As Airbnb host you will be welcoming strangers on to your property and, depending on your setup, you might even be sharing the same space with them. Needless to say, this can lead to various Airbnb host complaints. Therefore, to ensure that the experience is pleasant for both host and guest, here are four common mistakes that hosts should not make if they want to continue receiving five-star reviews.
Rule #1 – Do not lie about your property and its amenities
Many Airbnb host complaints have to deal with the amenities. Whether it is being called late at night because a guest cannot figure out how to switch on the heating or getting a cancellation because your guests were under the impression that there would be a hot tub. Many of these Airbnb host complaints can be prevented.
Whenever a guest books your property, he/she would like to be able to use the amenities that you have listed in your description. Start by describing your property honestly. Also, in the event that an amenity is no longer available, make sure that you do inform your guests before they make a reservation.
Rule #2 – Do not write complicated rules
One of the most common issues Airbnb hosts complain about is that guests did not stick to the house rules. Your rules are there for a reason, right?
To minimize the chances that guests will break one of your house rules, make sure that your house rules are simple and that there is nothing left open for interpretation. If your house rules are not explicit, the majority of guests will prefer their interpretation of the rules.
Rule #3 – Do not be scared to charge a security deposit
Airbnb host complaints are often caused by guests failing to respect the property of their host. From guests failing to keep your property clean to guests damaging your property on purpose, the security deposit is there for a reason. In the event that the Host Guarantee program regards the damage as too minor to cover, you can use your security deposit.
Rule #4 – Do not forget to review a guest
It does not matter which forum for Airbnb hosts you are reading, Airbnb host complaints regarding guest reviews are bound to be one of the threads. If it is not about a bad review, it is about not getting a review.
Guest reviews play a key role in the success of your Airbnb business. Though, truth be told, not many guests actually go to the effort of leaving a review. No wonder that so many hosts complain that they are not getting enough reviews!
Luckily there are certain things that you can do to boost the likelihood of your guests leaving you a five-star review. One such thing is to review your guests first. If you review your guests first, the chances are better that they will do the same.
What is Airbnb’s Resolution Center?
Inevitably things will go wrong at some stage. When this happens, hosts can turn to the Airbnb Resolution Center as an avenue to voice their complaints and request payments.
If there was a problem that was not related to your security deposit, you have up to 60 days after the guest’s check-out date to send a request for payment via the Resolution Center. Claims that have to deal with your security deposit should be submitted to the Resolution Center within 14 days after the checkout date of your guest or prior to your next guest’s check-in, whichever date comes first. It is important that hosts follow this Airbnb complaints procedure to avoid disappointment.
Now if you cannot seem to negotiate an agreement successfully, as a host you can request Airbnb to make a decision that will be regarded as final within 72 hours after the request has been submitted. If involving Airbnb sounds like the best resource for your particular situation, simply click on “Involve Airbnb” under the correct reservation. One of their committed team members will then be appointed to your case and will formally assess the details that you shared prior to reaching a decision.
At the end of the day, a happy guest means a happy host. By preventing guest complaints you will be able to maintain your good reputation. Therefore, stick to these four rules to avoid future hosting pains and having to direct your complaints to Airbnb.