I don’t respond to reviews and I definitely don’t respond publicly to private comments. When I see hosts respond to reviews other than to correct factual errors or to clarify details about the listing it makes me think the host is controlling. It looks like the host can’t stand to let the guest speak for him or herself unedited. Even when it’s just to thank the guest for the positive review it looks like the host wants to draw additional attention to the fact that the guest said nice things.
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I agree your value feedback is crazy. I think much of what they said is crazy. I am always astounded that guests will complain about too many rules, yet they booked the place knowing this. Same goes with the noisy road. They booked a place that said it was close to a noisy road.
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Ya I can see how self-serving responses would come across as controlling. Not the impression I’m trying to project!
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Agree with @cabinhost - totally bonkers. How is it that you’re not running outside to scream into the wind?
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They also, in their public review, thanked me for letting me use my laptop and skype when they needed to get in touch with friends. I also have in my listing that cell service is sketchy in my home. He didn’t even have a cell phone, she did not even know hers could connect to my internet, I had to teach her how to do it!!! I actually went out and got a dang landline (my cable company offers one you just plug in yourself and attach a phone to it) during their stay! Oh, and before their arrival, they contacted me and expressed concern that I only had a Keurig for coffee and they prefer a drip coffee maker, so I borrowed one from one of my friends. Seriously. Thes
This was their public review:
Dorothy is a friendly person who did make us feel welcome by providing timely information and good communications. She respected our privacy and space. In addition, Dorothy is a generous host allowing use of her laptop and skype service in order for us to communicate with others. On one occasion sandwiches and cooler were provided for an outing. Dorothy offers a neat and tidy, comfortable home which is important to us.
Well, one good thing…they won’t rent my place ever again 
I have my money in my bank. But yeah…they paid $70/night when it’s close to impossible to get a hotel room those 4 days due to the massive amount of people, and the hotels, even the super-8 variety always charge $200 and up during that motorcycle rally.
I do think their public review was a little underhanded but whatever!
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If they ever host…they will get it!
And it’s kinda true…sometimes I think my rules are too long…however…I have a septic system to protect, a house to not be burned down, beige carpets almost throughout that I dont’ want them wearing their dirty shoes on while walking, etc.
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My one little piece of satisfaction after that review…I drank the champagne I bought for their anniversary before I could give it to them. 
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I so agree with you EllenN. It’s also irritating (and boring!) to scroll through reviews when 50% is taken up with bland thank you’s from the host. Also you wonder why the occasional review DOESN’T have a response so you end up checking the review of the guest and usually it’s the same bland stuff. Maybe I’m a bit too fastidious when choosing a place to stay! In any case, I’m so very glad that I decided early on to never respond to any reviews. Of course when I finally get my really bad one, I will. Yikes, it’s bound to happen at some point.
Yeuchh. They sound like the classic give them an inch and they’ll take a mile sort of guests. Entitled, unappreciative and just aaghhh. You shouldn’t have caved in to their demands at the beginning, you know that right? Once you cave to demands they never stop. I learned the hard way and now I’m a right hard-nosed bitch but I smile and guests love me for it lol!
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I was thinking that one of the benefits of responding to reviews is that if/when I DO get a bad one I wouldn’t respond and let it slip down the page and into the ether. It would be pushed down much quicker by responding to other reviews above it. No? Yes? I’m new so I’m interested in hearing all angles.
Ok, I’m going to experiment and NOT respond to their public review!
That’s an interesting theory and kind of works, I guess. It depends on your turn-over. If you’re busy then yes, reviews come in and get pushed down quite fast. But remember that they can appear to guests by language first rather than timeline and some guests will read everything carefully, the good guests particularly so! On balance I think it’s an unwise strategy. Just let guests say what they want and only respond to something that is factually inaccurate.
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Ok I’m going to stop responding as well or at least be more selective. Most of my responses (I only have 10 reviews) have indeed been to correct something (a guest called my inlet a lake when it is the ocean) or put a positive spin on something that is beyond my control (like bad weather). With this last lukewarm review she said she liked our fire pit so I briefly told her about the old historic quarry on our property where we got the stones from. I’ll quit while I’m ahead!
Yes that’s true. I respond to every review by saying thank you etc. It shows you’ve actually read the review too.
Haha, I agree. I don’t respond either, except to correct a factual misstatement.
I’m in the group that doesn’t reply to reviews. I too, decided early on that I had better not start because I was afraid I would end up sounding like a broken record. I envy those hosts that can come up with a variety of responses so each guest feels a little special. That, to me, takes talent and/or being a “people-person” (neither of which applies).
I have nearly 70 5-star reviews and my poor little pea-brain would never be able to come up with more than a few ways to say thank you…it’s just not fertile enough.
(waa-aah!)
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I agree with you Magwitch!
The paradoxical thing I have noticed during my first year as a Host is - the more I do for guests (things like drive them to the airport, take them out, buy them a meal etc), the lower the rating!!! What the?!
Once I stopped doing all these extra things - all my ratings achieved 5-Stars, even though I was making less effort.
Go figure!
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What also tends to happen is that a reviewer mentions you did something special, then the future guests start to expect the gesture as the new norm, sort of like ‘special favor’ inflation, an endless road.
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When I do special favors for guests I ask them to not mention it in the review. However, I recently had an inquiry from someone who had read the reviews and was looking forward to trying my homemade jam. I responded that I only make jam in summer when apricots, plums and strawberries are at the Farmers’ Market.
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