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I had a neighbour (who was on our HOA board) who raised that issue. In fact, those us us offering STR accommodation are actually helping our local community.
When guests stay with us, their money stays local - and doesn’t go into the coffers of international chains such as Marriott / Hilton etc.
With this money, we pay local cleaners, local launderers, local tradespeople and other local businesses.
When we give our guests our genuine recommendations about where to have dinner / where to rent a bike / what’s on in the area and so on we are again, putting money into the pockets of local people.
Genuine Airbnb hosts are also more likely to be conscientious about issues such as recycling, responsible purchasing and energy conservation than large corporations that simply give these issues lip service.
When I first started using Airbnb, although we’d been doing STR for years, neighbours were concerned because of the dreaded Airbnb ‘reputation’ that it has attracted thanks to the media.
Our HOA wanted to ban Airbnb. I told them to give me six months and if there had been any trouble in that time, I’d stop immediately. That was over five years ago.
Looking after the neighbours and keeping them happy is simply part and parcel of the job.
There is your answer. I would block a couple of the days they are asking about and tell them it is not available. The money thing does bother me, I want guests who can afford to travel . 8 days is a long time for me as well.
This is what sticks with me, too. I don’t want to hear “oops, ran out of money” or asking for a handout because “…your house is nice and full of nice things…”
This is in my welcome note to a request or and inquiry. Especially if their note is weird to non-existent. >>Please share a little about yourself, your travel companion or your trip:) I usually get at least a short paragraph back. We do not use IB.
Translation: Don’t rent to people who can’t pay their bills. I’m not rich. I’m open to anyone with the funds available when Air takes the money to come and stay.
BUT there are so many stories here (and in my Air in box) about people with their hands out, sudden “emergencies” that are scams, and hosts being robbed.
So it’s not a “poor people” problem if someone asks when funds are going to be taken. It is a concern if the host is going to be paid.
I don’t either. Remember, lot’s of people are on their cell phones typing and couldn’t care less about grammar and punctuation. The fact that they didn’t say “Hi” would not bother me a bit.
I’ve been burned by assuming that folks are new to airbnb based on the fact that they don’t have reviews. Lot’s of people have done Airbnb’s, VRBO, etc. booked by someone else and are simply not listed on the reservation or reviewed. I no longer mention presumed “new” status.
