Are your guests leaving reviews this year (summer 2022)?

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This summer for rentals has been strange for me.

Much of the strangeness is the same as many other hosts-more shorter bookings, bookings occurring closer to actual stays, pricing volatility, noticeably more competition, etc.

To top it off, guests are not leaving reviews! About 1/2 of my guests are leaving reviews. In prior summers almost all of my guests left reviews.

Anyone else facing this?

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My bookings are pretty close to check in dates - within a few weeks for some but I also have October , November and December bookings.

Everyone has left a review though ……

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Yes, @Annet3176, I totally agree. In addition, we are in our 5th year and this is the first year we have had some less than perfect guests.

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No, every guest leaves a review, I’m in the southwest USA. I am booked solid through October.

In fact I raised my rate and decided to add the smallest possible weekly discount, and now suddenly I’m getting 1 week bookings for the fall. That hasn’t happened so much before.

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I usually get a review from everyone. That said, and I have noted this in other threads, people have review fatigue. Everyone you talk to in person, chat or email seems to need to be rated. Every product, no matter how trivial, shows up asking for reviews. It’s gotten rather crazy. I have been pleasantly surprised that mine have not fallen off. If someone doesn’t take the time to write a review, perhaps it might have been one that you didn’t want!

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I must confess, I got a little, er, assertive regarding guest reviews. Okay, aggressive - but can I add, “in a nice way”?

I am told (and did the math to confirm) that once I go over 200 (I have 3, 4-star) reviews, my 4.98 will go to a 4.99. I know, I know- :grimacing:
I have 4 to go.

I had gone through a a few weeks in the spring where it seemed every other guest was skipping the review. I feigned blasé as long as I could, then took action:

I now wait 2 days - that’s right, ONLY 2 days before messaging guest on the App. My begging goes something like this:

“Hi Blabla:
I hope your trip back to Germany was blabla. I just left you a great review, and hope you’ll find a moment to review us as well colon ) smile. (I draw the line at the emoticon smile or, worse, “!” )

Thanks again for choosing to stay with us, blabla”

Blabla

That usually does it. If not, I TEXT 3/4 days later (cringe, I know!) something brief, but along the lines of “PULLLLEEEEEASE LIKE ME”

No. Just briefly touching on importance of review for guest & host and thanking them for their time (I bravely do NOT mention 5 stars)

Guests have been really sweet about it - a few admitted to forgetting-and I’ve gotten every single (5-star) review since. Yes, maybe they would have anyway, but…I want those 200 reviews and that 4.99 damnit!

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Fewer bookings that occur closer to the check-in time, shorter stays and wow are people ever pickier when they do leave reviews. The section that really bothers me is being marked down for Value and Location. Yes my building is big, and old, and may not have the amenities someone wants, but I’m truthful and they’re free to book somewhere else. My prices are absolutely in the middle of the pack for my location. Our city has also had a 33% jump in AirBnB additions in the past six months, so competition is a lot tougher than last summer.

I don’t ask for reviews, AirBnB does that enough for me. But I agree with @Christine_Shirtcliff, we now live in the age of review fatigue. I love our local locksmith, but they’re very aggressive on about asking for reviews.

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I would not be ashamed to ask for reviews. We ask for reviews after they check out and then if they haven’t in about a week I send a reminder

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I am getting reviews from about 90% of my guests, it is rare that I do not get a review. On the morning of check out I send this:

Thanks for being great guests:) Just a reminder that checkout is 10:00 and housekeeping is scheduled. I will review you this afternoon when I get the email from AirBnb. If you can take a moment and do the same that would be great. Save my contact information and book direct next time and save the 3rd party fees.

I also think this encourages better reviews, they see a chance of a discount next time so I think they think twice about the review…

Works for me anyways

RR

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