Post by High Priestess on Jun 14, 2016 3:15:28 GMT
Robert and Stefania shared on NHF April 2015
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-123723
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I get a bit upset
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when guests ask if I can provide them the key of their bedroom. The guests have no reviews and I gave them the key of my own house.
I wonder why this kind of people decide to travel with Airbnb? They are going to spend one week in my place and I really don't feel comfortable to stay with them.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I got asked for a key to the bedroom once and said they could lock their room from inside if needed, but there is no key. From outside what's the point? IF I had a key to the bedroom, I would have a spare and could enter the room anyway......
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
my guests can lock their room as well from inside but not from outside. Yes I think it is a really stupid question
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I don't think it's stupid at all. Actually many booking sites require that each guestroom be lockable.
While it's obvious that you can enter any room of your house that you really want to, how would you respond to a guest who believed that something valuable went missing from their room? If they had not been provided with a key, they're far likelier than otherwise to believe that the host had entered their room.
A key can give guests a little more peace of mind, knowing that their privacy and autonomy is being respected. I truly don't believe they mean any offense to you by bringing it up - it's a basic thing that most other hosts do provide. I used to put the guestroom key on the guests' keyring; now I leave it on the inside of the door and tell them they're welcome to use it to lock up when they're out. Most of them don't actually use it, but just knowing that they can gives a better overall impression.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew, while I see your point (it's psychologically better for the guest to know his room is "locked") let's suppose I gave a key to the guest and they locked it; if something went missing from their bedroom they would still hold me responsible me anyway because I would be the one with the spare, or if the room had been broken into, they would accuse me of not letting someone come into the house (I live in my house, my listing does not have a separate entrance). So for me at least, I don't see the point of changing my door lock to a key lock. When I go to a hotel I never leave any valuables inside, as I know that the cleaning ladies can come in. It's just, as you said, a courtesy or a way to give a better impression (but it's only an impression IMO)
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I rent only a room in my own property and I am sure I have more valuable items in my place than what guests can carry in their little bag. I just find weird that I give they key of my own house full of my own stuff to a completely stranger that doesn't trust me and request a key for their bedroom. I just don't think this is Airbnb spirit. Nothing will be missing in their room because we do not steal anything from our guests.
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Absolutely agree. If you don't trust me, don't book with me - I don't want you here!
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
sorry, I meant "of letting someone come into the house".
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Nathalie Et Claude
Nathalie Et Claudea year ago
It seems obvious to have a key to lock my room. As long as i rent , it becomes my private space. It is a matter of privacy and security. Moreover, i can travel with a laptop. I just can't leave it in an unlocked room. And obviously, i need to go out and in. Never mind how (entrance code, key door).
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
But Nathalie, that's what I'm saying : if the host has a spare key to your room anyway, what difference does it make? If he wants to enter your room, he still can, lock it or not. Same thing in a hotel : you lock your door but some people (manager, cleaning crew) can still enter it.....
Nathalie Et Claude
Nathalie Et Claudea year ago
Ok for the tenant. Ko for the other guests.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
you can always explain this to the host and decided to choose another accommodation, then everybody will be happy
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Or book a hotel....?
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I was a long-term airBNB guest recently and was horrified that I couldn't lock my room from the outside because there were two additional rented rooms on my floor.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
In that case, it makes sense. I only rent one room and it's in my house (which main door is always locked).
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
of course I do rent only a room
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
One other scenario that hosts may not consider: what if someone breaks into your home (burglar), or just walks in, if a guest accidentally leaves the front door unlocked or open. Whichever bedrooms are locked have a better chance of remaining secure, from this criminal. So, locks on bedroom doors not only help provide the guest a sense of security, but could also help protect their belongings from burglars.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
That's a good one and I agree it might happen! But I think the OP original intention was talking about guest trust towards host. In that sense, I can understand what she means when she says she's upset!
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
As the people in charge of the situation, it's our obligation to earn the guests' trust. Getting our knickers in a twist when they have perfectly understandable doubts and concerns about their security is extremely unprofessional.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I have to say that I am not a professional. I am just an easy going person that rent her spare bedroom and like meeting people. that's all
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have just one room too (or two rooms for the same family staying together), so I don't consider this a "business". I just make a little money on the side, meet people, and don't think of it in terms of "marketing, client satisfaction, etc..." . I want it to be as fun as possible, if I try to think about things that people may not like, in terms of turnaround or bottom line, maximizing my listing....ewwww. I have quite a lot of visitors so far so I guess I'm doing something right...maybe not everything, of course but I am happy with where I'm at.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Sandrine I have the same attitude, I just want to have some fun, I am not at all a business woman and I consider Airbnb a kind of hobby. I list my room in several website and I hosted hundred of guests and I am happy with the results!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
the area were I live is one of the safest area in my city so I am not going to worry too much about burglars
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
In addition to the possibility of an external burglary, please also consider that guests do not know who aside from the host will be in the home. At any point in time during their stay, the host's significant other, relatives, friends, housekeeper, gardener, or random hookup from Craigslist might also be there in the space with access to the guest's belongings. While the guest might put a certain trust in you as a host, it would be foolish on their part to extend the same trust to any other person the host could potentially allow into their home. (By the same token, the trust you extend to your guest does not apply to extra random people they might decide to bring home, which is why many of us prohibit unregistered guests).
