If you’ve ever thought about renting out your property on Airbnb or VRBO, you’ll know that one of the most important things is to screen your guests carefully. There are a few key things to look out for when you’re screening potential guests, and in this blog post, we’ll go through 8 of them. By the end of this post, you’ll be an expert at spotting red flags and making sure that only good guests stay at your property. So let’s get started!
Check the guest’s profile to see if they have any reviews from other hosts
If you manage an Airbnb property, checking a guest’s profile is one of the most important steps. It helps to better determine who should stay in your rental and who should move on. Taking a look at the reviews left by other hosts will give you great insight into how previous accommodations have gone for them. This can provide valuable information and help manage any potential issues before they even arise. Doing this each time can go a long way toward making sure your next guests have the perfect stay.
Find out if the guest has been verified by Airbnb/VRBO
Verifying your guest’s stay is an essential step in ensuring that you and your property remain safe. When you require it, Airbnb and VRBO will verify both the emails and IDs of potential renters to combat fraudulently created accounts. Making sure that all verification checks have been completed allows you to have peace of mind going into each rental period with complete confidence that your guests are bonafide travelers who intend to take care of your precious investment. Taking advantage of this safety measure provides any landlord with much-needed stability and diminishes the risk associated with the renting process.
Take note of the time of day the guests sent the booking inquiry
If you are a host on Airbnb, it’s important to pay attention to the time of day that your booking inquiries are coming in. While the occasional middle-of-the-night inquiry may be an appropriate one from an exhausted traveler, many times it indicates something suspicious is going on – perhaps the requestor isn’t quite who they say they are. Keeping track of these odd-hour bookings can save you plenty of hassle down the line – after all, nobody wants to be stuck with bad guests or ones who bring covert activities into your home. So take care when approving that late-night request!
Confirm your guest has uploaded a profile picture on Airbnb/VRBO
Having a profile picture on Airbnb/VRBO helps increase trust and credibility – which is essential for both hosts and guests. From a host’s perspective, taking the extra step to confirm that your guest has uploaded a profile picture can make them feel welcome and at ease with you before the stay even starts. You’ll have a better sense of who the guest is before they arrive, which will make them feel acknowledged as part of your community. Taking this precaution is also beneficial from the standpoint of safety: if you have a face attached to the reservation, both parties will likely act responsibly throughout their stay. Ultimately, confirming that your guest has uploaded a profile picture before approving the booking is an easy way to ensure safe and positive experiences for both hosts and guests alike!
Check how long the guest has been a member of Airbnb/vrbo
As a host, you want to know that the guest staying in your rental is reliable and trustworthy. It’s a good idea to check out how long they have been members of Airbnb or VRBO. If they’ve been a member for many years, that’s a good sign they take this platform seriously. Reviews from other hosts can also tell you what kind of experience you can expect with your potential guests. When it comes to trusting strangers in your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Reach out to them and gauge your interactions
When it comes to hosting Airbnb guests, it’s important to be proactive in reaching out and showing genuine hospitality. Initiating contact with prospective guests is a great way to make a quick connection and provide visitors with the sincerity they are looking for. At the same time, be on the lookout for any warning signs that might suggest a potential bad apple traveler. Whether it’s multiple negative reviews, their profile picture lacking or some other suspicious detail, it’s important to stay vigilant and make sure you are choosing guests who will help grow your business instead of detracting from it. Keeping an eye open can mean all the difference when opening yourself up as an Airbnb host!
Trust your gut – if something feels off, it probably is
At the end of the day, you are the one responsible for who stays at your property. That’s why it’s important to trust your gut if something feels off with a potential guest. If you’re having doubts, it may be better to politely decline the booking request and wait for a more trustworthy guest. The Airbnb community is built on trust, so don’t be afraid to take a stand and follow your instincts if something doesn’t feel right. After all, peace of mind is worth more than any booking fees!
Being a great Airbnb host doesn’t mean you have to say “yes” to every single guest that comes your way. By following the seven tips above, you can protect yourself from problem guests and keep your property in pristine condition. Running an Airbnb is a lot of work – why not let us take on some of the burdens by managing your vacation rental for you? We’re expert Airbnb property managers in St Augustine, FL, and we love nothing more than giving our clients peace of mind. Give us a call today – we’d be happy to chat with you about how we could help make your life as an Airbnb host easier.