Sounds like you’ve answered your own question then, perhaps? Personally, I, too would rather sacrifice more bookings for better “quality” renters. Also less wear and tear on the place!
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Hi there. I tried signing up to VRBO today (in Canada) and no one could tell me THE MOST IMPORTANT DETAIL- how a host is protected for damages. Apparently in US, you can choose 3 options for damage deposit/coverage but in Canada you have to put an amount- they charge the credit card- say for 5000- and if they cause 10,000 or burn your house down- you have NO COVERAGE… The fact this is so unclear when signing up or on the website- makes me very antsy. Whereas airbnb offers up to a million in damage coverage VRBO doesn’t seem to… This makes it alot more unattractive to me… I know it’s a worse case scenario but still - this info should be really clear on a website.
They do allow for security deposit, as you said. And I would think if there wa were thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, you would just put in an insurance claim, no?
From what I’ve read, Airbnb hardly ever pays out these claims - it seems that they predominantly side with the guests.
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Under Airbnb rules a guest MUST be the person booking & verified otherwise you are not covered for Airbnb’s public liability insurance.
I have had a wife who has been verified booking their husband. I get them to change the profile to the husbands name & then you’re covered.
However, recently a person booked (shall name them Christina) & after confirming & advising my address I get ‘a message to say ‘I’m not Christine I’m Michael’ Upon quering this they announce that they ‘borrowed’ a friends’ account.
I immediately cancel them & call Airbnb who advised I would be penalised !! I told them I wasn’t comfortable with someone ‘using’ another persons’ account & why couldn’t they just open their own Airbnb account? I was then advised by Airbnb that anyone could do this! How about ‘verification’ of this ‘new’ person I asked to which they had no reasonable reply!
I insisted on NOT being penalised & then panicked as I wasn’t at all comfortable with this person knowing my address! I then locked the house & jumped into my car, (my Airbnb are rooms in my house) & backed out hurriedly breaking my back light. I then told Airbnb that they could pay for it!
Of course they refused!
Amusing eh?
Many hosts prefer to rely on their own STR insurance. I don’t know what insurance company you use, but I’ve never had a problem with claims.
On the other hand, I read here all the time about hosts being unable to claim from Airbnb or they realise that the process takes far too long to be bothered with.
Proper sequence is to call airbnb and then cancel if needed.
@TeriGeri That Michael told you he wasn’t Christina and that he was using her account likely means he wasn’t planning on coming to ax murder you.
So while Airbnb shouldn’t be allowing this third party stuff, I’d consider your reaction to be a bit more over-the-top than just amusing. If I was that scared of someone just because they tried to third-party book, I think I’d be too scared to host at all.
In what way do you think Airbnb’s “verification” protects you?