Yes, I will. I’m packing right now. Bye.
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I know the movie. It’s great. If you like this kind of stuff and Kingsley watch ‘Sexy Beast’.
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Before you give up on AA try and different group. Each has its own personality. I know people who have gone to 3 or 4 before finding a good match where they are comfortable. I am not a behavioral health specialist, but I do know that when these lows hit, there is one small thing that helps. Doing something for someone else in need even if just listening has a positive impact. Combine all the little steps to move forward . Don’t get discouraged if the trajectory is not smooth.
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I’ll be thinking of you for the time you’re getting set for the rest of your life. I need to be brave like you are!
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We’ll all be thinking of you and hope you find some peace in a world that sorely lacks peace. I just checked out the Dead South video and LOVE IT!! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
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I love that film - especially Gandhi (you know what I mean) on the plane. One of the best scenes ever.
Best of luck Dirk. I hope to see you back here again soon.
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Dirk,
I’m a bit late and don’t post much. I wanted to wish you well in your 6-week program. If you want to try an alternative to AA there’s is a group called OYNB (one year no beer).
You can find the community on FB. They also have a Slack channel if that’s better for you. They also have a website. It’s very supportive. Started by a couple of guys in the UK who drank too much and wanted a change.
Good luck.
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Best to you!! So glad you found a program. We are looking forward to having you back healthy and safe!!
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I really like all of the support that everyone is offering Dirk.
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Dear Dirk,
I can totally understand what you’re experiencing. COVID has hit and is still hitting us hard.
Please get medical help and hope you will recover from your depression and addiction in the not too distant future. You can then decide if you want to quit hosting.
Bon courage!
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Hope the program will help you. Take care!
When the pandemic hit, I stayed open for another month or so and found that the guests were sketchy. Would not follow disinfecting rules or wearing mask. I didn’t feel hosting an Airbnb was safe. I just blocked off all my dates and went on hiatus. Surprising I earned super host status the whole time.
Anyway, I decided to open up my place again this fall (baring any new spikes) and now that I’m fully vaccinated. It’s a bit overwhelming. Now all the service fees are on me so I have to raise my rates. The cleaning is going to take twice as long and I might have to have a day between bookings so these rates have to increase. Since my place is a short-term Airbnb that takes a chunk out of my income. I am now looking at removing curtains, and all the amenities and just asking guest before checkin what they want (i.e.: shampoo, tea, coffee, etc) so that I only put out what’s needed.
It’s sort of overwhelming - I’m going to have to have extra sets of pillows, mattress pads, etc to rotate out to keep the place clean. I also have to switch my home insurance. The expenses keep adding up and I’m wondering if it’s worth it.
It seems like many in my market increase their rates but not all and so I may not even get bookings. I guess time will tell but I know it won’t be the same.
You don’t have to remove the curtains or any other over the top things. Have you read the enhanced cleaning protocol lately? They changed a few things, and the part that says “best practices” are not required- they are suggestions.
The science on surface contamination and cleaning has changed. Soap and water as opposed to using disinfectants on everything is now what the CDC and other health orgs are saying.
I would still use disinfectant on high touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, faucets etc, but I did that anyway since I first started hosting. The most important safety measure is to let the room air out for several hours or a day between check-outs and going in to clean, as indoor transmission is the primary mode of infection.
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I thought you had decided to sell and move. No?
I got lucky and removed the drapes and carpet pre pandemic. I don’t regret it. But I know it’s different in very cold climates. I agree with Muddy that many of the guidelines aren’t really related to safety. The best thing is airing the place out. Of course that’s also trickier in cold climates. I closed from Jan to April due to spiking cases and cold weather.
The less expensive places get booked earlier but when they are all gone, they are gone. You might be surprised.
Welcome back.
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Hi KKC, Miss you folks. Well I tried to get a Divorce but the negotiations broke down and my lawyer said that I should not move until I have a divorce decree is finalized. She said that a contested divorce right now with COVID could take years. . Since I’m using marital funds for a marital assets, I can’t be accessed a fee. I also send him an allowance for his bills. We own a business together and he can’t rap his head around the fact that I am entitled to 50 percent but without me working the business it will not continue to make $$ so unless he buys me out or makes me legally a full partner, I’m not budging. My daughter is getting married this summer so I don’t want to cause any issues until after she weds.
