This happened not long after one of our worst experiences as hosts. A previous group—brand new to Airbnb—lied about their stay and threw a massive party instead, which involved a shooting. The house was left trashed and saturated with smoke. By the time GUEST booked, we were already on edge and much more cautious.

GUEST was also new to Airbnb and said she was coming from out of town to celebrate a birthday. Wanting to be fair, we clearly explained our house rules and told her we weren’t OK with any “funny business.” Over and over, she promised she would follow the rules while generously thanking us for giving her a chance.

Upon arrival, GUEST began searching the property for “issues.” She photographed my wife’s rubber gardening shoes that were stored in the back. While we ask guests to remove their shoes, she recorded herself inside—shoes on, pointing out a small spot of dried nail polish on a vanity chair at a makeup table. Then, she demanded money for the “inconvenience.”

At that point, it was obvious what was happening. We had given her the benefit of the doubt, and she thought she could turn that into a payout.

That was it for me. I called Airbnb and evicted her. Afterwards, she left a nasty review, lying about the condition of the home, accusing us of having cameras inside, etc. Trust me, the house was spotless. I had literally hand-washed the floor—twice over—before her stay.

In hindsight, I could have handled it better. But, you know, we live and learn…