How to Keep the Bad Airbnb Guests Out by Screening Effectively
Summary
This article discusses the importance of screening potential guests to avoid problems like rule violations and criminal activity in your short-term rentals. It provides a screening process by outlining questions to ask and red flags to look for. Hosts should consider implementing a screening process and evaluating the booking channels they use.
Key Insights
- •The article highlights two types of risk: general (rule violations, additional guests) and criminal (fraud, identity theft) when it comes to STR guests.
- •Out-of-province phone numbers, long stays combined with high ADR, and guests who never answer the phone but reply via SMS are potential red flags for criminal activity.
Action Items
- ✓Hosts should establish expectations at the booking stage and make sure the guest's story makes sense.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Hosts should screen potential guests by asking questions such as: What is the purpose of your stay? Why are you interested in this property? Where are you traveling from? What is your experience with STR?Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Hosts should consider the pros and cons of different booking channels: Airbnb (good fraud detection, higher general risk), Booking.com (high risk for fraud), and VRBO (high general risk, less payment risk).Effort: lowImpact: medium
Tools & Resources
- →Autohost: The article mentions Autohost as an AI tool for screening guests.
Watch Out For
- ⚠Failing to effectively screen guests can lead to issues such as rule violations and criminal activity like fraud or identity theft.
Related News
User Profile: Mountainside Treasures
This article shares the experiences of an STR host who has grown their business from a single condo to nearly 30 properties, highlighting the importance of guest service and the use of OwnerRez. The host emphasizes that delivering a good guest experience is a key factor for success, and struggles with the power of OTAs and challenging guests. Consider OwnerRez as a key tool for managing your properties.
Owner Statements 2.0: Faster, Clearer and Built for Growing Portfolios
Lodgify has released Owner Statements 2.0, promising faster and clearer reporting for property managers. This update aims to cut down manual work and improve the quality of reports shared with owners.
Financial firms face rising cyber risks, data challenges
This article discusses rising cyber risks and data challenges in the financial services industry, including fraud prevention using AI. While not directly about STRs, it highlights the importance of data quality, which directly impacts the effective use of AI for risk management and decision-making for STRs.
Booking.com Refunds Policy: Process and Ts & Cs Explained
This article from iGMS explains Booking.com's refund policies and cancellation options for hosts. It highlights the importance of choosing a cancellation policy that balances flexibility to attract bookings with financial considerations, and encourages hosts to experiment with different policies and rates to find the ideal balance.