Instant Book Nightmare

[Debthecat]

I like the extra cleaning fees!

[Lbgmum]

I agree with your comments about IB initially listing with Abb it was a scary thing for me a single female that shares the space but once i put all the ID, prior reviews, answers to questions etc. In place it usually requires the person reaching out anyway so it’s a win win. I get viewed higher amid that helps bookings. I didn’t realize the could be a maximum. I def would have used it for a 9 night stay I recently had. A grown woman with college age kids had no common sense. Treated my place like a hotel. The list of things she did would go on and on. Haha live and learn.

[lahope]

Depends on where you live. Where I live, 28 days gives tenant’s rights.

[yecatsr]

@DozerPug

I have a five day max. Up until June of this year it was a four day max. I have found that in a shared home like mine, with no cooking available, people staying only a few days are more likely to be out and about visiting the sites and not hanging around my home.

I do allow plenty of kitchen use, but I would like to have huge meal preparation on a daily basis kept to a minimum. I’m a tourist destination as well, but I feel like longer stay guests will be hanging out at the home too much and not touring the town, eating out, etc. I thought I set a 7 day max but got a 10 day booking. I will probably change that!

[344willow]

I live in a college town and often have visiting faculty etc… My first guest ever was a family from china who stayed for 3 months. They were delightful… I have several more up coming guests for a month plus which I have no problem with. Most guests introduce themselves and state why they are coming and for how long. I should also say that this is a separate apartment in my home so it is pretty private. Never occurred to me that there may be squatters lurking about.

[KKC]

@344willow

Never occurred to me that there may be squatters lurking about.

I’m sure they are rare but if you get one it’s a nightmare. Probably most important is to have a good long conversation about why someone is booking your place that long and avoid locals.

[SheilaS]

Yes, I second blocking one day after and one day prep on a reservation as a practice that works for me. With one day after a booking and one day before a booking and a two-night minimum (because I only wash linen and change bed for $100 or more), that always leaves me the option of opening up the two nights for booking or to keep the Studio for myself depending on my schedule.

[SheilaS]

Actually, there is another side to consider. I let someone stay for four and 1/2 months last year December - April 2018. I was not able to get into the room and his just plain living really trashed it. I had been nervous about renter’s rights but he moved out on time. However, his living there 24/7, cooking without a kitchen, and not removing street shoes (which is in my rules) as well as ways he overused the space showed me that I need visibility on a periodic basis. I ended up totally repainting and replacing the carpet, and making other improvements. It worked out alright.

[KKC]

@SheilaS

his just plain living really trashed it.

This is why many landlords moved from leasing to airbnbing. More money, less abuse of the capital investment. However in cities with a housing shortage, this caused a backlash.