Learn how to screen Airbnb guests without reviews and get tips for doing so. As part of your Airbnb management strategy, you’re probably already screening potential guests and monitoring the activity of current guests to make sure they’re respectful, responsible users of your property. However, it’s important to go beyond these basic security measures to ensure that your house is only accessible to individuals who are inclined to treat it with the care and respect it deserves.
This article will walk you through some best practices for how to screen Airbnb guests without reviews that you can use as a starting point for creating a comprehensive new member process that meets your standards and protects your home.
Can You Screen Guests on Airbnb?
Yes, definitely. If you are an Airbnb host, you can definitely screen Airbnb guests. You can set your own standards when it comes to screening Airbnb guests. Some Airbnb hosts have a very loose screening process, while some have a very strict Airbnb guest screening process.
As long as it is not violating Airbnb’s terms and conditions, you can screen Airbnb guests as much as you want! Now, when it comes to how to screen Airbnb guests, you have a couple of options. First of all, you can ask them to provide you with references from previous hosts. Another thing that you can do is ask them to fill out an application. That way, you can see if they have the criteria that you’re looking for when it comes to Airbnb guests.
There are some steps you can take to increase your level of comfort during the booking process. Using Airbnb’s communication tools and asking the right questions during the booking process will help you identify responsible guests and decipher who might be a poor fit for your listing.
That said, you shouldn’t rely on these communication tools and questions to replace thorough screening practices. While they can add a layer of protection, they can’t replace thorough vetting and background checks. Remember, your listing is a public space and it’s important to exercise the same level of discretion and judgment that you would with any public interaction.
Why Do Some Airbnb Guests Have No Reviews?
The absence of reviews is a common problem for Airbnb hosts who rely on them to make informed screening decisions. Some guests may have created an account but never left reviews on previous stays, or perhaps they start a booking and then cancel before the host has a chance to review them. Other guests may have been rejected by hosts and thus never get the chance to leave a review. You may even see guests who’ve stayed with you before but have not yet left a review, as Airbnb’s review system can be slow-moving.
Airbnb Guests Without Reviews
You shouldn’t make any decisions about a guest’s suitability based on the absence of reviews. While they can be a helpful indicator, they’re not definitive proof of a guest’s level of care or reliability. After all, you’re not reviewing them as a guest, but rather as a host who has access to your home.
It’s important to keep in mind that some guests may not have been on the site long enough to accumulate reviews and others may not have had any booking requests to date.
How Do You Filter Guests on Airbnb?
When you’re creating a booking request, you can use Airbnb’s filters to screen guests by their name, profile picture, number of reviews, length of time on the site, and more. Filters are a quick and easy way to control who can book with you and help you protect your listing from guests who may not be trustworthy or may not be a good fit for your property.
Keep in mind that you can also filter guests who are only exploring your listing but haven’t yet booked. You can use these filters to exclude guests who don’t meet your minimum standards. This gives you an opportunity to politely turn certain guests away before they’ve ever become a serious booking request.
One of the best ways to filter Airbnb guests is to make sure that your listing is as detailed as possible. Include all the necessary information about your property, including the amenities and special features that set it apart from others. Make sure to include the address, including the neighborhood and street name. This will help you filter out guests who don’t understand your neighborhood and those who are looking for a specific place.
You can also filter out guests who are not serious by adding a “must read” section to your description. You can clarify things like check-in time, rules, and expectations in that section. This section is especially useful if you have a very specific location or neighborhood. If you are in a very busy and popular neighborhood, you don’t want unserious people booking your place. You can also filter out guests who don’t understand your neighborhood. If you mention something like “a lot of college students live in the neighborhood,” you can filter out unserious guests.
How to Screen Airbnb Guests?
As you’re filling out the guest’s information, you can add a special message in the “special instructions” field. This is where you can ask the guest to provide you with references. You can also request the guest to fill out an application. This is especially useful if you have a very specific location or neighborhood. If you are in a very busy and popular neighborhood, you don’t want unserious people booking your place. If a guest provides you with references or an application, you can see if they meet your criteria.
Another way to screen Airbnb guests is to look at the filters on their profiles. You can see their profile picture, the number of reviews that they have, the ratings that they have received from previous hosts, and their verified ID. You can also look at the messages that they have sent you.
How to Screen Airbnb Guests Without Reviews?
Now that you know how to filter guests on Airbnb, let’s take a look at how to screen guests more thoroughly. For starters, you can use Airbnb’s Guest Inquiry Form to collect information from potential guests and make notes on them as they complete the booking process.
- You can ask guests for information like their names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
- You can also make note of their travel dates and the number of guests who will be staying with you.