I am starting to think about all the changes. I think I’m going to remove as much of the soft surfaces as possible. Curtains, cloth shower curtains, have 2 sets of pillows. (I already have 2 sets of bedding, if not more) . I was going to clear the space of all of the amenities that I usually provide and provide a questionnaire of what guest might want before they check in.
The cleaning process is a bit overwhelming. And having to block off a day will really cut into my income because my place lends itself to one or two night stays. (No sink in the kitchenette).
Plus I have learned that my insurance, water, heating and electric bills will all increase by $100 a month ($400 a month before I even make money). I’m waiting till the fall to deal with COVID spikes but that only gives me 2 good months of income until the spring. We’ll see.
If the guest are as entitled as I’ve been reading, I may have to reconsider. How has it been for you?
Oh, that’s good about the curtains. I did read the enhance cleaning and thought it was a bit much.
The airing out is my biggest concern because my place lends itself to shorter stays (kitchenette without sink (I provide paper and plastic) so I have to leave the place 1 day between. If I don’t raise my rates it won’t worth it but if I do raise my rates I’m afraid people will not like what they get. Catch22
It’s gone well. My dog business was about a third to a half of normal but every time my Airbnb is open I get bookings. I closed in March, opened in July, closed again in January. All during that time I was available if a repeat guest messaged me and I also blocked 2 days between stays. So between all that I made 1/3 on Airbnb what I made the year before. I get my second covid jab next week and mid May I’m opening again. I’m still getting used to having bookings again, the increased time cleaning and the new way people travel.
I did a small remodel upgrade during the early spring. My room is quite small and it had no eating space. So now it has a small eating nook and a better coffee bar area. But I’m currently limiting to one night. I had a couple of two night bookings last week and it annoys me when people are in the room all day.
Here’s the listing now:
My dog business starting in May is off the hook. Back to pre pandemic and then some. I had to unpublish my website and make myself unavailable to new clients on Rover. People are being referred to me and I even got a text asking if I was still in business from someone whose dogs I have boarded in 4 years.
I’ll be making hay while the sun shines but the time off during 2020 made me realize I’m looking forward to really retiring.
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Depending on location and local laws, Airbnb hosts should take great caution renting in Airbnb. In the USA most states have passed squatting laws during the pandemic where you cannot evict your guest regardless of whether they pay or not. Many hosts are living their nightmare as tenants are squatting on their properties while owner is living on temporary accommodation. Many of my friends have locked their properties to save it (it’s not worth jeopardizing your property for a few months rent). I recently had experience where guest threatened to not vacate as a tactics for not paying for over 3 months. Ultimately he did not pay for several months of his stay, rummaged my home to dust that is taking several months to restore and i could not say a word hoping and praying he would vacate. Luckily I’m still glad I got my home back, but I’ll probably not gamble my property again until squatting laws are repelled. Also big lesson is - you must sign a legal rental agreement (Airbnb terms mean nothing - this company actually does not follow local real estate laws as I learnt). If you do not have a rental agreement as per local or state laws, no legal help would be feasible as I learnt from hard experience.
Firstly, allow me to gift you a few paragraphs, no charge and I’m sure you’ll find them useful.
Secondly, for an initial post, in a forum populated mainly by experienced STR folks, I am also going to gift you the accolade of having made the most scaremongering and teaching your granny to suck eggs post of the month.
No need for thanks, we are here to support and assist, just like your local PD.
JF
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Hi KKC,
Nice to hear about how your Rover business is doing. I did it for a short time and realized that I had to get stricter with my rules but then the pandemic happened. I lost my mom and a friend to COVID so I went into isolation. I didn’t even want people petting my own dog.
Do you just do boarding, walking, doggy daycare or all three? I have a great fenced in yard, a separate smaller fenced in area, lead dog hikes and foster puppies and young adults so I have lots of experience.
Funny you should mention the 1 night stays. I too prefer them but hate to lose the day between business. I have worked from home for over 20 years so it’s nice to have the house to myself when they go. I’m just not sure I can make the numbers work.
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