Inquiry keeps asking for our exact address before a booking is made

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Hi All,

First, I would like to say that we are new hosts (Fall 2018) and joined this forum around the same time. We have learned so much from the conversations that have taken place here and really appreciate everyone’s perspective on the topics discussed and generosity of sharing your knowledge, experience, challenges and successes. Thank you!

This is the second time I have a question I’d love to get your thoughts on because we are not sure how to handle this situation at this point.

We have someone who is inquiring about staying in our rented house. This person just joined Airbnb this month and has only provided email and phone number as verification (we will definitely ask more questions about this guest’s trip and that they will need to be fully verified with ID and selfie as well before we will accept or decline this reservation). But for now it is just an inquiry. The person has asked us three times to provide our exact address. Early on we decided that we did not want to give out our exact address and are comfortable with this decision. Since we just purchased this home in the fall, it has been very helpful as a way to ensure to our new neighbors who have lived in their homes for 25 years and now have an Aibnb host next to them that we are considerate homeowners and neighbors. This has help to calm any nervousness about all the new people coming and going in their quiet neighborhood. So far, it’s been a great arrangement and relationships with neighbors are good.

So the first time the inquirer asked, we let them know that we do not provide exact address until after booking is made (which allows us to vet the person) and explained that it was for the security of our guests, neighbors and us. But we did provide information for the closest busy cross streets.

Then they asked again for the exact address stating that they grew up in the area and wanted to know exactly where the house was located. We let them know again that we do not provide this info before booking is confirmed, but gave a popular landmark we are close to.

After a few days have past, they now asked again for the exact address. We are a little baffled and don’t want to appear to continue to be rude, but we are not going to give out the address. And frankly are a little nervous about even continuing the conversation with them as we are not really interested in having them stay in our home at this point. It makes us think this could this be a high maintenance guest and not sure that is it worth it. We know we will eventually have the house rented for the time they are inquiring about.

Being new hosts, we really are not sure how to respond in a way that does not appear like we are being confrontational. We also wonder if we are being too protective. We are learning alot as we engage more and more with strangers coming in and out of our home. But sometimes your gut is just on alert and I’m not sure if this continued request is appropriate. I also am mindful that there are so many new people joining Airbnb every day and may not understand the nuances of this platform (as we are still learning as well). Most of our guests have been new to Airbnb and this is the first issue that we can’t figure out what is appropriate.

Sorry for the lengthy message, just wanted to provide background info for context.

Thank you for your feedback,
Christina

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In my opinion you have been very patient with this guest. You could say for security reasons we do not give out this info until the guest is booked and that the map shows the approximate area of where the str is located. Since they have asked this question 3 times, I would just ignore them.

On a side note - I wonder if it’s a neighbor trying to cause trouble?

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Just tell them that it’s Airbnb policy (blame them, not you) and that they’ll get the address when they book. Don’t worry about being polite . Tell them that if they have a problem, to contact Airbnb.

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Thanks so much! Yes, I think the best thing is to ignore it at this point. We have been very clear about not wanting to give out this information and they have clearly been ignoring what we have been communicating. I hate to sound so negative, because we are loving the interaction with new people, but we are just not comfortable taking a conversation with them any further. Thank you again.

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Thank you Jaquo for your advise. I will continue to use it in the future. Appreciate your feedback.

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You have already answered twice, I wouldn’t bother responding again. You have given him the information he needs. And would you really want to host someone who clearly doesn’t listen?

I agree with @jaquo next time just remind the guest, it is against Airbnb’s T&C to provide the address before booking.

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Agreed, thanks so much.

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I usually give either the closest intersection or the closest landmark (church) and explain that it’s ABB policy.

I understand if they want to calculate the distance where they need to go.

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I am one of the most flexible accepting hosts around but I wouldn’t give out my exact address before a booking on principle. Fact is they can zoom in on the map for most listings and if they “grew up around there” they will have no problem figuring out which street the home is on. I’ve even figured out house number by comparing listing pictures to google maps. But this persistent asking rubs me all kinds of the wrong way.

Since this isn’t the kind of person who takes no as an answer I’d probably just block out one or two days in the middle of the time slot they want and quit answering them. Airbnb only dings you on responding to first request. I’d probably also block them if I could. You do this by clicking “report.” Sometimes as you go through the options you get one to block them, sometimes not. I might even go so far as to call Airbnb and ask them to block them from booking my place. Asking for the address is a violation and Airbnb doesn’t want people finding you and booking directly.

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It sounds like you’re being harassed Christina. This happens to me seldomly but usually its during the fall or winter during the slow season. They might be someone trying to sharpshoot you in regulations or taxes or they might just be trolling. It happens because your listing is publicly accessible to billions over the Internet. What I do in these situations is try and remove my emotions from the situation and ask myself whats best for my business.

Under the Airbnb TOS, you can’t give out your exact address, phone number or email address before a reservation is made. You can just let the trolls know that its policy and that should take care of it.

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I had one inquiry where the guest asked for the exact address, I declined citing Airbnb’s ToS and the guest didn’t ask again. I told them the direction and distance to the nearest major cross streets, which is about as good as what you get from Airbnb’s map, anyway.

FYI, you can now turn on a setting to share your listing’s exact location, so it’s not technically against the ToS anymore.

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I agree with @KKC. I am also a very flexible and accepting host but this would piss me off too. They’re either too stupid or too rude to accept your previous answers. Either way, I would be wary of hosting them. Their story about growing up in the area also doesn’t add up - if that was the case, they would know enough by the approximate location provided. Maybe they think they lived in your place as a child?? Or knew someone who did? Again, that would make me a bit uncomfortable, particularly as they’re not forthcoming.

Anyway, just bin them!

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In AirbnbWorld location and address aren’t the same.

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Thank you all for participating in this conversation. Lots of helpful information for this issue and the future. Thanks again!

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@Christina @jaquo I think that Jaquo/Jackie has provided valuable feedback – just blame it on Airbnb rules. Besides, if the prospective guests will not take your “no” then to me it’s a red flag and I would not be interested in welcoming this group to my home.

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Even if you gave them the address Airbnb would block it.

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If they haven’t booked I’d block a few days in the middle of the request or call ABB and tell them you are not comfortable with these guest.
Who asks a question, gets an answer & then asks again. I think they are phishing.
If you really want the reservation I would, either ignore the last request for the address, or simple state;

This is your third request for the address, as per policy, you be forwarded the address once the reservation is confirmed.
In my mind this has trouble written all over it.

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