This forum is dedicated to connecting hosts with other hosts. Sign up to get the latest updates and news just for AirBnb hosts! Note that we are not affiliated with Airbnb - we are just passionate hosts!
Although I have never used IB, it makes sense to me that inquiries only would be best for IB hosts. If the guest is serious about booking, but simply doesn’t meet your IB criteria because they have no reviews yet, if you feel fine about the guest’s communication, etc, you can always pre-approve and they can go on to book.
But as far as it being a “perk”, IB hosts already have a major perk- it’s the primary factor in search ranking.
Please do a separate post about your Glaswegian sojourn.
Pray that he’ll keep it a secret from that corporate horde.
Me too and if he does, I’m going to get everyone involved on this forum in helping me to write great a letter.
Exactly right. I do have IB, I often find that these guests that make inquires are newbies that don’t take the time to read the listing in full and ask the same questions over and over again. I have standard replies but it’s rare that these folks book and unless it’s a slow season, I’ll wait until I get guest with good reviews that can IB
Whatever you do, don’t point him personally in this direction.
He could turn some innocent comments from hosts here into a series of articles, and none good.
JF
I agree. I was planning on posting my letter and or questions and then getting the group’s feedback.
Yes sometimes it looks like the guest is screening hosts to see how responsive they are.
My stays are all 6+ nights, so getting a good fit matters. I always reply personally right away, to let them know I’m a real person. After that, if they start dicking around, my responses are just aimed at filtering whether or not it’s a good fit. I try not to waste too much time on it. I don’t have ‘thousands’ of inquiries, though.
Or who will succumb to their sob story for a discount, or to bring their dogs or kids.
Maybe. Hosts really need to know what works for them and what doesn’t.
Everyone is different and every host is different but even allowing for exaggeration I have to say that there’s something a bit weird here.
Although I use IB I sometimes get inquiries (can I bring the cat, How far are you from the beach etc.) and I can’t remember one that didn’t book. (Some I have refused because they want to bring something we don’t allow - kids or dogs usually).
So an inquiry is a sales lead, a selling opportunity, not something to fob off with an automated message.
I have two rental apartments and look after another for a neighbour (who doesn’t use IB) so get plenty of inquiries and it’s no problem to answer them. I wonder why is it for you? How many places do you have?
I wonder if you’d let us know why the review thing is so very important to you? Of course, we all like to get great reviews but you seem a little obsessed?
Based upon multiple comments on various forums, a friend’s awful illegal Airbnb rental experience & commercial hosts muddying the water & presenting as owner/hosts,
if I can’t tell by the reviews or host’s profile, I will start with an inquiry, something like:
Good afternoon,
I’m impressed by your reviews. Your rental looks like a place, I would enjoy. It is important to me to support small business. Are you an owner/host?
If they don’t answer or say no, I’m moving on.
The lack of customer service I see expressed by commercial managers is pushing guests to hotels. It isn’t easy on Airbnb to differentiate between owner/host & others.
Unfortunately when potential guests are considering where to look for accommodations, if they or their friends had poor customer service from any Airbnb host, they will look elsewhere first.
I know guests can have bad experiences with host/owners but that host has more to lose from bad reviews & customer complaints.
I was wondering the same thing.
One guest said there were bed bugs, and Airbnb threatened to close down my listing. I had to spend a lot of time finding an inspection company. They found nothing. The guest probably got a moquito bite (they are common where I host). She had no reviews but Airbnb took her word and threatened me instead. Then I realized how risky this business is. One guest threatened a bad review if I didn’t refund. I eventually gave her 50% refund. Later as I had more reviews, I simply said no refunds, and they have lost their power to threaten me when I point out how many five-star reviews I have.
I want enough reviews that a bad review from a rogue guest doesn’t pose any risk to my business. I know they could still lie about bed bugs or mold and get my listing removed but if they threaten me, I can point to the 100s of five star reviews I have.
One way to mitigate the risk is to have so many reviews that one rogue guest won’t affect me. I’m new to this compared to many of you so I need to build reviews.
I have also seen more reviews → better search placement even if my rates are high. I’m in a competitive market with 500+ listings.
You guys are experienced hosts with probably a lot of reviews, so an occasional bad review won’t affect you. I’m trying to get to that spot.
My experience is different. I’m not the only one who has pointed out that most of the inquiries are from scammers, undesirable guests, or people who have a low chance of booking.
Sure, I exaggerated my numbers to make a point. Sending a canned response to inquiries works very well for me, and I will continue doing it. It keeps undesirable guests out (along with some desirable ones), but there are trade-offs. I’d rather spend my time providing better service to confirmed guests rather than responding to the inquiries.
The impression I’m getting is most people here don’t like hosts who have multiple listings. So I prefer not to incriminate myself. Please judge my posts on the basis of that post alone and not because of how many listings I have.
thanks for sharing your technique. I plan to use this as well.
There are regulars here who have several listings. What most hosts on this forum are not enamored of is property-manager types with a dozen or more listings who don’t take a personal interest in their places and those doing rental arbitrage.
Good to know. I don’t belong to any of those categories so I think I can feel safe here 
How many listings do you and your spouse have then, House plants?
You are safe here, and welcome. We all do our own thing and I for one have a lot to learn still.
RR
I used to have multiple listings. I’m not against owners with multiple listings.
All are welcome.
All have different styles.