To be nervous of Air BNB guests?

[Getyourjab]

We have decided to let out our 1 bed cottage on the Devon/Dorset border.
We have just finished the renovation (new kitchen/ bathroom/ carpets etc) and are ready for guests, but have missed the deadline for my planned advertising outlet-The Lady- so our ad won’t appear until the August issue.
We have 2 bookings so far for the whole Summer…
My OH is keen to put it on Air BNB but I’ve heard horror stories about letting via AirBNB, but maybe they’re the exception. Like everyone, we’d like people who have a lovely time but will respect the place, not steal or ruin the time, effort and money we’ve spent.

Are you great Air BNB guests? Or where else can we advertise before Augustvto find some great guests who will look after the place?

Huh? I didn’t suggest that vegans should not go on holiday! OP was worrying that her guests might be vegan, I was replying to represent the non-vegan majority!

@HaveringWavering

Huh? I didn’t suggest that vegans should not go on holiday! OP was worrying that her guests might be vegan, I was replying to represent the non-vegan majority!

How do you know someone is a meat eater? Don't worry, they'll tell you...

I know things have moved on but I would much rather host AirBnB customers than people who read The Lady. Posh riff raff won't treat your place nicely and won't care about getting a deposit back.

As for your list, I wouldn't rent a place without a washing machine and I am not sure I'd be comfortable giving the host my dirty pants etc. Is there no way you could fit a small washing machine (like the portable ones they advertise for students and caravans?)

Also - don't assume they will eat out every night. I've stayed in a couple of places where the hosts has clearly offloaded all the crap from their kitchens - rusty sieves, blunt knives, knackered chopping boards, pans with the non stick peeling off etc etc (and no useful things like measuring jugs or scales).

@Getyourjab

OP update: Well I took the plunge- We’re on our second set of guests and have 9 bookings!

I do have a couple of questions for the seasoned AirBNBers amongst you:

1. I’ve offered self check-in but have said I’m on hand for any questions or problems (we live very close by). Should I go over and say hello on the first day, or leave people in peace unless they contact me?

1. So far I’ve left local butter, milk, tea and coffee and a bottle of wine for guests. Is this a good idea? Or expected? I’m slightly worried guests might be vegan or have allergies or even be offended by wine (eg religious reasons, previous alcohol problem etc). Asking dietary requirements seems excessive and might raise their expectations unrealistically as it’s only meant as a small welcome.

1. The cottage has no washing machine (no room)- would you expect a host to offer to put a load on if requested? There is a launderette nearby, and a washing line.

1. Towels- I provide one bath sheet, one hand towel and 2 facecloths per person. Should I leave 2 sets per person, or swap for a clean set halfway through a week!s booking?

I’d be very interested in your opinions.

1. No, don't go over.
2. I'd only leave coffee or tea if sealed in individual packages. I would not leave wine.
3. No.
4. 2 sets per person.

The time we stayed in an Airbnb the owner wrote a really nice review of us. Maybe only take people who have nice reviews?

Reading through this thread has just reinforced exactly why I don't use Airbnb.

I don't want to be vetted by property owners turning their nose up and making judgement on whether I am good enough to pay over the odds to stay in their rental cottage and then being expected to run ragged cleaning to show home standards when I am on holiday.

I use airbnb all the time, always leave the place as found. Just check reviews of guests before accepting a booking. You can set rules and exemptions (ie -unsuitable for children, if only one bedroom and no facilities for kids). A lot of self employed people like me use airbnb for business trips.

Hi OP

1. IME the host is often there at the start to say hi, which is fine, but defo only come at the very start of a stay or it would be intrusive.
2. I would LOVE a cuppa on arrival and would really appreciate milk, tea, sugar. I don't like long life milk though, it tastes horrid and seems cheap.

3 offering a wash halfway through a weeks stay would be much appreciated especially if I had kids there.

1. Yes a change of towels for longer stays would also be a lovely touch.

I think your suggestions are really nice, and overall I think people would really appreciate them!

I would recommend cottages.com. They know the market very well and change the price of the accommodation constantly according to current demand. They also have a very good advertising set up.

@Frannyhy

I am an airbnb host. The vast majority of my guests have been lovely people, and many of them come back time and time again.