When your guests bring up aspects of their stay that make them uncomfortable. You ignore them at your peril. You might decide that, ultimately, the cons of implementing their suggestions outweigh the pros. But one thing that you should really try to avoid doing is getting "upset" when people who are paying to stay in your home ask for something they have every right to expect. If your emotions in these scenarios prevent you from being able to empathize with the guest's position, hospitality is probably not your specialty.
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
If for guests is important to lock their bedroom door they should ask if they can do this before proceeding with the booking, not all the hosts give this opportunity to guests. I don't mind to decline guests with this type of request and I am sure they will be able to find another accommodation more suitable to their needs. Hospitality is not my specialty because I don't want to install locks to the internal doors of my own property?really?
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Stefania, I agree with you again. Andrew sees this as a business, and as such I can understand that he wants to please guests, the client is king. I have a different approach, and as you said not all hosts give this opportunity. As for one, was never asked about a key.....Hospitality is not my specialty either, it seems ;-)
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Believe it or not, locks on guestroom doors is the norm; it's a thing that guests expect without asking, just like linens and towels and walls and a roof. If you don't want to accommodate guests who expect this very basic and normal thing, you have two choices: make it clear in your listing that you don't offer a private room key, or expect more disappointed guests and negative reviews. I'm sorry that you feel "upset" by guests expecting more of you than you wanted to offer, but if you want to get good at anything you have to be willing to learn from your experiences, rather than take every negative result as a personal affront.
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Sandrine - if you want to know what my own approach is like, you are welcome to read my guests' reviews. I am most definitely not a "customer is always right" type, but I do believe that striving to empathize with our guests is a more successful approach to hospitality than dismissing their concerns. Do you disagree with that?
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Andrew I am already good at many things, but thank you for your concern
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I think a lot of people would expect to be able to lock their bedroom door in much the same way they could lock a hotel room door. I am so surprised that people find the request upsetting.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
guests that are sleeping at my place spend less money than sleeping in a 20 mixed dorm with a shared bathroom and I should also provide a key?what are you talking about?
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I'm talking about how it's not completely off-the-wall bananas for a guest to be surprised when their door doesn't have a lock, no matter whether it's in a dorm or otherwise. Sorry that wasn't clear enough for you. Seriously: if you don't care for hearing opinions other than those that 100% agree with you then don't bother asking questions on the host forum.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I appreciate you replied to my post, but I found other replies more appealing. We don't need to have all the same approach when hosting. I respect the fact that you think hosting more as an hotel business, but I don't and I don't have to. We offer our place at very different rates so I suppose we host different type of guests. Guests that come to my place will not likely come to your place because most of the time they will not able to afford it and at my place they can't expect many luxuries. Yesterday we share a dinner with our guests and we could create the "couch surfing atmosphere"which is one of the reason of our hosting. Nobody is worry about the key door,guest now even keep their door open, the problem is solved and the way we are feeling now is priceless
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Nobody has asked you to change your hosting style. You started the discussion by referring to the guest's request for a key as a "stupid question" that made you "upset." This is the point that several of us took issue with. I'm glad to see that you were able to get over your overreaction and enjoy your time with your non-stupid guests.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
English is not my mother language and for stupid I meant silly, is it so bad?I am glad I could get over my "overreaction" and have a happy ending. Unfortunately you don't seem to be happy with the result and you are still here looking for an argument. I guess I am not the only one that overreacted. I understood why I was so upset, but I am not sure you understand which are your personal reason that made you write your last comment. It is clear that you don't like people like me, maybe I remind you somebody?I like you and I always find your comments very useful. Anyway enjoy your day and please stop to be bitter with me, I don't have anything against you.
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I probably make mistakes like that in German and Spanish all the time, but "stupid" means something much harsher than "silly" in English.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew you won this argument ;-). I don't consider myself a "professional" so maybe that's why!
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
exactly Sandrine! I am not a professional and I don't want to be one. I am more kind of hippie and I like receiving guests with the same attitude. So far nobody complained not having their bedroom key. The guests that are now in my place and asked for the key are not looking for any type of interaction with us and we don't mind, they have a lot of privacy since their bedroom is in a separate part of the house and we share only the front door. If they need help they can ask. We love hosting and we don't want to replicate the hotel experience in our home, we want to keep things personal
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
LOL Stefania at hippie - me too
It's good to know that others do the same.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Airbnb used to be more hippie, at the beginning. People slept on an airbed in the living room, so there was no question of key or trust.... Now it's more "professional" like Andrew said. It's becoming more and more like a hotel....
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
before Airbnb I have been hosting for years trough couchsurfing, now I am doing Airbnb, but I can't really change my attitude and I don't want to. I know Airbnb now is a big business, but there must be always something more valuable than money in everything I do.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew, I have checked your listings before. You're a star among airbnbers but we all our own way of doing things. Good for you though!
