Surprise after I reviewed my guest

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So, my guest checked out and I leave the day after blocked so that I have plenty of time to clean.
Upon initial inspection, things looked neat and tidy, but they hadn’t taken the trash to the bin outside designated for such, and the dishwasher was overloaded, so it hadn’t worked properly, and the food smell was really bad…really bad.
I thought about giving a lesser review, but decided that maybe I was just too picky and others aren’t as considerate as I am. (I tend to clean the sidewalk if I spill something and I don’t cook). So, I gave her a decent review.
However, when I started cleaning…there was food baked on in the oven, spilled in the fridge, behind the doors of the cabinets, wrappers under the couch?, broken trash bin, etc. etc. etc.

While I learned that I need to do a more thorough inspections before writing a review (go me).
My concern is for her future hosts. Is there no way to say “hey, I’m new at this, sorry, but watch out for this one” Or, is that just chalked up as part of the process? Meaning the hosts with more experience and more savvy will take care of this as she acquires more reviews.

…so new at this that I’m not even sure I’m posting this correctly ;o)
Thanks in advance for any help.

BTW, I’ve enjoyed reading your posts regarding how things work, what to purchase etc.

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You can edit your review within 48 hours of submitting it. However, you can edit it only if the guest hasn’t left a review for you AND it hasn’t been more than 14 days since the guest checked out.

Other than that, there’s no way to warn future hosts of this guest.

[Edit] Welcome to the forum!

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No Reason ever to rush. Take your time.

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Because you’re new, it might be a good idea to establish some guidelines for yourself and after a while, they’ll become second nature.

For example, I almost always go into the rental just a few minutes after the guests have left. (I’m lucky in that I work freelance so can arrange my work around arrivals and departures). You can even make yourself a checklist.

(The guest you describe doesn’t sound too terrible to me (apart from the breakage) but I’m a pretty lenient host. Quite a few of those things just take a few minutes to fix - trash, wrappers under the sofa, spills in the fridge etc. It seems that the guest was careless rather than malicious.)

That way, I can see straight away if there’s anything that needs immediate attention - AC left on, loo unflushed, food scraps (which attract insects), rubbish not taken out (ditto), marks on linens that need immediate treatment, etc., etc.

It only takes a few minutes and gives me a good snapshot of what the guest has been like. If I wasn’t on the spot, I’d expect my co-host to do the job.

Just be sure though (please please please) that you review every guest every time. :slight_smile:

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@NanasPlace Of course I’ve never done a scientific study of this, but based on life experience, I’d say half the human population are simply incorrigible slobs. They don’t take the few seconds necessary to put things back where they go after using them, they aren’t “detail” people and often don’t even notice when they spill something, they’ll unwrap something and instead of putting the wrapping in the garbage or the recycling, they’ll just drop it or leave it wherever they removed it.

We tend to think guests are simply being disrespectful when they don’t clean up after themselves, but if you were to go to their homes, you’d likely find they live like that at home, too. It’s just not part of their consciousness. Add that to the fact they may have paid a cleaning fee, and they don’t see anything wrong with walking away from an Airbnb leaving it dirty.

I’ve found that it sort of balances out- there’s guests like that and then there are the ones who leave the place spotless, even making the beds, although they must realize the bedding is going to be changed out.

It’s important to write up a pre-check-out list of things you expect guests to do. Taking out the garbage, or at least making sure that it’s all in the bins, rather than strewn around the house, washing their dirty dishes or at least putting them in the dishwasher so you start it when you go in to clean, wiping the kitchen counters ad cleaning up anything spilled on the stovetop or in the oven are fairly standard asks.

If you find a few pieces of garbage here and there, it really doesn’t take more than a minute or so to pick it up, you’re going to clean and sterilize the bathroom, anyway, so whether there’s toothpaste splattered all over is immaterial, and as long as the guests obviously made an attempt to follow the pre-check out clean-up, I wouldn’t be harsh with them in a review. If they left a big mess behind them, which entails an extra half hour or more of cleaning above normal, I’d definitely make mention of that in the review.

You can state things like that in a non-attacking manner while still warning other hosts- rather than “These guests were total slobs”, something like “Attention to cleaning up after themselves would have been appreciated” gets the point across.

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Not in my experience.

Maybe you attract them…

JF

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Haha. Actually, my guests have almost all been the type who leave their space really clean and tidy. But in my general observation throughout life, I’m kind of blown away by how many people live in a messy, chaotic household.

My oldest daughter is a OCD clean freak, my youngest keeps things clean and tidy, but my middle? Every time I go to visit and stay with her, I spend half my time helping her sort, re-organize and get rid of unnecessary stuff. They just moved into the new house they’ve been working on for years, out of the way-too-small little shack they’ve been living in for years (she, her husband and 3 kids) and I thought that having a lot more space would mean an end to the constant clutter.

But on the Zoom call I had with her a couple weeks ago, I was dismayed to see that what was visible in the background was the same mess it’s always been. Aside from that, she’s the daughter I get on with the best and one of the sweetest, most gentle and generous people you’d ever hope to meet- none of us are perfect :innocent:

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No, but being from Glasgow I’m prob as close as you’ll get…

:stuck_out_tongue:

JF

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Probably due to the fact that Glaswegians are well-known for their temperance and modesty, yes?

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Yes, we are.

202020

JF

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I have found that my guests do a better job cleaning up since I dropped my cleaning fee.

RR

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When writing a review, what I find it comes down to is would I want to host them again? If yes, then I’m not so harsh. If no, then I let 'em have it! Thankfully the latter is the exception and not the rule.

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Many Highlanders would disagree!

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I dropped the cleaning fee and raised prices, it’s all good. Gotta remember that Revenue Per Night X Nights Booked = Total Revenue, and the goal is to maximize profit, not minimize vacancies. We have far fewer fixed costs than a staffed hotel that must keep the lights on, keep the kitchen open, etc. and constantly focus on vacancy rate.

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One thing I put in my instructions is a request for the guests to NOT strip the bed. I have found that they sometimes do this to hide a spill or stain and when the linens are all bundled, I can’t see what needs to be treated or pre-soaked. Just a tip for you as a new host. Also, whatever is really important to me I try to sneak in several places (description, information about the home, rule book, house guide, my note after reservation).

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I have never understood why some hosts ask guests to strip the bed. Not only for the reason you give, but how long does it take to strip the bed? Like 30 seconds?

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Why be so snarky toward other hosts? U sound like the untidy, ungracious guests that the OP was talking about. Sad.

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On the basis @muddy responded with “haha”, I think we can take it that she didn’t think I was being “snarky”, and if she did, she would not have been slow in saying so.

Any further insults you’d like to get off your chest?

JF

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Thank you all!
I enjoyed the responses! I’ve never been to Glasgow, so maybe our next trip I’ll meet one of you ;o) One day…damn Corona!
I’m getting the hang of this, and maybe too conscientious.
We are really easy going, I guess I was just amazed that someone so critical of my space, could be such a slob herself. And, it seemed like she was hiding it… ha ha.
I’m over it and on to the next one!
My guests this last weekend were ‘fabulous’, which has been the tend overall.
Best of luck to all of you!

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You’re quite right- I’m not one to take offense easily, and there was nothing offensive in your response anyway. As for snark, I can give it and take it. So many people take themselves so seriously these days, it’s like you have to pre-examine everything you say so as not to hurt someone’s precious feelings. It’s exhausting.

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