Airbnb owners- how honest are you in your review of guests?

[Honeycombskl]

So I've recently started to rent my property out on airbnb as have moved in with my DP, but as someone who's divorced want to keep my own place as a fall back and to maintain my independence.

I have mainly had good guests, a few minor things like broken dustpans etc (noticed on cleaning only and not told by guests) but didn't mention these in reviews and still gave good ones as these things happen and not a big deal.

However, I have just had a couple leave and I'm not sure how to review them. They hadn't flushed the toilet which was gross but they had a dog with them, I allow pets but ask they are kept out the bedrooms and off furniture. It was very clear that the dog had been sleeping in the bed as it was coated in dog hairs, to the point that they were even on the actual duvet when I took the duvet cover off, and all over the mattress beneath the bed sheet.
They were lovely and friendly however and left a really nice message about their stay. I have a friend with an airbnb who says they always leave good reviews no matter what, but I wonder if I should be honest. They left the place tidy but I'm not happy that the dog was in the bed, it's not nice for future guests.

Would you mention it or just write it off as something that happens when you allow dogs to stay (although haven't had an issue with other dog owners doing this) and give a really good review without mentioning it?

It's annoying but I don't think it's bad enough for leaving a negative review. I've seen and heard of much much worse!

I seen a post on Facebook the other day from a lady who lets out luxury holiday lodges and caravans who posted pictures of the state some guests left, rotting food left in the fridge, half cooked food in pans, dirty pots everywhere, broken glass on the floor, ripped Lino in the kitchen, some people are just disgusting.

@hoomans

I don't mean a negative review overall, it would generally be good but mention that the dog was sleeping in the bed as there was lots of hairs left afterwards. It's not even about the extra time and money spent cleaning after, but people don't generally want to sleep in a bed a dog's been sleeping in.

Could you message them privately rather than on the site?

To be honest if you allow dogs it seems a bit petty to complain about dog hairs!

To be honest if you allow dogs it seems a bit petty to complain about dog hairs!

I have no issue with dog hairs and it's obviously to be expected, but I was very clear about no dogs in the bedroom and particularly no dogs on the bed, and the bed was quite literally coated in them. Both on top of and inside the duvets. It's not just a dog has jumped on and off the bed. In other areas it's to be expected, as would a few still ending up in the bedroom, but it looked almost like a dog had been getting it's coat combed out on the bed it was so bad.

I'm always very honest, I think it's important to be honest for the sake of other hosts. Thankfully the guest can't read what you've written until they've already left their review so there's no reason not to tell the truth

@empireants not sure I understand, what you worry the most is the repercussions if they read the post? 🤔
OP I understand it is a bit annoying but dealing with dogs is not always perfect especially if you are away. I don't have a dog... but if you allow them then less room to complain about hairs in the house. "Small dog" policy perhaps better for you, like some people do?

I'm always very honest, I think it's important to be honest for the sake of other hosts.

This is my thinking. It's not that I want to leave a bad review but as a host, I'd rather other hosts were honest so I'd know what to expect. If they had a review saying they had a dog sleeping in the bed when asked not to, and I don't want dogs sleeping in my beds , then I'd think twice about accepting the booking.

@Coronateachingagain

I have a dog, hence why I allow them as I know what it's like to try to find places to stay that accept dogs. So I allow dogs and expect hairs as a result, but I don't allow dogs in the bedroom so wouldn't expect the bed to be coated in them. It wasn't just a few hairs. The precious two guests had dogs and yes there were hairs in the living room but the bedroom was fine as the dogs clearly weren't going in there, as is clear in the house rules.

I think if you allow dogs it's not really reasonable to police where they go in the house, wouldn't it be easier not to allow them at all? And for that reason I think it wouldn't be fair to leave a bad review. Plus if you left a bad review about the dogs wouldn't your future guests all know a dog had slept in the bed and possibly be put off?

@CeibaTree

Most of the airbnbs I've stayed at that allow dogs have requested dogs don't go on the beds or in bedrooms, it's not an uncommon request and there is plenty of other rooms in the house for the dogs. It's on my listing and I confirm with guests when they book that they are happy for dogs not to go into the bedrooms, so if they aren't happy to do this then they don't need to book.

Compliment sandwich it - slide one line in about the dog hairs on the bed in the middle of an otherwise good review. Factual, neutral, tone for the dog hair bit.

@CakesOfVersailles

Thanks, I think that's a good idea. I don't want to make a huge fuss about it, but it might be something future hosts would rather know so slipping it in with some nice comments would be a good way to go I think.

As soon as I read that an AirB&B is dog-friendly, I look elsewhere so I am not part of your target demographic.
However, if I owned a dog and didn't mind staying in a place where dogs had stayed, I would be VERY put off by any reference in your review to a dog having been on or in the bed before. That's what you need to consider by raising it in a review.

I agree with @SueblueNZ that I think talking about dog hairs on the bed in relation to your listing could create an unfortunate association in people's minds. Really I would just not respond to the review publicly but would message them privately and dock some of their deposit. You wouldn't want them booking with you again anyway so no loss there.

However I also agree with PPs that you might want to think about how realistic it is to police this in future. I personally don't book properties that allow dogs just because I kind of assume that any dog that's stayed there will have been on the bed and the sofa as that's what a lot of owners do and obviously if you're not physically there you can't stop them.

Please review honestly. I always do. I always check reviews very carefully before confirming a booking and I'd be very annoyed if I allowed someone to stay who turned out to be a bad or careless guest on the basis of them having false/undeserved positive reviews.

It’s normal for an air bnb not to allow dogs on beds and guests should respect this. Mention it factually in their review.

I have written it now and left a generally good review, said they were good guests and that the place was generally tidy and clean but that there were lots of dog hairs on and in the bed and that I would host them again but would remind them to keep the bedroom door shut so the dog doesn't go in the bedroom. I think that's fair and accurate.