I’m hosting a group at the moment.
It started with them showing up early. They told me they would arrive after 10pm so I planned on being out of the house and having it ready by 7pm. At 4pm they showed up and seemed almost annoyed. I’m in the middle on this since check in is actually 3pm. They paid for the place for that evening so of course they deserve to get in the space at 3pm I just wish they had given me a heads up or at least just been slightly more friendly. The house was totally clean I was just finishing up making them cookies and getting my own stuff out for the weekend.
Before they arrived I sent a very specific message saying you must lock the door each time you enter or leave and to pass this info to each guest. I also left a note on the kitchen counter to reiterate. I o this since it’s the one rule most commonly broken so I make a big deal of it.
The space is split in half and we have a separate entrance and space in the back. The next day after their first night I went to the front of the house to my car and saw the door wide open with the hide a key container stuck to it with the key inside. We live in downtown Los Angeles next to a freeway entrance so this is obviously a problem. I knocked on the glass door no one answered so I finally pushed it open. The group was on the other side of the house and no one got up to come explain why the door was open (I think because they were all high the house reeked of weed so they were startled). I finally asked can someone get up and come over here. The guy that got up was wearing a necklace of mine that is usually hung on the wall. I was annoyed by this but stuck to the open door and our key situation. He pretty much seemed to care less. Also I heard my cuckoo clock go off. It is always turned off, no idea why they would think it’s a good idea to mess with our things. It seems small but it’s a bit strange. Called Airbnb and they offered to call my guests and warn them about their bad behavior but I declined. I chose to call my guests and smooth the waters in hopes they won’t steal or ruin anything of ours. When I was leaving I heard one of the guests say I can’t wait to leave her a bad review. I have fantastic reviews and really try to go above and beyond for my guests. Any thoughts and if they do leave me a bad review can I contest it??
Can’t wait for these people to leave:(
Any thoughts? Am I overreacting?
If it were my home they would be leaving today.
You allow smoking in your home? If not, and you have a rule of no smoking then that is a serious rule violation as well. Calling Airbnb and having the guests leave due to two serious rule violations. They know you live on the premises and still blatantly disregard your rules and things? Don’t be held hostage. You can also leave a review of them and you can kick them out of your house.
No we do not specify anywhere that smoking in the house is ok. Basically I figured my options were to stand there and kick them out but I had a crazy packed day including having to work or try to reason with them in hopes they won’t steal or ruin anything. Airbnb said all they would do is call and warn them their bad behavior needed to stop. She also said let’s just hope they are playing dress up and nothing more, which seriously annoyed me. Playing dress up is also not ok.
I think it’s messed up if they leave a bad review and Airbnb does not remove it. From reading through the forum it looks like removing bad reviews is not possible usually.
Wow! Sorry these people were so disrespectful. Was the necklace left behind or did they take it?
I would call airbnb back, provide full details and let them know of the comment that you overheard. And leave them a bad review so other hosts know not to book them.
They are still here. I’m sure they won’t take the necklace since when I talked to them on the phone I asked if she would feel uncomfortable walking into her home and seeinguests who are strangers to her wearing something of hers. Told her I wasn’t her enemy and to try and see it from my perspective. Just asked her to tell her friend to please return the necklace and not wear my things. Beyond reasonable I think.
Some suggestions:
asking guests to lock the door etc each time is not a good solution to your problem - ultimately a door with a door closer, and a lock that automatically locks, for example, will mean that this does not occur. Reason: many people either live where they do not lock their doors or close them, or are simply careless people.
do you have a ‘storm door’ in front of the door that they left open? If so, I think honestly that if it was me as guest, that I would assume that it would be ok, especially if i was inside.
hide a key? hmmmm, perhaps do something more concealable? The ability to pick up a key safe and move it does not seem a good idea since it implies that it CAN be moved or taken. Again, not a good thing they did but not giving people options like that will solve your problem.
If your necklace or anything you own is in the house, you must realize that most guests will assume that it is there for their use. A locked closet or room with things you would rather not allow touched will eliminate this. Again, they were a little rude but why put temptation in a guest’s way? If an umbrella was there and it was raining, a guest would assume it was for their use.
If your house rules say no smoking, kick them out immediately.
Yes. There is a fine line between being reasonable/not overreacting and letting guests walk all over you and intimidate you in your own home and possibly make you afraid to leave an honest review. It doesn’t sound like Airbnb was very supportive so that would add to your reticence. But to repeat…smoking inside is a serious violation. It can leave a lingering smell and cause damage when guests get high and don’t pay attention.
You haven’t said how long you’ve been hosting but it doesn’t seem like it’s been long. I hope this is a rare occurence. Please leave an honest review.
I am %100 leaving an honest review. I would never host them again and feel like other hosts need to know the facts. Not going to be malicious just factual.
I’ve hosted on Couchsurfing for over 4 years and Airbnb for under a year but over 50 times at least. I’m an experienced host who would kick them out but I’m trying to avoid them stealing or messing with things in anger on their way out. Just being as peaceful about it as I can. Of course other people would do it in a different way but I’m just going with my gut on this one.
Thanks for being a sounding board I’m a bit bummed from the whole experience.
Thank you.
Good point. Easy for me to say what I’d do but I’m not there and I didn’t see or hear these cretins.
Isn’t couchsurfing the free one? So people have a different attitude. They are grateful instead of entitled.
The behavior was so bad on so many levels.
I disagree that just because the necklace (assuming it was like a decoration?) was in the room they could help themselves to it. And the cuckoo clock… are they three years old? Who does that. You might want to just remove it in the future… not sure!
If they take the necklace, file a police report!
I would have canceled the rest of their stay. No amount of money is worth this headache.
Do leave a bad review. Make sure it is at the last minute.
Yes Couchsurfing is the free one:) I have had some pretty incredible guests through Airbnb so far and have enjoyed almost everyone who has stayed with us.
Thanks for the tips
You made me 
haven’t heard the word ‘cretin’ for years, it was one of my Dad’s favorites, I actually thought it was an Aussie word.
He also favoured ‘why don’t you go for a long walk on a short pier’ might be apt for @Melissaartsdistrictm ‘s guests…
Both sayings are British.
Cretin is actually based on a medical term and means ‘physically deformed and has learning difficulties because of congenital thyroid deficiency’.
It’s now used more commonly to mean someone who is stupid.
The Americans appear to be taking credit for the pier one, late 18thC but who cares, it’s golden.
I had no idea of the medical origins of ‘cretin’, that’s certainly offensive and not appropriate so I’ll bear that in mind if needing to select a nomenclature for a silly person in in the future. I’m sure that’s only one peak hour commute away…
I did, probably because I have a congenital thyroid deficiency. Idiot, moron and imbecile have similar origins. Jerk has a sexual origin, and there’s the disparaging body parts ones.
I suppose we shouldn’t say anything offensive or ever call any names. I guess I can still use the words bad, terrible, and awful.
A family favorite: “Go play in traffic.”
That is a shame some people were rude and disrespectful to you and your possessions. I would certainly call Airbnb and even if all they can do is call them, at least the guests would know they crossed a boundary.
best of luck,
Judy Helm Wright–Author/Blogger/Intuitive Wise Woman
Missoula, MT uSA
I would monitor who books to stay at your home in future
pot smoking teens is not a great idea at the best of times
Only the person booking the place leaves a review. I’d talk with them calmly and see if you can smooth it out.
Both those expressions are used widely by us yanks! 
My dad used to also say,
“go tell em to pound sand.”