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Hey, the uniqueness of each host's approach is what I love about traveling with Airbnb as a guest. My favorite host of all time put me up on the living room sofa, greeted me with a beer pong match and a massive bong hit, drunk-drove me home through Koreatown at 4 AM, and let his mate play the guitar on the sleeping space after I'd gone to "bed." And the thing is, his listing was completely upfront about these aspects of his hosting style and I knew exactly what to expect. So while I think you can and should do things your own way, I also think it's very important to state in your listing everything that might diverge against "normal" expectations. And I can back it up with experience when I say that a bedroom key is a normal expectation. If a guest has any unpleasant surprises, it ultimately results in a bad experience for you, too - even if you don't care about ratings and profits and so forth, do you really want to be stuck in the house with someone who's having a bad time because of your oversight?
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
I'm not sure that having a room key is a normal expectation, Andrew. I've mostly stayed in entire appts as a guest (done enough of the sharing thanks!) but staying through a friend's account in private rooms, we never had a key. I guess it depends on your location. Major busy cities are probably more likely to have this as standard but not other places maybe?
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Yes, I do think that location makes a difference there. Guests in remote villages in the countryside probably arrive with different concerns. But if I were traveling in Edinburgh, Dublin, or Berlin I would most definitely expect a lock unless the listing stated otherwise!
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Ah well, you're not going be staying with me then if you travel to Edinburgh! This is all very interesting. Why do you want a lock? Is it because you worry the host or another guest will steal from you? Or you don't trust that someone won't come in the room while you're there?
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew we won't agree on this, and I m sure you right since you have more experience, but I don't think a key is "the norm". I have hosted maybe 60 people so far and never have they asked for a key (I do have one but don't propose it). They lock from inside when they're in. Or maybe we don't have the same kind of guests, I don't know.....we all attract a certain kind of people depending on the "vibe" in our listing, so maybe I attract the hippie ones lol
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I grew up in the Haight-Ashbury, so I guess my idea of "hippie" doesn't include swimming pools. :-) Rebecca, I can live without the lock, but what I mean to say is that I'd expect it unless stated otherwise. Arriving at a house with multiple guestrooms and different people coming in and out and finding that I can't lock my door would be an unpleasant surprise. But not to worry, I have many friends to stay with in Edinburgh, I'd meet you down at the pub instead!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Not all the houses have keys in their internal doors, especially if there were children living there. Never had a kid lock himself in a room??Anyway I am sure my guests is not having a bad time, probably his request made me the only upset one.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have a hippie swimming pool, very groovy!
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Well if you're upset then so be it...but isn't it better for the guests to communicate their concerns and questions in person than to hold it all in until they're writing their review?
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Ok Andrew you win with the Haight-Ashbury reference! As I said, locks are very much on my mind at the moment. My listings desperately need updating and that's something I will include. Although....nobody has mentioned it so far, apart from the few I mentioned. But yes, down the pub - nae problem, mate. We're in brewery territory here, although only one working brewery left. Pint of Deuchars on me any time
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I think even one short sentence about it is enough - if nothing else, it gives you bum-coverage if someone complains or seeks a refund later. And that pint sounds great!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
yes I appreciate when guests express their concerns. I had many guests that asked me to store their food in the fridge and since I don't offer access to the kitchen I decided to install a small fridge in the bedroom. I will never let my guests starving! But if a guest is asking me the key for their door (I can't understand how can he ask such a question when clearly no key hole has been drilled into the door)this means to me that he doesn't really trust to be in my place and yes, I am bit disappointed about this, but never mind, I am sure my guests are very comfortable right now and they have all the privacy they need. I am able to accommodate some of the concerns, but not all of them. I was just wondering what other hosts are doing and I can see not every host has the same rules
Bianca
Biancaa year ago
I don't allow guests to lock their bedroom door because 1. They would inevitably forget to return the key to me 2. I sometimes need to service the Aircon when they're not in 3. I always check after they've left that they switched off the utilities in the room. Yes I know I can enter their room with my spare but I just prefer this arrangement. Besides a provide a small safe in each room. They are also forewarned about this point in their house manual.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have the same problem with the key; I used to provide a key to my front door when I started hosting. Two of my guests did not return it and left with it . I have since switched to a lockbox for my front door. I do actually have a key for one of my bedrooms but do not provide it unless the guest asks (and they never did) for it, since I'm afraid the same thing would happen (the key would go with the guests! Some guests check out early and I don't see them)
Bianca
Biancaa year ago
Exactly Sandrine. I have very early morning check outs and I want to make that process as hassle-free as possible.