Once you have this information, you can use it to cross-reference guest information with online public records and other resources. You can use this information to check guest identities and find out if they have any criminal or travel history that is relevant to your property.
Check for Bad Behaviour During the Booking Phase
Another way to screen Airbnb guests is to pay attention to their behavior during the booking phase.
- How quickly do they respond to your messages?
- Do they clearly understand the details of your listing and your rules?
- How long does the booking process take?
- Do they communicate with you respectfully?
You can also pay attention to the way they communicate with you. If so, that’s a good sign. You can also watch their reviews. If a guest has received bad reviews, that could be a red flag.
How To Avoid Bad Airbnb Guests?
You can avoid bad guests by making sure you have a good screening process for your guests. You should make sure to collect the information about your guests, verify their identity, and check their reputation. In addition to these, you can also collect information about your guests’ payment information in order to prevent any payment issues.
You can also make sure that you have good communication with your guests by making sure that you have a quick response time for any issues that they report. In addition to this, you can also make sure that you have good communication with your guests by making sure that you have clear listing rules. By making sure that your listing rules are very clear and detailed, you can make sure that your guests know what is expected of them.
Questions to Ask Airbnb Guests
You can also ask the guest a couple of questions to screen Airbnb guests. You can ask them if they have any allergies or dietary restrictions. You can ask them if they have any special needs, like wheelchairs or assistance dogs. These questions can help you determine if the guest is appropriate for your property.
You can also ask the guest about the length of their stay. If the guest is staying for a long time, that could be a red flag. If a guest is only staying for a few days, that might be a red flag too. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not every guest stays for just a few days. There are also people who stay for months at a time.
Now that you’re familiar with some tools and techniques for filtering guests on Airbnb, let’s take a look at some questions you can ask to screen guests more thoroughly. During the booking process, you can ask guests for information about themselves and their travel plans. You can also ask for information about other guests who will be staying with you. Here are some questions to ask Airbnb guests:
1. Have you ever stayed in a shared space before?
2. What is your travel and occupation?
3. How many people will be staying with you, and what is their name?
4. Do you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
5. How long will you be staying?
6. Where are you coming from?
7. Will you have any bags (like a suitcase or a carry-on bag)?
8. Do you have any pets or service animals that will be staying with you?
Alternatives to Screening Guests on Airbnb
As we’ve discussed, there are a few ways to screen Airbnb guests without reviews. However, if you want to go a step further, you can try doing a background check on the guest. This way, you can make sure that they are who they say they are, and that they have a clean criminal record. You can also check their social media presence, which can give you a better idea of who they are as a person.
There are some steps you can take to minimize the risk of accepting a dangerous or disruptive guest without ever having to review their profile. These include:
1. Establish a written house policy – You don’t have to review a guest’s profile to know that they’re a risky user. If you have a house policy in place, you can deny the booking if it contradicts your written rules and expectations.
2. Have a frank conversation with your guest – You can explain your concerns and ask the guest to follow your rules. If they refuse or don’t respond, you can cancel the booking.
3. Ask guests to provide references and proof of ID – You can request this information in your initial booking request and deny the booking if the guest doesn’t provide it.
4. Make sure you have solid house rules and policies – This will help you screen Airbnb guests without reviews.
If you have the funds, you can hire a private investigator to conduct a screening. They can provide you with an in-depth report on the guest that includes their identity information, criminal record, and even their employment information. You can also ask your guests to provide references from previous hosts. This can help you determine whether or not they’re appropriate for your property.
A Quick Disclaimer: Don’t Rely on Reviews Alone
Although you can use these methods to screen Airbnb guests without reviews, Airbnb ratings don’t tell the full story, either. They only provide one small piece of the puzzle. The reality is that there will always be people who are bent on committing fraud, and there will always be people who are genuinely good, honest people. There’s no way to perfectly screen Airbnb guests.
All you can do is use every tool and strategy at your disposal to create a process that weeds out the bad apples and gives you the best chance of accepting responsible, respectful guests.
With that in mind, don’t use these tools to screen Airbnb guests as a black and white, all or nothing approach. Instead, use it as a way to vet guests and create a more selective guest flow. The more selective you can be about your guests, the more comfortable you’ll be with hosting.
Final Words: Is It Worth Screener Guests on Airbnb?
Screening guests can help you reduce the risk of renting to the wrong people and protect your property from those who may be inclined to cause harm or damage. However, the process doesn’t need to be overly complicated or expensive. In fact, many of the measures we’ve discussed can be implemented simply and at a minimal cost.
Remember that any measures you take to screen Airbnb guests are no substitute for creating a detailed and accurate listing.
This is where you can really shine and set yourself apart from other hosts and give your guests a reason to book your property.