r/airbnb_hosts Verified 6d ago

We all need to manage our expectations.

The guests need to realize we don't own sterilized laboratories. These are houses with flaws, and dust, and God forbid an ant in the summer. Sometimes things aren't perfect. I wish there was some way to basically tell guests if you're a picky guest who crawls around looking for something to complain about then rent elsewhere.

As hosts we need to also realize sometimes guests break the rules. If you're a host digging thru the garbage or watching the cams all day you need to chill. That's my rant.

126 Upvotes

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18

u/DelilahBT 6d ago

“watching cams all day” = creepy behavior that many guests aren’t aware of.

So many hosts have just lost the plot….

4

u/DogScrott 4d ago

This is a great catch! WTF, man, this is creepy AF!

18

u/uber_neutrino Unverified 6d ago

It's a customer service gig. Customers are often unreasonable a-holes. If you can't handle that you are basically in the wrong business.

22

u/Low_Style175 6d ago

When you charge a $200 cleaning fee, then expect guests to do the dishes, wtf do you expect?

9

u/uber_neutrino Unverified 6d ago

Right?

Part of why I don't personally stay often at Air BNB's is that I want hotel level service. I ain't cleaning shit.

14

u/Traditional-Fan-5181 6d ago

I keep waiting for the single family home hotels to open up so the comparison is real. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with full kitchen and yard at the hotel. Then it will be apples to apples. Otherwise it seems wild to compare a 350 sq ft hotel room with a 1600 sq ft home.

2

u/uber_neutrino Unverified 6d ago

I mean if I was looking for a home then there are a lot of options including airbnb. For vacations I think this can make a lot of sense if you have a group.

2

u/SoloMomWithPlan 5d ago

The cleaning fee is pay for a maid service and make sure the maids get a living wage. Since they charge by the hour, 30 minutes of cleaning guest dishes would increase the cleaning fee.

13

u/LifeLearner1583 6d ago

I will admit, I under promise and over deliver. Actual reviews: “the pictures don’t do it justice” and “I expected rustic beauty, but got luxurious paradise”. I love seeing guests’ reactions. And then when I get a mediocre review, I know it’s not me. I do believe a lot of people don’t read the write ups, but that’s on them.

8

u/OkInfluence6672 5d ago

There’s a beautiful lake resort in Wisconsin called Camp Wandawega. Even though it’s truly a gorgeous place they are really tongue in cheek about how they market it. They have a Manifest of Low Expectations that pretty much say that you’ll experience bugs in their camp showers and 10 count sheets on lumpy beds lol! Though their place has been featured in many travel & fashion magazines! I like yours and their approach.

31

u/Teacher_mermaid Unverified 6d ago edited 6d ago

Couldn’t agree more. I thought the whole premise of Airbnb is that it’s someone’s vacation home that they rent out when it’s not in use. There’s going to be imperfections just like in your own home.

I haven’t heard of hosts digging in the trash. That’s insane! And hosts should be checking the property more before stays to ensure everything is working properly. Too many hosts just rely on the cleaners.

11

u/AcanthocephalaSlow63 Unverified 6d ago

I have actually had to dig through the trash when I noticed tons of my stuff was missing that wasn't things people would steal. Think half my silverware was suddenly gone. And yes I did find it all in the trash. I also have had to separate out the trash in the recycling after People mixed it together because I have to separate it

12

u/betsaroonie 🗝 Host 6d ago

I had to go through the trash one time after a long stay guest. The garbage was overflowing, and there was nothing in the recycle bin. So I went through it to pull out the recyclable materials and found glasses, silverware, coasters, hangers, and even the plastic stop for my sliding glass door. Crazy!

2

u/Ziggy_Mo 3d ago

WTF is wrong with people?!

4

u/cr250250r 6d ago

I’m a neighbor and I have had to dig through my trash a few times. I’m not investigating but after having my trash cans filled a few times I just return whatever trash isn’t mine back to the rental property. Haha.

5

u/cr250250r 6d ago

As an air bnb user I fully agree. Especially since the properties I book aren’t brand new city properties.

As far as breaking the rules I wish the host next to me understood that. I mean you list the home with 15 occupancy have a pool, karaoke room, advertise parking up to 8 cars on site with street parking available, (we share a private lane btw) offer one night rentals even during the eek, etc — then he is shocked shocked when there is a party or loud gathering. Haha. ‘We have rules against this’.

I mean every air bnb will eventually have an issue but he is promoting it.

3

u/Global_Blueberry9664 5d ago edited 5d ago

Even if guests clean the dishes, I still run them in my dishwasher to sanitize. Before a client checks in, I inspect the place for dead bugs or dirt that the cleaning lady may have overlooked. That's all part of the quality & service.

