Post by High Priestess on May 30, 2016 20:56:25 GMT
Maureen & Steve shared on New Hosts Forum Jan 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-102683
Inquiries -- to decline or not
Whenever I read Airbnb's policy on this I find myself confused.
Yesterday I had an inquiry regarding my rental cottage and it's location to an Ironman event taking place in another locality. I informed the party that the event was nearly 3 hours from our cottage and for that reason, possibly not desirable. I have not heard back from him and I don't expect to. However, Airbnb is asking me to accept/decline or continue discussion with him.
When faced with a similar situations, I have politely declined an inquiry because I thought I had to in order to keep a good response rating. I now read that too many declines can negatively affect your search placement.
So do I decline or simply stop conversing. And if I stop conversing will Airbnb considered this as unfinished business?
Thank you!!
7 comments•2 likes
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Avin
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I never decline inquiries and it doesn't seem to impact my placement in search results; it's also not necessary to continue the conversation.
Of course, always either accept or decline reservation requests within 24 hours.
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Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Thanks so much!
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Response rating isn't based on whether you decline or preapprove inquiries, it is based on accepting/declining RESERVATION REQUESTS (which are not the same as inquiries) within 24 hrs and responding to all INQUIRIES (with a message/discussion) within 24 hours. Do those two things and you will be fine. I almost never decline inquiries as I see no need. If you don't want someone staying at your place you can just say something like "I don't think it is a good match" or "the place isn't available" in the message thread -- no need for an official decline to an inquiry.
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Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Deborah, thank you! This was very helpful. I now realize that when I have politely declined inquiries (usually because the person stops communicating) it was totally unnecessary.
Avery
Averya year ago
This is a good topic. I didn't know how response ratings are "tracked". Thanks for sharing this!
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Veronica
Veronicaa year ago
Deborah and what happens if I receive direct pending from guest and after the conversation I have to cancel because the guest is not agree with my house rules or my dutch stair is not suitable for them or they don't read my description of my listing and they ask me for smoke or come with 5 persons..... reasonable things that I have to decline. I will receive a fine for that? Guest can decline also?
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Hi Veronica-- First of all, it is very wise for hosts to always, always make sure a guest has read the house rules before they book. Every time a guest contacts me, if they haven't already said in their intro that they read my house rules, then I tell them to read them. Because you do not want to find out only AFTER The booking has been made, that the guest doesn't agree with something in your rules. If the guest has already booked, and after the booking is done, the guest THEN mentions that they are not in agreement with your house rules, this is the time to ask the guest to cancel, from their end. Explain that you would be willing to give them a full refund (unless a long time has passed since the booking was made and you dont' feel that doing that is fair to you...). If they are not willing to cancel, then you get Airbnb involved and have them force the guest to cancel. Guests who have made statements in which they explicitly indicate they will not follow the rules, should be canceled by Airbnb -- you should not cancel them yourself and risk getting a penalty. THis should always be done through customer service.
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
I always decline . I thought that if I don't decline the room is unavailable to other guest until a decision is made ..? And if I decline does that affect my search rate ?
Reply Like 4 replies•1 like Delete
Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Amelia, I was doing the same and possibly impacting my search rate. I now understand that if it's just an inquiry, a response within 24 hours is all that's necessary.
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
And what if it's a reservation request ? I get a lot of people requesting to stay while they look for work and ask to use my address as proof ( I decline ) and I decline their reservation too . So should I just ignore it ? And will it go away by itself ?
Avery
Averya year ago
Same question. Haha. I look forward to someone giving us enlightenment on this!
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
The answers are listed above
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Amelia -- if you get a reservation request, yes, you must either accept or decline. You cannot just ignore it. That will get you in trouble. And yes, if you dont' want the reservation, it is best to decline it right away since until you decline it the dates are blocked and no one else can book them.
Please, I hope everyone understands the difference between a RESERVATION REQUEST and an INQUIRY. THese are not the same. A lot of beginning hosts don't understand the difference and you can get hugely confused if you don't. Reservation request you can ONLY accept or decline, and you must do one or the other. Inquiry you can only preapprove or decline, you cannot "accept" an inquiry, and you do not get in trouble if you do neither, but you should at least respond with some communication within 24 hours.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
So if I accept the guest can either book or not right ? But they have the choice not to right ? And if a accept that blocks those dates off even though they may not pay right away ...I've noticed guests can do that for days . Is that right ?
