When guests inquire "Are dates available"

[Keugenia]

@JJD

there are hosts like me who tell departing guests to always reach out if something doesn’t look available on the calendar because we often have more flexibility for return guests. This is true. If we are blocked off for a break or have a minimum stay, I don’t mind opening dates up for a previous guest because they are easier (or at least I know if they are or not).

I do this too. I tell my previous guests if they want to return and do a direct booking to check with me even if the calendar shows the dates aren’t available.

[KKC]

I board dogs in my home and I often block dates because I just don’t quite know how things are going to go. Opening my calendar last minute works best for me. As of this hour my calendar is completely blocked. Yet only 6 days, all coming the first half of Oct, are actually booked with Airbnb guests. Both those guests contacted me directly about dates because I told them anytime my calendar looks unavailable, check with me. I do have a couple of out of town trips scheduled but even some of those days could be booked in certain situations.

I have IB on and the vast majority of guests use it. But if a determined guest sees my listing, or had it previously bookmarked and now it seems to not be available, they might inquire. Once they do I can say “I only want vaxxed guests/I have 10 dogs here, are you okay with noise/I am leaving that night so if any problem arises you are on your own/etc.” Those are my best guests.

[Jefferson]

@casailinglady

“…you don’t necessarily need good hospitality skills, but it’s necessary to have a strong liver to do STR”

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LOL! Very funny!
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202020202020

[aelilya]

@Alanmelsky

I usually never hear back

This is also the only outcome I’ve had thus far with inquiries asking if a certain date range is available (& every time the calendar showed the dates were open & they’d marked them in the inquiry so I was unsure why they asked). Last was about 2 weeks ago and I marked as spam because they didn’t respond to my attempts at dialogue & they’d provided no info at all in the inquiry. Plus the message wording was suspect.