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
This is a really interesting discussion and particularly topical for me right now. I don't have locks on any of the rooms in my house (except for the bathroom obviously), not even my own space (although I do have a locked cupboard in there). After 2.5 years hosting and hundreds of guests the issue of locks has only come up twice. I have two guest rooms and always inform everyone about who else will be staying while they are here. Often they don't coincide at all, other times they share a bit of time together or just say hi in passing. Recently I had a long discussion with a female guest after she booked and who then expressed concern that there would a man in the other guest room while she was staying here. It was an interesting exchange. I explained that I had considered putting locks on the guest rooms but had decided against it. This is my HOME - it's not a hostel or a commercial guest-house. Plus I have a real horror of some emergency happening and guests are locked in their rooms and I can't get in. I explained to this guest that trust is a two-way street and, although she might be concerned about the other guest, how do we know it's not going to be HER that's the thief/crazy person? I offered to reimburse her the lost fees if she decided to cancel but in the end she agreed and she had a great time.
Having said all that.... I am beginning to wonder whether I should consider locks. After 2.5 years and hundreds of guests with no major problems or issues I do feel quite complacent about this issue. And that's kind of worrying me!! Am I just a time-bomb waiting to happen?? It's a dilemma because I like the way things are, generally nice trusting and trustworthy guests and I really don't want to change things. But have I just been incredibly lucky? Or am I just really really good at screening..... Don't know. I think, though, that the day I need to put locks on the doors is the day I finish doing this. Sorry for rambling
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I would put locks if I had two differents guests at the same time. As I said, I rent only one room (or two rooms to the same family) so it's not a problem I think. Can your guests lock from inside at least, at your home?
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Sometimes it is impossible to prevent bad luck no matter how many door you lock, but I believe that most of the people are good and I had wonderful experiences with many of my guests. I offer my trust to guests the moment I open the front door of my place and I am hoping to receive back the same trust and I have to say it works most of the time. I don't want hosting to be reduced at a pure exchange of money. I really want to keep it special
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
No they can't lock from inside. There are no locks at all. That's why I find this discussion so interesting because I do realise that having different sets of guests at the same time raises the trust levels very high and why I am possibly re-considering. But I really don't want to put locks on. It's all worked so well this far.
Tanya & Ben
Tanya & Bena year ago
Rebecca I think installing locks for those that host in more than one room is important. The guests trust you, as they are staying in your home, but may be cautious of other guests.
Tanya & Ben
Tanya & Bena year ago
Actually - rebecca I liked andrew's idea. If you don't want to put locks on the rooms (I don't have them either), just disclose it in the listing.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I would be worried about attracting the wrong type of person by advertising the fact. In the time I've been hosting its been nice to learn that in the right environment people are very trusting and relaxed.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I also keep my guests informed on who's coming and going, age/name/country of origin so they feel part of the loop and are informed. Mainly I want guests to feel comfortable.
Jeannette
Jeannettea year ago
Placing locks on internal doors are against code in my city for houses zoned R-8, a residential classification, because they aren't (gawdawful) rooming houses, which is what I associate locked doors with
Many, many of my guests in fact leave their room doors *open* when they are out for the day, as if they are at home in a place of complete trust. And that's with other guests coming and going too.
I guess they know that if I accepted Guest #1, Guest #2 is also going to be a nice person, not a thief.
(Lovely guest and permanent housemate in the dining room now, chatting.)
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Funny, most of my guests also leave the doors open, I have to go and close them since I have a cat who would otherwise on the beds....
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Drives me nuts when guests leave their doors open if I'm honest. I mean I'm glad you feel safe and comfortable and all but honestly I really don't need or want to see or hear what's going on in there. It's almost like an invasion of MY privacy!!
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Seems like you have a similar set-up to me, Jeannette. It's all worked well so far but I do wonder whether that time will come when something will go missing or something will happen. But I guess having a lock on the door won't necessarily prevent that eventuality. I had a dream the other night that a guest died in the room! I'm having an over-thinking phase maybe...
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
many of my guests leave their door open too
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
Iiiiiinteresting. Fire codes. That's a very good point. That's probably the case in a lot of cities.
Jeannette
Jeannettea year ago
Yes I think fire codes definitely require immediate egress without a key or any complicated mechanism from all interior rooms via the door.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Agreed it would be unsafe to have a complicated lock that prevents guests from leaving easily, but most exterior locks are easy to get out and require a key to get in, right? I would imagine guests have reasons to lock their door while out other than the fear of theft, and I'd certainly prefer a lock on my door when staying inside. Some people sleepwalk; a guest reported their host opened their door without knocking and just stared at them while the guest was trying to get to sleep. Maybe this guest is the guest who is asking about locks. I certainly wouldn't take it personally even if they said "we don't trust YOU." I trust me.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I've been hosting for over 4yrs and have only been asked about the key for the bedroom door twice. We host 3 guest rooms and more often than not all 3 rooms have 3 lots of guests that don't know each other. My room rentals for my rentals (1yr contracts) don't have locks and in 14yrs of being a landlord I've been asked once about a lock on their bedroom door. I was asked by that same person if she could install 1 and I said no and that I was happy for them to leave if they didn't feel comfortable. In my last 2 catered chalet ski trips on both occasions with different tour operators our room did not have a lock on the door and nor did we have to option to lock it from the inside, there were 8 other guests in 1 chalet and 22 in the other.
If I have to install locks on doors then I will close up shop.
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Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-123723
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I get a bit upset
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when guests ask if I can provide them the key of their bedroom. The guests have no reviews and I gave them the key of my own house.
