Here's why I'm not leaving airbnb.
#1 the gift of the year was the newly released book "the Airbnb Story".
I haven't finished it, kinda boring, but it is mentioned that soon airbnb is expecting the STRs to only account for 1/2 their income.
Grrr... the "The Whole Experience" idea..not even considering that us hosts would then become self employed, liability for all injuries, and not able to claim on a simple 1099 Misc Income for rental income.
So, I'll play it as long as it works.
Here's my latest FYI:
Rental inquiry comes in, days not available as I have the loft and apt automatically blocked out the next day for casual cleaning.
She needs it tonight for a 20 day stay. BINGO!!!! I need new tires on my truck and long awaited shopping spree.
Reservation is up in the Loft, private bath, no worries.
I could write a novel of all the red flags and time spent attempting to get this lady verified.
She is 49, looks like a weathered drunk (states she doesn't drink, and there is no evidence of such, ergo....a total wacko, on some other chemicals, or in the midst of withdrawals, who knows; totally helpless, crying, frustrated, and destroying or making mess in every other part of the house.
After I inform her that she will have to find other accommodations, as I am NOT having every item in my house destroyed; she only mumbled something to herself (typical) of not wanting to stay where she was not welcome, and 'refund', as I walked away.
Then, I can hear the lady's car doors closing while I'm on the phone for other business.
I rang up airbnb, informed them of what was known at that moment in time; I am NOT going to cancel her reservation which is anticipated check-out June 12th, and it's not my fault she has broken every house rule which she stated she had read thoroughly, and repeated to me.
I informed airbnb, I don't have a clue if this lady is just a wacko, on drugs, or whatever, but this is unacceptable in my home, and for the well being and enjoyment of my other guests (lady couldn't even use her own private bath, puked all over toilet and doors in the shared bath), I informed her that was NOT her bathroom, she booked the room with her own bathroom, and my guests have booked rooms with THAT bath. Always an excuse, "I didn't want to walk up the stairs."
Pretended to go into hypoglycemic seizure when I informed her the guests breakfast products are stated to serve yourself from 6 am to 10 am........ I went upstairs due to a smell like my house was burning down. She's making muffins, and what I had prepared for my guest's MORNING enjoyment, as stated. But she's hungry....., can't drive her car, but had previously stated she had plenty of food in her car, and I had actually cleaned the microwave and kitchen with mess of whatever she had eaten (I don't pay much attention, these memories hit me hours later), I'm dealing with how to deal with what is happening in this moment in time.
To make a long story short:
There has been so much talk that when a trouble arises to contact your local police.
I don't have much faith in that with my experience as a Long Term Landlady, and the guest is going to show that they have paid for the booking.
Pretty much placing Law Enforcement with their hands tied.
Hours later, the lady didn't return, and I phone airbnb case management and inform them that I had taken pictures on my cell phone of how this lady had rifled through everything in the room, actually found my safe key, used quite lovely dishes from my travels as ashtrays, a bathroom drawer filled with tobacco or something, zig zag rollers, and had dumped her ashes in the drawer, after I had originally grumbled about all the ashes I had found in the bathroom trash bin, and the dishes ruined.
Bottom line:
Airbnb attempted to contact her via cell phone and email.
No response.
They determined that this reservation is one that "The Guest Now Has No Rights to Enter the Property."
They were glad I immediately changed the gate codes, told me to call the police if she shows up when she realizes she does not receive any refund......but I took name, case number, etc., to show to the police should she return.
She left without making the tax payment she was not able to pay in full, a laundry basket she conveniently loaded her crap in, and whatever clothing of mine where I had found the hangers totally askew.
Since I am not too cell phone savvy, they were helpful in their attempt for me to forward the pictures of documentation, which I was unable to do with my Smarter Than Me phone; but made this determination of no further rights of entry anyway.
Ergo...... Month to month rentals, or Rental Agreements get into so much detail of 'giving notice' on both sides, legal notification of time given for Landlords to enter the premises. Total destruction while waiting, and sometimes hiring legal counsel to get the Sheriff over there to physically evict them.
I've been a long term landlady since 1980. I'm liquidating those homes of such distance and headache, and sticks to my theory that "Airbnb Rocks."
At least somebody has my back and safety instead of dealing with "Property Management" companies, or me managing my own.
I found it educational, interesting and noteworthy.......A host does not have to cancel the reservation, which then room charges are refunded, guest doesn't have to cancel, airbnb has the right to state the reservation is no longer valid due to guests breaking house rules and damage to property.
The other comment the case management had stated was if a host requests a guest to be 're-housed', then the host forfeits the rental income for days not used. That was news to me, if a guest arrives clearly not a good match, arriving with more guests than stated, breaking house rules, etc.
With much aloha to all
