The Dark Side of Airbnb No One Talks About

[@PalomarCabinRentals]

For other newer hosts watching this video…you do not need to suck it up and pay for a new bed if a guest makes a false claim about it being broken upon their arrival. Simply make it standard practice to take photos/videos of each room after the cleaner is finished, that show the condition of the property prior to the guests arrival. My cleaner takes these photos for me, and both Airbnb and Vrbo have supported me in making a claim against the guest for damage they clearly did, because my photos showed the damage wasn’t pre-existing. These photos and videos also help you fight against false claims of your place not being clean.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

I appreciate your reply! I do know of several hosts whos cleaners got sick of taking photos every time so just started sending photos from previous cleans. It's not a perfect strategy but when done right can be very effective.

[@Designarts-SA]

Great video and taking everything to heart about the pro's and con's for hosting an Airbnb. We will be in the process of starting an Airbnb soon in Fisherhaven, Hermanus, South Africa. I am taking in account every points you have brought up and hope to make an success of it. And yes I do realize its going to be a lot of work and I am fine with it. I am watching a lot of youtube about this and hope to cut out some issues. But again thank you for all the information and good luck with everything in the future.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

Thanks for watching! It's great you're getting started! Keep me up to date and let me know if you need any support!

[@Jl-pm6fp]

Some guests leave negative reviews about really petty stuff because they want to extort a refund from you in exchange for removing their unfair review. I had a guest take off a star for unmatched coffee cups (and there was actually a set of beautiful matched ones the next cabinet over but she didn't open it) and then another star off because she didn't like the shape of the wine glasses! She then took a third star off because the kitchen and bathroom were next to eachother and she didn't like to eat near a bathroom, even though there was a dining table 25 feet away in the other room that she could have used. But she didn't say a word about any of these issues during her stay! My policy is, to not be too attached to being a super-host--guests can only manipulate you with unfair reviews, and Airbnb can only make you jump through ridiculous hoops, if you are afraid of losing that "status". But the perks of it aren't that great, and I have had excellent occupancy rates and profits both with and without superhost status. So I just posted an answer saying that her motives seemed suspect given that she had not contacted me DURING her stay to address these supposedly serious problems.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

That's so frustrating but yes I agree, it's impossible to get all 5 star reviews.

[@brunetteXer]

omg the early check-in late checkoutters are MADDENING. and the usual response "don't ask don't get" doesn't fly with me, cos what you are getting is a certain 4* review for communication and house rules.

[@sunshinetogo4221]

Watching from Wisconsin

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

Welcome to the channel!

[@kpannabecker]

Good video. Here's a recent one for me. The guest left me 5 stars on everything except accuracy of location they gave me a 3. Overall they gave me a 4 star review. In my listing I'm very clear that this house is in an old CCC camp, with history about the buildings, etc. Their comment was about the house being "in a cluster of buildings", which apparently they didn't like. Clearly they didn't read the description thoroughly. That may sound trivial, but I found it annoying. I'd think people would read all about a place before they book. I do.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

Yes so frustrating when guests don't read the info. Maybe add it to your confirmation message if it happens regularly 👍

[@arthurdyer3679]

Probably the most amusing case of over occupancy I ever had, was a couple who booked a room for 2 people and then when I left invited 70 of their friends to the property and began setting up for a wedding in our garden complete with Marquees, buffet tables and servers.. Impressive in one sense, how eveer fustrating when your only charging based upon 2 people. Gave them 2 hours to finish up and then leave when I got back and realised what they were doing.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

That's hilarious and shocking at the same time. Some people have no shame. I bet that was an awkward conversation telling them all to leave?!

[@arthurdyer3679]

@@davecordnerairbnbcoach they were pretty good about it, they knew they had a good deal paying £120 quid for a wedding event and left quietly and tidied up. You make some good points, I’ve had all that stuff with people trying to turn your place into a brothel etc. you learn to spot it straight away the flat rate VAT scheme at 10.5% for accommodation providers under 230k is useful assuming you don’t want to reclaim which is useless for most small businesses, cameras also are a game changer. Your point about focusing on profit over occupancy took me a while to catch onto, well made point Will watch more of your content keep it up!

[@arthurdyer3679]

@@davecordnerairbnbcoach designing you layout and offering for businesses rates is also a major point I took a while to cotton onto and can completely eradicate your profit of your not careful - might be worth offering content on that voa check and challenged tribunals etc

[@brianclark153]

Welcome to the hospitality industry 😂 2 decades in a love / hate relationship 😅

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

I know, Brian 😂 Love/Hate is right!

[@brunetteXer]

the EV thing is - thankfully rare - but annoying. I'm in a hosting group where many hosts think it's perfectly acceptable to provide free power, or as I call it: free fuel for EVs, perhaps they feel piously wonderful about it? who knows, but it's not right and not a cost we hosts should be funding.

[@davecordnerairbnbcoach]

I agree. I think it's only going to get more common

[@dinahasante7057]

Ghana 🇬🇭