Is anyone willing to share questions you use to learn more about potential guests before you accept? Thanks
Unless they write it themselves, i ask to know politely about their reason of stay, cloaking it by saying that if i know what they are interested in, i can also give them suggestions/directions.
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I would ask exactly how many people will be coming, including children. This seems to be a constant issue. I would ask if they had read the entire description and agree to the rules.
If the listing had any quirks that could invite criticism in reviews, I would make sure they fully understood them.
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It depends on what the potential guest writes in the inquiry. Why are they coming here? Name of the other person coming with them.
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I take non-reviewed users all the time, and find they are the bestā¦they have very few expectations and nothing to compare you with so they think you are the catās meow. 
Usually they always tell me who they are and why they are traveling. 99.9 percent of my guests are tourists to Hawaii so sightseeing keeps them busy and gone. Ideal.
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Unless I have reason to suspect there might be some funny business going on, I typically do not ask their reason for visiting. But thatās only because I am in a tourist/vacation destination. Iām sure it would be different if my location was in a major urban area.
My last guest only mentioned āweekend getawayā in the message field. This was my reply:
"Hi XXXX,
Before I accept your booking, just a few questions:
Will there be any visitors during your stay?
Does 4 guests include any children/infants?
Also, please confirm you have read entire listing description and house rules, as I cannot cancel once I accept your booking.
Thanks!"
Works like a charm!
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I think most of my Airbnb guests do not have reviews and appear to be first time users. It helps if they have a detailed profile. I think it is fine to ask questions - why they are visiting - who they are traveling with - and what they want to do. This is just as much about finding out about the person, and may help you give them some recommendations of places to eat - or things to do in your area. You may also determine that they are not a good fit for your property.
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That last line before the āthanksā is key.
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I ask them for their full name, then google it. If they arenāt willing to give you their full name, pass. This isnāt particularly useful, though occasionally something will pop up.
If it is a local person, be extra cautious. Iād ask more questions in that case.
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Oh, that is a good one, thank you @fareem from this advice. I had one guest who changed her photo from a young girl to middle aged man while she/he was making the reservation.
At this point Iāve also learned that the people who make inquiries before booking, wonāt book. For example I had a question yesterday if we live near airport, when our listing is in the centre of the city. How many airports have you seen in the city centre? So I assume I wonāt be hearing from her.
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Eww. Creepy much?
Yes, in my experience, someone who makes an inquiry is relatively unlikely to book.
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Some people donāt even have photos. Then there are those who are so unrecognizable I donāt know if itās the same person or not. If Iād had any problems Iād start asking for the ID at check in.
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thaks K9: slowly but surely Iām getting wiser and wiser! Thanks to this forum Iāve got the curage to say no to many requests.
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We always ask if they have stayed in a vacation rental before (as opposed to hotel). Also āeasy quiz : please tell us the two ācode wordsā in the listing description and the house rules sectionāā¦to make sure they read it
Start asking? I just ask. I mean, itās your home. You have the right.
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I just donāt feel the need to do so.
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Iāve never asked for ID. Never a problem here.
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I use IB but still a lot of guests send an inquiry before they book. I never ask any particular questions because I am no good at evaluating guests from their replies. If they are up to no good they are going to lie anyway 
To me, itās a waste of my valuable time. You never know what theyāll be like until they turn up - regardless of what they say.
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How they express themselves is important to me. Anyone that starts by just saying āWe want thisā, doesnāt get to book because I will discourage them.
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Iāve had bookings or enquires from a clock, a river, 2 dogs, a black circle, a mural of 50 or so mini pics and a shot of someones knees to feet!
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