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-102683
Inquiries -- to decline or not
Whenever I read Airbnb's policy on this I find myself confused.
Yesterday I had an inquiry regarding my rental cottage and it's location to an Ironman event taking place in another locality. I informed the party that the event was nearly 3 hours from our cottage and for that reason, possibly not desirable. I have not heard back from him and I don't expect to. However, Airbnb is asking me to accept/decline or continue discussion with him.
When faced with a similar situations, I have politely declined an inquiry because I thought I had to in order to keep a good response rating. I now read that too many declines can negatively affect your search placement.
So do I decline or simply stop conversing. And if I stop conversing will Airbnb considered this as unfinished business?
Thank you!!
7 comments•2 likes
Following
Like
Avin
Jacky
Delete
Hide
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I never decline inquiries and it doesn't seem to impact my placement in search results; it's also not necessary to continue the conversation.
Of course, always either accept or decline reservation requests within 24 hours.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes Delete
Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Thanks so much!
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Response rating isn't based on whether you decline or preapprove inquiries, it is based on accepting/declining RESERVATION REQUESTS (which are not the same as inquiries) within 24 hrs and responding to all INQUIRIES (with a message/discussion) within 24 hours. Do those two things and you will be fine. I almost never decline inquiries as I see no need. If you don't want someone staying at your place you can just say something like "I don't think it is a good match" or "the place isn't available" in the message thread -- no need for an official decline to an inquiry.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes Delete
Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Deborah, thank you! This was very helpful. I now realize that when I have politely declined inquiries (usually because the person stops communicating) it was totally unnecessary.
Avery
Averya year ago
This is a good topic. I didn't know how response ratings are "tracked". Thanks for sharing this!
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Veronica
Veronicaa year ago
Deborah and what happens if I receive direct pending from guest and after the conversation I have to cancel because the guest is not agree with my house rules or my dutch stair is not suitable for them or they don't read my description of my listing and they ask me for smoke or come with 5 persons..... reasonable things that I have to decline. I will receive a fine for that? Guest can decline also?
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Hi Veronica-- First of all, it is very wise for hosts to always, always make sure a guest has read the house rules before they book. Every time a guest contacts me, if they haven't already said in their intro that they read my house rules, then I tell them to read them. Because you do not want to find out only AFTER The booking has been made, that the guest doesn't agree with something in your rules. If the guest has already booked, and after the booking is done, the guest THEN mentions that they are not in agreement with your house rules, this is the time to ask the guest to cancel, from their end. Explain that you would be willing to give them a full refund (unless a long time has passed since the booking was made and you dont' feel that doing that is fair to you...). If they are not willing to cancel, then you get Airbnb involved and have them force the guest to cancel. Guests who have made statements in which they explicitly indicate they will not follow the rules, should be canceled by Airbnb -- you should not cancel them yourself and risk getting a penalty. THis should always be done through customer service.
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
I always decline . I thought that if I don't decline the room is unavailable to other guest until a decision is made ..? And if I decline does that affect my search rate ?
Reply Like 4 replies•1 like Delete
Maureen & Steve
Maureen & Stevea year ago
Amelia, I was doing the same and possibly impacting my search rate. I now understand that if it's just an inquiry, a response within 24 hours is all that's necessary.
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
And what if it's a reservation request ? I get a lot of people requesting to stay while they look for work and ask to use my address as proof ( I decline ) and I decline their reservation too . So should I just ignore it ? And will it go away by itself ?
Avery
Averya year ago
Same question. Haha. I look forward to someone giving us enlightenment on this!
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
The answers are listed above
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
Amelia -- if you get a reservation request, yes, you must either accept or decline. You cannot just ignore it. That will get you in trouble. And yes, if you dont' want the reservation, it is best to decline it right away since until you decline it the dates are blocked and no one else can book them.
Please, I hope everyone understands the difference between a RESERVATION REQUEST and an INQUIRY. THese are not the same. A lot of beginning hosts don't understand the difference and you can get hugely confused if you don't. Reservation request you can ONLY accept or decline, and you must do one or the other. Inquiry you can only preapprove or decline, you cannot "accept" an inquiry, and you do not get in trouble if you do neither, but you should at least respond with some communication within 24 hours.
Reply Like 1 like Delete
Amelia
Ameliaa year ago
So if I accept the guest can either book or not right ? But they have the choice not to right ? And if a accept that blocks those dates off even though they may not pay right away ...I've noticed guests can do that for days . Is that right ?