I wonder why this kind of people decide to travel with Airbnb? They are going to spend one week in my place and I really don't feel comfortable to stay with them.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I got asked for a key to the bedroom once and said they could lock their room from inside if needed, but there is no key. From outside what's the point? IF I had a key to the bedroom, I would have a spare and could enter the room anyway......
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
my guests can lock their room as well from inside but not from outside. Yes I think it is a really stupid question
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I don't think it's stupid at all. Actually many booking sites require that each guestroom be lockable.
While it's obvious that you can enter any room of your house that you really want to, how would you respond to a guest who believed that something valuable went missing from their room? If they had not been provided with a key, they're far likelier than otherwise to believe that the host had entered their room.
A key can give guests a little more peace of mind, knowing that their privacy and autonomy is being respected. I truly don't believe they mean any offense to you by bringing it up - it's a basic thing that most other hosts do provide. I used to put the guestroom key on the guests' keyring; now I leave it on the inside of the door and tell them they're welcome to use it to lock up when they're out. Most of them don't actually use it, but just knowing that they can gives a better overall impression.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew, while I see your point (it's psychologically better for the guest to know his room is "locked") let's suppose I gave a key to the guest and they locked it; if something went missing from their bedroom they would still hold me responsible me anyway because I would be the one with the spare, or if the room had been broken into, they would accuse me of not letting someone come into the house (I live in my house, my listing does not have a separate entrance). So for me at least, I don't see the point of changing my door lock to a key lock. When I go to a hotel I never leave any valuables inside, as I know that the cleaning ladies can come in. It's just, as you said, a courtesy or a way to give a better impression (but it's only an impression IMO)
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I rent only a room in my own property and I am sure I have more valuable items in my place than what guests can carry in their little bag. I just find weird that I give they key of my own house full of my own stuff to a completely stranger that doesn't trust me and request a key for their bedroom. I just don't think this is Airbnb spirit. Nothing will be missing in their room because we do not steal anything from our guests.
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Absolutely agree. If you don't trust me, don't book with me - I don't want you here!
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
sorry, I meant "of letting someone come into the house".
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Nathalie Et Claude
Nathalie Et Claudea year ago
It seems obvious to have a key to lock my room. As long as i rent , it becomes my private space. It is a matter of privacy and security. Moreover, i can travel with a laptop. I just can't leave it in an unlocked room. And obviously, i need to go out and in. Never mind how (entrance code, key door).
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
But Nathalie, that's what I'm saying : if the host has a spare key to your room anyway, what difference does it make? If he wants to enter your room, he still can, lock it or not. Same thing in a hotel : you lock your door but some people (manager, cleaning crew) can still enter it.....
Nathalie Et Claude
Nathalie Et Claudea year ago
Ok for the tenant. Ko for the other guests.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
you can always explain this to the host and decided to choose another accommodation, then everybody will be happy
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Or book a hotel....?
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I was a long-term airBNB guest recently and was horrified that I couldn't lock my room from the outside because there were two additional rented rooms on my floor.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
In that case, it makes sense. I only rent one room and it's in my house (which main door is always locked).
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
of course I do rent only a room
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
One other scenario that hosts may not consider: what if someone breaks into your home (burglar), or just walks in, if a guest accidentally leaves the front door unlocked or open. Whichever bedrooms are locked have a better chance of remaining secure, from this criminal. So, locks on bedroom doors not only help provide the guest a sense of security, but could also help protect their belongings from burglars.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
That's a good one and I agree it might happen! But I think the OP original intention was talking about guest trust towards host. In that sense, I can understand what she means when she says she's upset!
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
As the people in charge of the situation, it's our obligation to earn the guests' trust. Getting our knickers in a twist when they have perfectly understandable doubts and concerns about their security is extremely unprofessional.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I have to say that I am not a professional. I am just an easy going person that rent her spare bedroom and like meeting people. that's all
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have just one room too (or two rooms for the same family staying together), so I don't consider this a "business". I just make a little money on the side, meet people, and don't think of it in terms of "marketing, client satisfaction, etc..." . I want it to be as fun as possible, if I try to think about things that people may not like, in terms of turnaround or bottom line, maximizing my listing....ewwww. I have quite a lot of visitors so far so I guess I'm doing something right...maybe not everything, of course but I am happy with where I'm at.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Sandrine I have the same attitude, I just want to have some fun, I am not at all a business woman and I consider Airbnb a kind of hobby. I list my room in several website and I hosted hundred of guests and I am happy with the results!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
the area were I live is one of the safest area in my city so I am not going to worry too much about burglars
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
In addition to the possibility of an external burglary, please also consider that guests do not know who aside from the host will be in the home. At any point in time during their stay, the host's significant other, relatives, friends, housekeeper, gardener, or random hookup from Craigslist might also be there in the space with access to the guest's belongings. While the guest might put a certain trust in you as a host, it would be foolish on their part to extend the same trust to any other person the host could potentially allow into their home. (By the same token, the trust you extend to your guest does not apply to extra random people they might decide to bring home, which is why many of us prohibit unregistered guests).