Make sure you know what your boundaries are. If you don’t want kids or pets put it in your house rules. Guest are supposed to read them before they book, but the majority don’t. When you get a request to book, cut and paste your house rules in the thread and make them type that they agree.

Don’t only check your prospective guests’ reviews from other hosts, check to see what they have written about other properties. This can take a bit of digging, or there is an app called air review you can use with chrome. This will show reviews written by the prospective guest, as well as by their previous hosts.

This week I had a request to book from someone who I found had told a previous host in my town that her house needed a deep clean. Whether or not this was true or not I don’t particularly care. I just know that I don’t want this person in my house, so I told her she was a rude cunt and to find somewhere else!

You really used those words?

I recommend being there to greet them unless they are coming very late. If you add a personal touch you'll likely get better reviews.

@THisbackwithavengeance

Reading through this thread has just reinforced exactly why I don't use Airbnb.

I don't want to be vetted by property owners turning their nose up and making judgement on whether I am good enough to pay over the odds to stay in their rental cottage and then being expected to run ragged cleaning to show home standards when I am on holiday.

You're basing that on one person?!

I'd swap out the wine (which cuts into profit, and is unnecessary as many people don't drink, or don't drink wine) for a nice fresh loaf of bread from a local bakery. Gives something nice to sample the butter with, especially if they haven't been shopping yet.

I'm doing airbnb with the pre book option turned on. You don't talk to them but have an on line chat where they tell you why they're coming down and sort of present their case then you approve or decline. I like that option and so far we've had really lovely people. I'm leaving milk, bread, yoghurt and cereal for them although most of it doesn't get used, if it's untouched then we just use it so no waste.

I can't stop snurking about putting an ad in The Lady, I mean wtaf? Can't believe it still exists!

I just know that I don’t want this person in my house, so I told her she was a rude cunt and to find somewhere else!

Could you share where your business is so we can avoid? Ta

DH and I have used AirBnB all over Europe and in the UK. As a couple we want somewhere really individual at a reasonable price - don't mind paying for something special but not the rip off prices some are charging this year. Our next trip using AirBnB will be to Edinburgh for the festival in August. We have really good feedback from everywhere we have stayed and have always been fortunate enough to stay in lovely places where we have been able to leave excellent feedback too. I remember with great happiness the architect and his wife who talked us through all the renovations they had done on their beautiful flat in Porto, and the lovely man who insisted on giving us a guided tour of Lisbon before he took us to the flat we rented there. We think it is great. We would never rent from anyone who wanted to charge a security deposit or overpriced cleaning charge. I can stay in a beautiful hotel and don't have to pay that and i wouldn't want to rent anywhere I thought I was pre-judged and distrusted.
I'm sure, OP, if you are letting to couples, read their feedback from previous lets and make our cottage special for them it will be a very positive experience.

At least people booking through Air BnB are more likely to know how to clean. People booking through the Lady have possibly had cleaners all their life so more likely to leave it in a mess

@Anotherhill

At least people booking through Air BnB are more likely to know how to clean. People booking through the Lady have possibly had cleaners all their life so more likely to leave it in a mess

Do Airbnb owners really expect people to clean? I don't want to be cleaning on my holiday thanks. I'm not talking about leaving a mess and not cleaning up after meals or clearing spills etc, I mean I wouldn't want to be scrubbing away to get the place gleaming.

Everyone I know who hosts either cleans it themselves between lets or gets someone in to do it.

I've got friends who have let through airbnb and their experiences have generally been positive - however they slightly resent the fees and other requirements of it and have cancelled their listing. Although theres lots of potential customers worldwide they found that the actual market for holiday cottages is only really UK based - they're realistic that a small coastal town in Devon doesnt have worldwide appeal.

They much prefer the 'conventional' holiday lettings companies. They use Toad Hall - www.toadhallcottages.co.uk/ - much preferring to deal with real people at the agency and keep the profits locally, they employ a local person to arrange handover, cleaning etc and havent had any problems. Also practically its easier to deal with UK companies where you can actually speak to them on the phone to resolve problems. And in these places you're not looking for the next good review and so you dont have to faff around providing extra food, wine etc to get the ratings

You can't leave alcohol in the holiday let as part of the package even if it's 'complimentary' unless you have the appropriate licences in place to service/sell alcohol.

