Getting a needy guest vibe for my first guests after re-opening

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So the big day is approaching (9/3) when I re-open and these guests keep asking for things that are clearly spelled out in the house rules. This is sort of a vent but perhaps some of you think I’m not being a good host?

  1. Can I get a late check out - no, due to COVID - see house rules.
  2. If I want to leave at 5 pm, do I have to book the next night - yes, again no late checkouts due to COVID. See house rules.
  3. Can I take public transportation or ride shares to your place. Yes, please read the getting around section that covers this in detail.
  4. Can you tell me how to use the public transportation - again, please read the detailed section that covers this.
  5. Can I ship protein shakes to your place before I arrive - No, please see house rules that do not allow items shipped to address but I’m happy to pick up the item for you.
  6. Then changes to now I only needing to ship a book. I explain again against house rules and that I won’t be at the place before she arrives and that there is a mail stop.
  7. Can I ship it somewhere and have you pick it up. No, I won’t be in town but you can check with the UPS store (provide link) and discuss.
  8. Looking forward to meeting you. (NO, it clearly states that during COVID we are limiting our contact with guests for safety.)

All this and they haven’t even arrived. Is this what new Airbnb guests look like or did I just get lucky?

I do not provide concierge service for guests. My price point is moderate and in a safe and convenient location. My house rules are clearly spelled out. (Yes I know some of you folks will go out of your way to help guests but I’m not one of them. Yes, If I’m leaving the house and you want a ride to the subway I’m happy to give you a lift. Same with a supermarket. I just am not willing to inconvenience myself for the sake of the guests (unless it’s related to the Airbnb suite itself.)

(In regards to shipping stuff, this is because some people try to establish residency by showing a mailing address. (I had this happen twice.).

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Maybe this but I also don’t have the kind of rental that lends itself to longer stays where they would ask for these things. This sounds like a young guest who wants their mom, not a host. Just keep using Covid as your reason for not doing more.

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Guests don’t read. For some reason they find it easier to just continously ask questions. It’s frustrating. It’s the same with high school students. I’ll write something on the board, I’ll post it on Google Classroom, I’ll send emails, yet they don’t read any of it.

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I was a guest fairly recently and Airbnb encourages guests, in an email a few days before arrival, to “reach out” to their hosts and ask questions, so I kind of blame that for some of the questions I get as a host.
Today’s messages from a guest who will arrive tomorrow asked me to confirm that there is parking, that there is a shower, and that towels are provided as she read on the site. It felt almost as if she was thinking up things to ask in order to get communication stars. I don’t know.
Usually here the askers-of-many-questions turn out to be fine once they arrive. It might just be pre-trip jitters, too.
But, yes! Stick to your rules! That’s good hosting right there.

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In the 4 months I’ve been at my new location, I have not had one person ask to check in early or late or make any of those requests, zero.
Could be a problem.

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I don’t mind guests who ask questions before they stay. It means, usually, that there will be fewer questions when they are here.

It’s also a way of getting to know them and it helps them look forward to their holiday without any niggles.

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I knew that if you were going to comment that would be your reply. I admire your willingness to go above and beyond. (I know you think you do but based on the replies I see, I think you are in the top 1 percent. )

I am happy to help and answer questions but I’ve already done that. Now they are asking me to go out of my way and pick up deliveries for them.

It might be that I just have to get back in the groove. It’s been 1 1/2 years since I’ve been closed.

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The longest period I was closed straight through was 3 months but I did a fraction of the bookings, about 20%, of what I did pre-pandemic year. It absolutely takes time to get back up to speed.

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Savage loool

And yes, I think you struck gold in terms of landing the needy guest.

Being able to deal with such guests is a necessity and I learn more from hosting Karen’s/ needy guests than from the quiet, ‘perfect’ guests.

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