Hosts Reveal How to Get Great Airbnb Reviews as a Guest
Respect for the property and effective communication with the host are the keys to getting an excellent guest rating.
The competition for Airbnbs has risen since the beginning of the epidemic. According to vacation rental data platform AirDNA, total demand for short-term rentals was up 26.6% in September compared to the previous year.
As with Uber and other peer-to-peer rental platforms, reviews on Airbnb can go both ways. In addition to the money (plus any extra fees) needed to book an Airbnb, some guests want to maintain a positive standing with hosts. Guests post assessments of properties and hosts to help future guests, and hosts post assessments of guests to assist future hosts.
It can be challenging to book a stay if you have a low or nonexistent rating as a guest, especially during peak travel periods when hosts are picky about their guests. According to Airbnb host, Patrick Moltrup from California's Coachella Valley, a lack of reviews on an account is a big red flag. He says guests who get bad ratings frequently delete their accounts and open fresh ones.
"We demand a review before we book you."
Even though there have been recent horror stories about hosts demanding that guests perform complex tasks at checkout, and despite reports of hosts becoming irritated with unruly guests, keeping a good guest rating doesn't require much effort, according to Moltrup. Keeping to some basic rules may be the distinction between a successful rental and a canceled (or refused) booking.
Finding your Airbnb Reviews
A host's review of your stay comprises a written description and a rating out of 5 stars. The reviews are hidden in the account settings on Airbnb, making them difficult to locate. You can find them on the website or mobile application by going to the 'Account' page and clicking 'Go to profile' in the upper-right area.
Can you see your rating? Have a look at any existing reviews to see your Airbnb rating. You won't see the actual rating number, as only hosts can see this when a guest tries to book a stay. Unless you know someone who will tell you, your guest rating will remain a secret.
It is Essential to Maintain a Good Rating
Guests can do little to maintain their positive ratings, whereas hosts go to great lengths to maintain their favorable ratings. "If you respect the house and the rules while staying on an Airbnb, you will almost always get a positive review from your host," Scott Lieberman, a former Airbnb host, and the frequent guest said.
Look carefully at the booking details before you book a rental to see if the host has posted house rules. There may be a variety of rules that you must comply with, including no smoking or playing loud music. When accidents occur, it can be challenging to determine whether someone will leave a bad review. Clean up those crayon marks and broken plates, but don't be surprised if you get a bad review. If you act quickly, hosts will not leave negative comments about these issues.
Moltrup says that failing to communicate clearly and consistently can negatively affect a guest's rating. "It's okay if you break something, as long as you tell us that you broke it," she says, suggesting that if you don't communicate clearly and consistently, you will most likely receive a lower rating. You will receive a high rating if you communicate clearly and consistently."
Hosts say respect is the critical factor in whether or not they leave a positive review. An accident is different from a clear breach of polite behavior, Moltrup says. Unless the guest leaves him with no other option, he always leaves a good review, he says. "We had a man who softened chocolate on the stove and then tossed it on our driveway," he says.
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How to Handle a Negative Guest Review
Often, a host has a bad day and leaves you a negative review or communication could be better, resulting in misunderstandings. These events may negatively affect your ratings and your ability to secure future bookings for years to come. Here are some things to do if you receive a poor Airbnb review:
Reply to the review to describe your experience. Future hosts can benefit from your experience in responding to the review. In addition to providing more information, it might encourage the original host to update or revise their review. A peaceful, bridge-building tone can go a long way.
Advise the host directly and explain. It's worth reaching out to the host and having a conversation if there's confusion.
Contest. If you believe the host is mistreating you, you can try to contest the review. Airbnb has clear guidelines for what can and cannot be disputed, such as discriminatory or irrelevant reviews.
Hosts might not be concerned about a single negative review, provided plenty of other positive ones exist. In the same way, savvy shoppers on Amazon examine the details of poor reviews to see how terrible they are. Hosts do the same.
Moltrup says they read the reviews to find out what problems people had. "If people are not communicating or damaging stuff, that's bad," she says. "We look for those things."
In Conclusion
Because reviewing for Airbnb feels so personal, maintaining a good rating is crucial. It's simple to keep your future reservations by respecting the property and communicating well with the host. However, a poor rating can jeopardize your future travel plans, especially on high-traffic travel dates. Unlike rideshare drivers, who often give poor ratings to passengers who breathe the wrong way, Airbnb hosts usually tolerate minor issues.
Furthermore, if the host requests that you trim the hedges before you leave, feel free to seek Airbnb alternatives or refuse. Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, issued a statement this month on Twitter, arguing that you shouldn't be forced to do unreasonable checkout tasks such as stripping the beds, laundry, or vacuuming.
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