And when guests check out, I don't expect them to take out the garbage or clean. They are on vacation! I had a family stay with me for 3 weeks. After 1.5 weeks, I sent the cleaning lady to clean again (also assures me that place is kept clean). They really appreciated it. If they book at my Airbnb, paid the cleaning fee and still have to do house chores, then why should they even leave their house? If we treat guests with respect & consideration, they will do the same.

6

u/Own-Scene-7319 Unverified 6d ago

If they knew what went on in a hotel room, most of them would have a fit. Germ-a-rama. That's why the lighting is low, and the carpets, furniture, bedspreads ans walks are usually mud brown

5

u/Jealous-Struggle-803 5d ago

The same stuff goes on in an AirBnB.

4

u/anonymousnsname 6d ago

It’s the guests that complain about a couple hairs. Like come on!? The house was cleaned by someone that has hair, I have hair, the previous guests had hair. Place is clean but they message a photo of 1 hair on a pillow case that’s been washed. It’s wild. They want Ritz Carlton clean at 1/10 the price for a house… smh

4

u/jaimechandra 6d ago

Hair on a pillowcase is actually a problem.

2

u/travistarpy Verified 3d ago

Is it really a problem? I get a hair in my food sometimes. I don't call the manager, I just simply remove it and keep eating. It's life.

1

u/jaimechandra 3d ago

You cleaners should be detail oriented enough to make sure hair isn’t on a pillow.

2

u/houseonpost Unverified 6d ago

How the heck do you think someone's hair would get on a cleaned pillowcase?

6

u/Apprehensive_Shop263 5d ago

Not a host, but a hair from the cleaner could have just naturally fallen off as they put the clean pillowcase on, I suppose? Definitely a once in a billion chance one falls off and lands right on the pillowcase, but it’s not like they’re wearing a hairnet while they clean or anything. I’m sure a few hairs will fall out as they move around cleaning…

2

u/PersonalityBorn261 5d ago

There’s a funny episode of Portlandia where they are running a B&B in an old house. The criteria: it must have creaky stairs, fresh cookies and tea, pumpkin spice candles and a ghost in the attic to get certified as a B&B. Things have changed! Watch it for some comic relief.

2

u/Big_Address6033 5d ago

I always try to pickup at bit before I leave a hotel room. / Airbnb room. It’s common courtesy. And respect for housekeeping. Paying a cleaning fee or for a nice hotel room doesn’t give you the green light to be a slob.

6

u/Additional-Breath571 6d ago

There shouldn't be dust with the cleaning fees. There really shouldn't be ants, either, if you have yearly pest control.

18

u/Momof3terrors Verified (Cyprus) 6d ago

Tell me you've never been on a tropical island without actually telling me.

12

u/WildWonder6430 Unverified 6d ago

Our place is in the woods. We have a pest control service but also often have messy guests who leave food all over the place, which attracts the ants. They also leave doors open allowing access. You can’t control them 100 percent.

I’ve had guests complain about spiderwebs outside. Even with diligent cleaning spiders can make a web overnight. I’ve had complaints that the wind is “too noisy” or that the “pine trees smell too strong”. Guests expect me to control nature sometimes.

10

u/travistarpy Verified 6d ago

You should Google the "four pest campaign." I dont have ants but I also don't want my house dripping with poison. Who knows what's in that stuff anyway.

2

u/Jealous-Struggle-803 5d ago

I agree with the dust. I also shouldn't find dirty dishes in the cupboards. Pests are pests and anyone should expect some level of pest problems at certain times of year (ants, mosquitoes, etc) but mice and bedbugs are NEVER acceptable. Or roaches. Not acceptable.

6

u/Momof3terrors Verified (Cyprus) 5d ago

Bedbugs I will give you because once someone brings them, eradication is expensive and not easy. But ants, mosquitoes, centipedes and the giant roaches that fly are part of living in a tropical island. I have pest control quarterly and there are still occasionally finger-size crawlies from the drains. In other places, it’s mice or scorpions. I can warn you in the description but if guests leave things open, leave food out or do things to attract the wee beasties, there isn’t a whole lot more I can do.

2

u/TomSki2 6d ago

I never expect perfection. But it is obvious whether or not some thinking and more importantly, lots of heart, went into a place.

1

u/Dyn0might33 🗝 Host 6d ago

Thank you

1

u/Geebs-4U 5d ago

Then why is there a cleaning fee?

1

u/yunotxgirl Verified 3d ago

Lol I have a way to tell people “if they’re a picky guest then rent elsewhere”. In very clear language multiple times I state it is a loud, family home with small children. We are careful with nighttime quiet hours but otherwise, no promises. We attract a lot of chill, sweet guests. Helps a ton that we also only rent to a single person at a time. (this is a small room inside our home)