When your guests bring up aspects of their stay that make them uncomfortable. You ignore them at your peril. You might decide that, ultimately, the cons of implementing their suggestions outweigh the pros. But one thing that you should really try to avoid doing is getting "upset" when people who are paying to stay in your home ask for something they have every right to expect. If your emotions in these scenarios prevent you from being able to empathize with the guest's position, hospitality is probably not your specialty.
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
If for guests is important to lock their bedroom door they should ask if they can do this before proceeding with the booking, not all the hosts give this opportunity to guests. I don't mind to decline guests with this type of request and I am sure they will be able to find another accommodation more suitable to their needs. Hospitality is not my specialty because I don't want to install locks to the internal doors of my own property?really?
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Stefania, I agree with you again. Andrew sees this as a business, and as such I can understand that he wants to please guests, the client is king. I have a different approach, and as you said not all hosts give this opportunity. As for one, was never asked about a key.....Hospitality is not my specialty either, it seems ;-)
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Believe it or not, locks on guestroom doors is the norm; it's a thing that guests expect without asking, just like linens and towels and walls and a roof. If you don't want to accommodate guests who expect this very basic and normal thing, you have two choices: make it clear in your listing that you don't offer a private room key, or expect more disappointed guests and negative reviews. I'm sorry that you feel "upset" by guests expecting more of you than you wanted to offer, but if you want to get good at anything you have to be willing to learn from your experiences, rather than take every negative result as a personal affront.
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Sandrine - if you want to know what my own approach is like, you are welcome to read my guests' reviews. I am most definitely not a "customer is always right" type, but I do believe that striving to empathize with our guests is a more successful approach to hospitality than dismissing their concerns. Do you disagree with that?
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Andrew I am already good at many things, but thank you for your concern
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I think a lot of people would expect to be able to lock their bedroom door in much the same way they could lock a hotel room door. I am so surprised that people find the request upsetting.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
guests that are sleeping at my place spend less money than sleeping in a 20 mixed dorm with a shared bathroom and I should also provide a key?what are you talking about?
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
I'm talking about how it's not completely off-the-wall bananas for a guest to be surprised when their door doesn't have a lock, no matter whether it's in a dorm or otherwise. Sorry that wasn't clear enough for you. Seriously: if you don't care for hearing opinions other than those that 100% agree with you then don't bother asking questions on the host forum.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
I appreciate you replied to my post, but I found other replies more appealing. We don't need to have all the same approach when hosting. I respect the fact that you think hosting more as an hotel business, but I don't and I don't have to. We offer our place at very different rates so I suppose we host different type of guests. Guests that come to my place will not likely come to your place because most of the time they will not able to afford it and at my place they can't expect many luxuries. Yesterday we share a dinner with our guests and we could create the "couch surfing atmosphere"which is one of the reason of our hosting. Nobody is worry about the key door,guest now even keep their door open, the problem is solved and the way we are feeling now is priceless
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Nobody has asked you to change your hosting style. You started the discussion by referring to the guest's request for a key as a "stupid question" that made you "upset." This is the point that several of us took issue with. I'm glad to see that you were able to get over your overreaction and enjoy your time with your non-stupid guests.
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
English is not my mother language and for stupid I meant silly, is it so bad?I am glad I could get over my "overreaction" and have a happy ending. Unfortunately you don't seem to be happy with the result and you are still here looking for an argument. I guess I am not the only one that overreacted. I understood why I was so upset, but I am not sure you understand which are your personal reason that made you write your last comment. It is clear that you don't like people like me, maybe I remind you somebody?I like you and I always find your comments very useful. Anyway enjoy your day and please stop to be bitter with me, I don't have anything against you.
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I probably make mistakes like that in German and Spanish all the time, but "stupid" means something much harsher than "silly" in English.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew you won this argument ;-). I don't consider myself a "professional" so maybe that's why!
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Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
exactly Sandrine! I am not a professional and I don't want to be one. I am more kind of hippie and I like receiving guests with the same attitude. So far nobody complained not having their bedroom key. The guests that are now in my place and asked for the key are not looking for any type of interaction with us and we don't mind, they have a lot of privacy since their bedroom is in a separate part of the house and we share only the front door. If they need help they can ask. We love hosting and we don't want to replicate the hotel experience in our home, we want to keep things personal
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
LOL Stefania at hippie - me too
It's good to know that others do the same.Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Airbnb used to be more hippie, at the beginning. People slept on an airbed in the living room, so there was no question of key or trust.... Now it's more "professional" like Andrew said. It's becoming more and more like a hotel....
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
before Airbnb I have been hosting for years trough couchsurfing, now I am doing Airbnb, but I can't really change my attitude and I don't want to. I know Airbnb now is a big business, but there must be always something more valuable than money in everything I do.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew, I have checked your listings before. You're a star among airbnbers but we all our own way of doing things. Good for you though!
