booking. I find most people are happy to give you more information if you ask. Nine times out of ten it hasn't occurred to them that they haven't given you enough in the first place. However, experience has taught me that people do tend to fire off lots of requests for accommodation at the same time, and if it's just a one line enquiry, then it will probably come to nothing. If people are serious about booking, they're much more forthcoming in their approach. Just my experience, obviously.
Like 1 like
Peter
Peter3 years ago
This is difficult because so many visitors are first-time Airbnb guests. I often ask "what is the reason for your visit". I have had one bad experience. She said it was for a birthday celebration and she would have a few guests round. It ended up being 160 turned up (we think it may have gone viral on the web). Here is the good thing - Airbnb was exemplary paying out for the damage under its guarantee. I am now more careful to do a bit of screening. My trouble is that I get lots of genuine first-time Londoners wanting to spend a night on their own at my place.
Like
Heiko and Lea
Heiko and Lea3 years ago
"What is the reason for your visit" is a nice question. I usually find 'Tell me more about you' a bit over-challenging, as people think they have to write something ultra hip und fancy to be allowed in my place :/
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Fatima ;-)
Fatima ;-)3 years ago
You can set up your listings so people have to state their reason for visit, I have set this up on mine, so I tend to get a rough idea of what people are coming for and then I ask extra questions if I need to. I find most people emailing me tell me a lot about what they plan to do. I also like to be careful on the type of guests I have, not interested in stag or hen night guests as I am in a peaceful area and I do not want my neighbours disturbed or loud music, my apartments are not suitable for noise.
Like 1 reply
Alexa & JJ
Alexa & JJ3 years ago
Hi Fatima, I would love to set that up on my listing but I can't seem to figure out how? How did you manage to do that? Sorry for the late reply, just browsing through some old posts trying to get tips! Cheers, Alexa
Fatima ;-)
Fatima ;-)3 years ago
Hi Alexa and JJ, select the "Your Listings" option, situated below in Grey select the "Reservations Requirements" option, go through the options and select what you prefer e.g. Require guest to have photo or Require guest to enter trip description etc.
Like
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-1011
Asking for more info
Hey there,How do you guys ask for more info? I sometimes get enquiries like "Hi, I would like to stay at your place, is it available in this&that time?" (yes, obviously it is, as otherwise it wouldn't show up..) I would like to hear a bit more about the guests, but how do you ask without sounding rude?
11 comments
Follow
Like
Will
Will3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I would normally say that you would like to know your guests better and ask questions like their occupation, reasons for staying and also have they used Airbnb before so they know the set up. And finish by saying that they can ask questions about you too, so its a mutual thing. I found most are happy and very forthcoming with their answers, so give a try and its not rude at all...
Like 1 like
Gordon
Gordon3 years ago
Sometimes you are lucky to get that level of friendliness. Some just fire a reservation through. I always write back to explain the concept of airbnb and ask for more info.
Like
Debra
Debra 3 years ago
If someone hasnt completed their airbnb profile, I always write back and ask them to complete it, including photo and all verifications, I say 'as this is our home we like to get to know our guests better' those people who are genuine are always happy to oblige.
Like 2 likes
Gina
Gina3 years ago
agree with all .. sometimes people have their property on the system as available but when you ask they are using it for something so it cannot be booked. I always ask to check before booking when i travel. Gina
Like
Heiko and Lea
Heiko and Lea3 years ago
I totally agree, but how do you ask?
Like
Liam
Liam3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I personally ask for information about everyone who's staying and just explain that as its my home I think thats a reasonable request. The great thing about asking is that it's a filter question so if they believe this is intrusive or something they are unwilling to do, then I absolutely do not want them staying in my home....
Like 1 like
Penny
Penny3 years ago
Hi Deborah, I do the same as Liam. If someone hasn't bothered to fill in their profile, then I decline the booking. I find most people are happy to give you more information if you ask. Nine times out of ten it hasn't occurred to them that they haven't given you enough in the first place. However, experience has taught me that people do tend to fire off lots of requests for accommodation at the same time, and if it's just a one line enquiry, then it will probably come to nothing. If people are serious about booking, they're much more forthcoming in their approach. Just my experience, obviously.
Like 1 like
Peter
Peter3 years ago
This is difficult because so many visitors are first-time Airbnb guests. I often ask "what is the reason for your visit". I have had one bad experience. She said it was for a birthday celebration and she would have a few guests round. It ended up being 160 turned up (we think it may have gone viral on the web). Here is the good thing - Airbnb was exemplary paying out for the damage under its guarantee. I am now more careful to do a bit of screening. My trouble is that I get lots of genuine first-time Londoners wanting to spend a night on their own at my place.
Like
Heiko and Lea
Heiko and Lea3 years ago
"What is the reason for your visit" is a nice question. I usually find 'Tell me more about you' a bit over-challenging, as people think they have to write something ultra hip und fancy to be allowed in my place :/
Like
Fatima ;-)
Fatima ;-)3 years ago
You can set up your listings so people have to state their reason for visit, I have set this up on mine, so I tend to get a rough idea of what people are coming for and then I ask extra questions if I need to. I find most people emailing me tell me a lot about what they plan to do. I also like to be careful on the type of guests I have, not interested in stag or hen night guests as I am in a peaceful area and I do not want my neighbours disturbed or loud music, my apartments are not suitable for noise.
Like 1 reply
Alexa & JJ
Alexa & JJ3 years ago
Hi Fatima, I would love to set that up on my listing but I can't seem to figure out how? How did you manage to do that? Sorry for the late reply, just browsing through some old posts trying to get tips! Cheers, Alexa
Fatima ;-)
Fatima ;-)3 years ago
Hi Alexa and JJ, select the "Your Listings" option, situated below in Grey select the "Reservations Requirements" option, go through the options and select what you prefer e.g. Require guest to have photo or Require guest to enter trip description etc.
Like