So knock that one on the head unless one of you also happens to be a e.g pub landlord in your spare time.

I would skip leaving a bottle of wine (guests don't expect this), maybe a packet of cornflakes or some croissants along with tea, coffee and milk. As some people arrive late and don't have time to go shopping until the morning. Shampoo and shower gel, and 2 sets of towels per person if a longer stay. I would prefer the host to be there when I arrive, just to answer any questions, and often guests appreciate a recommendation of where to eat, where the nearest shop is ect. If it a tourist area leave some leaflets on local attractions in the cottage.

@Getyourjab

OP update: Well I took the plunge- We’re on our second set of guests and have 9 bookings!

I do have a couple of questions for the seasoned AirBNBers amongst you:

1. I’ve offered self check-in but have said I’m on hand for any questions or problems (we live very close by). Should I go over and say hello on the first day, or leave people in peace unless they contact me?

1. So far I’ve left local butter, milk, tea and coffee and a bottle of wine for guests. Is this a good idea? Or expected? I’m slightly worried guests might be vegan or have allergies or even be offended by wine (eg religious reasons, previous alcohol problem etc). Asking dietary requirements seems excessive and might raise their expectations unrealistically as it’s only meant as a small welcome.

1. The cottage has no washing machine (no room)- would you expect a host to offer to put a load on if requested? There is a launderette nearby, and a washing line.

1. Towels- I provide one bath sheet, one hand towel and 2 facecloths per person. Should I leave 2 sets per person, or swap for a clean set halfway through a week!s booking?

I’d be very interested in your opinions.

1. If you have clear welcome instructions I would be fine with that.

1. Wine isn’t needed. I would prefer a loaf of bread for a quick breakfast if we arrived late.

1. Do not offer this, it’s madness and far too much extra work!

1. One set for upto 3 days, a second set plus a few spares for a week.

Why not look at renting people that already have a good report from other owners?

I had an Air BnB owner demand a review of me as a guest after I had booked. I cancelled. My children and I had suffered considerable trauma in the run up to the booking and I just wanted to get away, not justify my existence. I am not a nightmare guest, nor are my children, but I suspect one adult, 3 children was enough for him to make —unpleasant and very wrong—assumptions. I won’t ever use the site again.

I have a number of friends who rent out holiday cottages here in Norfolk. Through all channels you can get challenging customers, but mostly they have been problem free. Tactically most have built a customer base by word of mouth and repeat custom. Given demand, after four or five years, most have moved to more direct business models with their own websites. This is quite straight forward to do. One friend did have an issue with an airbandb customer who turned out to be a prostitute. Apparently this is quite common, with "escorts" heading to the coast to take advantage of the summer trade. This was unpleasant, and embarrassing, but did not cause major issues.

Hi OP, great update! I have been living in air bnbs for the past 8 months (we wfh so decided to "travel" around the country - I am in Australia). So far we've stayed in about 50 air bnbs, here is my take:

-I prefer self check in - just want to get on with my stay and can't be bothered for small talk

• all hosts are competitive now as in: all homes have salt/pepper/sauces (a full cupboard of condiments), ice in freezer. A LOT of personal touches - wine/chocolates, homemade jam, baked apple pie... Fresh milk, bread, jam in the fridge for breakfast.. if you want to stand out/have good reviews - think of those. Same goes for nice shampoo/shower gel, again the air bnb I'm at now has fresh flowers - nice.

-yes to several towels. Air bnb im staying at now has a big pile of fresh towels (about 8) - lovely. -I don't expect you to change bedding halfway through the week - gosh no. Say guests can have that option for extra pay? -please have lovely air fresheners - some homes have a particular smell and I don't want that -absolutely yes to washing machine! My stays are 3-8 days and I pack lightly. If I need something to wash it's good to be able to do so. Same goes for iron - for when I need to iron an evening dress for dinner, after it's been creased in the suitcase -several streaming channels (Netflix/Stan/Amazon prime) are lovely - it's nice to relax in the evenings watching some rubbish (at home I never have time to watch tv in the evening so it's a nice treat)

Hope this helps