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Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Hey, the uniqueness of each host's approach is what I love about traveling with Airbnb as a guest. My favorite host of all time put me up on the living room sofa, greeted me with a beer pong match and a massive bong hit, drunk-drove me home through Koreatown at 4 AM, and let his mate play the guitar on the sleeping space after I'd gone to "bed." And the thing is, his listing was completely upfront about these aspects of his hosting style and I knew exactly what to expect. So while I think you can and should do things your own way, I also think it's very important to state in your listing everything that might diverge against "normal" expectations. And I can back it up with experience when I say that a bedroom key is a normal expectation. If a guest has any unpleasant surprises, it ultimately results in a bad experience for you, too - even if you don't care about ratings and profits and so forth, do you really want to be stuck in the house with someone who's having a bad time because of your oversight?
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
I'm not sure that having a room key is a normal expectation, Andrew. I've mostly stayed in entire appts as a guest (done enough of the sharing thanks!) but staying through a friend's account in private rooms, we never had a key. I guess it depends on your location. Major busy cities are probably more likely to have this as standard but not other places maybe?
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Yes, I do think that location makes a difference there. Guests in remote villages in the countryside probably arrive with different concerns. But if I were traveling in Edinburgh, Dublin, or Berlin I would most definitely expect a lock unless the listing stated otherwise!
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Ah well, you're not going be staying with me then if you travel to Edinburgh! This is all very interesting. Why do you want a lock? Is it because you worry the host or another guest will steal from you? Or you don't trust that someone won't come in the room while you're there?
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Andrew we won't agree on this, and I m sure you right since you have more experience, but I don't think a key is "the norm". I have hosted maybe 60 people so far and never have they asked for a key (I do have one but don't propose it). They lock from inside when they're in. Or maybe we don't have the same kind of guests, I don't know.....we all attract a certain kind of people depending on the "vibe" in our listing, so maybe I attract the hippie ones lol
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I grew up in the Haight-Ashbury, so I guess my idea of "hippie" doesn't include swimming pools. :-) Rebecca, I can live without the lock, but what I mean to say is that I'd expect it unless stated otherwise. Arriving at a house with multiple guestrooms and different people coming in and out and finding that I can't lock my door would be an unpleasant surprise. But not to worry, I have many friends to stay with in Edinburgh, I'd meet you down at the pub instead!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Not all the houses have keys in their internal doors, especially if there were children living there. Never had a kid lock himself in a room??Anyway I am sure my guests is not having a bad time, probably his request made me the only upset one.
Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have a hippie swimming pool, very groovy!
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
Well if you're upset then so be it...but isn't it better for the guests to communicate their concerns and questions in person than to hold it all in until they're writing their review?
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Ok Andrew you win with the Haight-Ashbury reference! As I said, locks are very much on my mind at the moment. My listings desperately need updating and that's something I will include. Although....nobody has mentioned it so far, apart from the few I mentioned. But yes, down the pub - nae problem, mate. We're in brewery territory here, although only one working brewery left. Pint of Deuchars on me any time
Andrew
Andrewa year ago
I think even one short sentence about it is enough - if nothing else, it gives you bum-coverage if someone complains or seeks a refund later. And that pint sounds great!
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
yes I appreciate when guests express their concerns. I had many guests that asked me to store their food in the fridge and since I don't offer access to the kitchen I decided to install a small fridge in the bedroom. I will never let my guests starving! But if a guest is asking me the key for their door (I can't understand how can he ask such a question when clearly no key hole has been drilled into the door)this means to me that he doesn't really trust to be in my place and yes, I am bit disappointed about this, but never mind, I am sure my guests are very comfortable right now and they have all the privacy they need. I am able to accommodate some of the concerns, but not all of them. I was just wondering what other hosts are doing and I can see not every host has the same rules
Bianca
Biancaa year ago
I don't allow guests to lock their bedroom door because 1. They would inevitably forget to return the key to me 2. I sometimes need to service the Aircon when they're not in 3. I always check after they've left that they switched off the utilities in the room. Yes I know I can enter their room with my spare but I just prefer this arrangement. Besides a provide a small safe in each room. They are also forewarned about this point in their house manual.
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I have the same problem with the key; I used to provide a key to my front door when I started hosting. Two of my guests did not return it and left with it . I have since switched to a lockbox for my front door. I do actually have a key for one of my bedrooms but do not provide it unless the guest asks (and they never did) for it, since I'm afraid the same thing would happen (the key would go with the guests! Some guests check out early and I don't see them)
Bianca
Biancaa year ago
Exactly Sandrine. I have very early morning check outs and I want to make that process as hassle-free as possible.
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
This is a really interesting discussion and particularly topical for me right now. I don't have locks on any of the rooms in my house (except for the bathroom obviously), not even my own space (although I do have a locked cupboard in there). After 2.5 years hosting and hundreds of guests the issue of locks has only come up twice. I have two guest rooms and always inform everyone about who else will be staying while they are here. Often they don't coincide at all, other times they share a bit of time together or just say hi in passing. Recently I had a long discussion with a female guest after she booked and who then expressed concern that there would a man in the other guest room while she was staying here. It was an interesting exchange. I explained that I had considered putting locks on the guest rooms but had decided against it. This is my HOME - it's not a hostel or a commercial guest-house. Plus I have a real horror of some emergency happening and guests are locked in their rooms and I can't get in. I explained to this guest that trust is a two-way street and, although she might be concerned about the other guest, how do we know it's not going to be HER that's the thief/crazy person? I offered to reimburse her the lost fees if she decided to cancel but in the end she agreed and she had a great time.
