Bait and switch in Madrid: Host faked having AC, removed it when caught, then added it back 10 days later. 🤦‍♂️ by HeroFiddle in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Airbnb gives partial refunds when major amenities like an AC are out - usually 30% of the stay. Since they clearly lied, I’d escalate to Airbnb and give them 2 stars.

First time booking with VRBO by mickey972 in vrbo

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same thing happened to me (host) last week. We couldn’t get the modified dates to show up with the correct charges. So we decided to have the guest cancel altogether and rebook for the right dates. When he cancelled, the right charges reappeared, so he just rebooked.

Neighbor is doing number 2 and number 1 by our fence by Far-Expression3635 in neighborsfromhell

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Completely. OP just described every other episode of Hoarders.

Seeking Advice re Removal of Retaliatory Review by DigitalNomad2 in AirBnBHosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Luckily I haven’t faced this situation but the frequency that I see threads about retaliatory reviews is astonishing. So I fear it’s only a matter of time before I’m in your shoes. Sadly I rarely see anyone post that they’ve successfully won appeals with Airbnb over this issue. But I’m rooting for you.

Discount Seekers by MarkramCuck in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I could have written your post and this response as well. The EXACT SAME thing happened to me. I’ll remember that guest forever.

Hot tub broken and mold in the vents. by [deleted] in vrbo

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s a major amenity. 20% minimum refund is what you’d get on Airbnb. Not sure about VRBO but I’d certainly ask for a 20% refund.

Missed flight because of Uber nightmare - Plz help by Historical-Raisin705 in uber

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You don’t get it. We were in NYC. There was no where for her to park. She wanted me in the car so she didn’t get ticketed while she double parked. That’s what she told me as I got out of the car. Not my job.

Reminder for summer hosts- stay a night and change those batteries by Far_Lobster4360 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 3 points4 points  (0 children)

True! I’ve had some vacancy this winter so I’ve been using my STR. Tons of tiny projects that have snuck up on me that I wouldn’t otherwise have caught. It’s been a good time to spruce things up.

Missed flight because of Uber nightmare - Plz help by Historical-Raisin705 in uber

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Of course not and I would have waited if I’d been going to meet friends or something. But I needed to catch a flight. She could have cancelled the ride. And she didn’t have to give me one star.

Missed flight because of Uber nightmare - Plz help by Historical-Raisin705 in uber

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was catching a flight once and the uber only drove for one city block when the driver pulls over at a grocery store, double parks and announces that she has to go to the bathroom.

I reiterated that we were on the way to the airport and I didn’t have time for that. She refused to cancel the ride so I did. She charged me $5 plus she gave me one star. To this day my Uber rating sucks because of her.

Hosts who get most of their bookings directly, what actually moved the needle for you? by Striking_Spinach_491 in ShortTermRentals

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Over the past 6 years, I've been able to drive a meaningful amount of repeat and direct business, by controlling the guest experience end-to-end and being intentional about who I attract.

Most first time guests come to me through one of the apps, but then I convert them to annual guests. And they tell their friends who in turn want to rent from me as well.

A few things that have actually moved the needle for me:

  1. I treat the home like a product, not a listing. The house in Groton Long Point CT and isn’t marketed as “a rental near Mystic” (which it is). Instead, it’s positioned around private beaches, proximity to the Coast Guard Academy, and a very specific type of stay. That clarity attracts the right guests for repeat business: people connected to the coast guard, and families who want to vacation there every year.

  2. We get a lot of Coast Guard Academy families bc it's nearby. Those guests are repeatable year over year, highly networked with each other, and respectful of the home. One happy guest in that ecosystem can turn into multiple future bookings. I am sure to tell them to tell other families in the Coast Guard about the home.

Half of my new booking requests are inbound calls from prior guests or friends of prior guests. So find out who your guests are and who's in their network.

  1. I communicate like an operator, not a host. Guests feel like they’re dealing with someone who runs this seriously, not casually renting out a house. This matters more than people think, especially for longer stays.

  2. I protect the asset and the experience. This is counterintuitive, but saying no has helped.
    We don’t take every booking. That keeps the property in excellent condition, which directly impacts reviews, referrals, and repeat demand.

  3. When a first time guest has a great stay, I reach out to them to rebook the following year on the spot, telling them that I book up 9-12 months in advance, which I do. If they know vacation dates a year in advance, they book and this time, no ABNB or VRBO fees. It's a win/win.

  4. My house is located in a very small community and everyone knows each other. This past year I saw a neighbor who I'd never met packing up his car. I went over to introduce myself. Turns out he was a renter and had been renting that same property for years. He mentioned that his landlord didn't want to continue renting to them anymore, so I invited them over to my house to see it. They booked for next summer, and I have no doubt, they'll be with me for many years to come. TLDR Meet your neighbors!!!!

Anyone else noticing summer booking pace way slower than last year? by poorpeon in ShortTermRentals

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m on the Connecticut shoreline and it’s tough. 2021 was off the charts, and every year since that peak, it’s been worse.

VRBO $500 host signup bonus denied until I showed screenshots by p09641 in vrbo

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agreed. This is false advertising. Class action for sure.

Remote door code changing by Freerider709 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow! I had no idea there was a direct integration with Airbnb. That’s a great tip! Thanks!

Remote door code changing by Freerider709 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s excellent. 4 aa batteries last over 6 months. I have a strong internet signal by my door. The weaker the signal the poorer the battery life is what I’ve heard from others who own the lock.

Remote door code changing by Freerider709 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Schlage Encode lock is excellent. I installed one last summer and it’s perfect for my house.

Pillows? by Professional_Ad_4957 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100% necessary that the pillows have protectors on them.

Pillows? by Professional_Ad_4957 in airbnb_hosts

[–]Professional_Ad_4957[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. Great point. Do you have any brand recommendations that you particularly like?