Having said all that.... I am beginning to wonder whether I should consider locks. After 2.5 years and hundreds of guests with no major problems or issues I do feel quite complacent about this issue. And that's kind of worrying me!! Am I just a time-bomb waiting to happen?? It's a dilemma because I like the way things are, generally nice trusting and trustworthy guests and I really don't want to change things. But have I just been incredibly lucky? Or am I just really really good at screening..... Don't know. I think, though, that the day I need to put locks on the doors is the day I finish doing this. Sorry for rambling
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
I would put locks if I had two differents guests at the same time. As I said, I rent only one room (or two rooms to the same family) so it's not a problem I think. Can your guests lock from inside at least, at your home?
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
Sometimes it is impossible to prevent bad luck no matter how many door you lock, but I believe that most of the people are good and I had wonderful experiences with many of my guests. I offer my trust to guests the moment I open the front door of my place and I am hoping to receive back the same trust and I have to say it works most of the time. I don't want hosting to be reduced at a pure exchange of money. I really want to keep it special
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
No they can't lock from inside. There are no locks at all. That's why I find this discussion so interesting because I do realise that having different sets of guests at the same time raises the trust levels very high and why I am possibly re-considering. But I really don't want to put locks on. It's all worked so well this far.
Tanya & Ben
Tanya & Bena year ago
Rebecca I think installing locks for those that host in more than one room is important. The guests trust you, as they are staying in your home, but may be cautious of other guests.
Tanya & Ben
Tanya & Bena year ago
Actually - rebecca I liked andrew's idea. If you don't want to put locks on the rooms (I don't have them either), just disclose it in the listing.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I would be worried about attracting the wrong type of person by advertising the fact. In the time I've been hosting its been nice to learn that in the right environment people are very trusting and relaxed.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I also keep my guests informed on who's coming and going, age/name/country of origin so they feel part of the loop and are informed. Mainly I want guests to feel comfortable.
Jeannette
Jeannettea year ago
Placing locks on internal doors are against code in my city for houses zoned R-8, a residential classification, because they aren't (gawdawful) rooming houses, which is what I associate locked doors with
Many, many of my guests in fact leave their room doors *open* when they are out for the day, as if they are at home in a place of complete trust. And that's with other guests coming and going too.
I guess they know that if I accepted Guest #1, Guest #2 is also going to be a nice person, not a thief.
(Lovely guest and permanent housemate in the dining room now, chatting.)
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Sandrine
Sandrinea year ago
Funny, most of my guests also leave the doors open, I have to go and close them since I have a cat who would otherwise on the beds....
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Drives me nuts when guests leave their doors open if I'm honest. I mean I'm glad you feel safe and comfortable and all but honestly I really don't need or want to see or hear what's going on in there. It's almost like an invasion of MY privacy!!
Rebecca
Rebeccaa year ago
Seems like you have a similar set-up to me, Jeannette. It's all worked well so far but I do wonder whether that time will come when something will go missing or something will happen. But I guess having a lock on the door won't necessarily prevent that eventuality. I had a dream the other night that a guest died in the room! I'm having an over-thinking phase maybe...
Robert and Stefania
Robert and Stefaniaa year ago
many of my guests leave their door open too
Bekah and Brian
Bekah and Briana year ago
Iiiiiinteresting. Fire codes. That's a very good point. That's probably the case in a lot of cities.
Jeannette
Jeannettea year ago
Yes I think fire codes definitely require immediate egress without a key or any complicated mechanism from all interior rooms via the door.
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
Agreed it would be unsafe to have a complicated lock that prevents guests from leaving easily, but most exterior locks are easy to get out and require a key to get in, right? I would imagine guests have reasons to lock their door while out other than the fear of theft, and I'd certainly prefer a lock on my door when staying inside. Some people sleepwalk; a guest reported their host opened their door without knocking and just stared at them while the guest was trying to get to sleep. Maybe this guest is the guest who is asking about locks. I certainly wouldn't take it personally even if they said "we don't trust YOU." I trust me.
Ahman
Ahmana year ago
I've been hosting for over 4yrs and have only been asked about the key for the bedroom door twice. We host 3 guest rooms and more often than not all 3 rooms have 3 lots of guests that don't know each other. My room rentals for my rentals (1yr contracts) don't have locks and in 14yrs of being a landlord I've been asked once about a lock on their bedroom door. I was asked by that same person if she could install 1 and I said no and that I was happy for them to leave if they didn't feel comfortable. In my last 2 catered chalet ski trips on both occasions with different tour operators our room did not have a lock on the door and nor did we have to option to lock it from the inside, there were 8 other guests in 1 chalet and 22 in the other.
If I have to install locks on doors then I will close up shop.
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Deborah
