Avoiding bad Airbnb guests is a real issue for hosts. What a guest may seem like over the internet may not necessarily be what they are like in real life. We’ve all been the victims at one point or another of damaged property, unhappy neighbors, or the breaking of house rules, due to Airbnb guests.

Not to worry, though, as you can do a few things during the booking process to prevent any negative situations from arising. Here are 5 ways to avoid bad Airbnb guests!

1. Watch For Communication Problems

By analyzing how communication goes between you and your guests, you can get a pretty good idea about their intentions. If at any point, the guest would like to take proceedings outside of the Airbnb platform, this immediately raises red flags… more on this later!

If guests are polite and friendly, you’re more likely to book them for your Airbnb. More signs to look for to help you decide include response time and answering your phone calls and emails. Does it constantly feel like they’re ghosting you? Also, take a closer look at what questions they’re asking. If they’re questioning your policies or asking to break the rules, watch out.

2. Take a Look at their Reviews

Upon checking the guest’s reviews, you will also immediately be able to tell if there is any reason to worry. Any review between 2 and 3.5 stars is when you should begin to question why and if you are willing to run the risk. Reviews are subjective, as some reviews say that the guest was rude but clean and followed the rules. For some hosts, they can put up with this if it makes them money. For others, it might be the answer they were looking for.

Below 2 stars, and you may want to consider that to be an automatic no unless there was a one-off terrible experience that brought their rating down. If you do decide to proceed with the booking with an overall rating of 2 or below, you may run a risk of having more problems than it’s worth because, ultimately, they are below 2 stars for a reason.

3. Don’t Move Off the Airbnb Platform

As soon as you take bookings outside of Airbnb, you’re completely on your own should something happen. Basically, if anything were to go wrong, you, as the host, would not be covered by Airbnb. The platform is considered a safe place, as things are constantly monitored and attended to accordingly if need be.

If a guest asks to communicate using other platforms such as social media, say no. If they want to set up an arrangement without the “hassle” of Airbnb booking, say no. If they aren’t happy with your answer, it’s a dead giveaway that something shady is going on.

Payment, like communication, should never occur outside of Airbnb. The whole point of paying via Airbnb is to ensure that all security and verification measures are double-checked prior to payment, not to mention the host guarantee. Accepting payments via a third party will annul these security measures. Avoid all possible outcomes and tell the guest that ‘you are unable to take payment outside of Airbnb.’ You may also wish to mention to your guest exactly why this is the case, just in case they aren’t aware.

While not directly related to booking outside of Airbnb, you also may want to consider declining people who claim to be ‘booking for a friend.’ Airbnb policy states that people who book should be the guest. Despite their reason for booking, it should raise concerns as to why the guest themselves cannot actually book. If you want to save yourself the possible hassle, you can politely decline their request.

1. Ask for More Information

While this tip won’t necessarily help you prevent a bad guest, it can help you prepare for one. Due to an Airbnb policy change, you can’t access a guest’s full profile until after you’ve approved their reservation. But when you are able to see it, check to see if their profile is incomplete or unverified. This can be a potential red flag as well.

You can spot an incomplete profile if they don’t have a profile photo, if it doesn’t contain the person’s full name, or if the description is less than 100 words, and the person hasn’t been fully verified.

If their profile is incomplete, sending the guest a message can help you feel more comfortable. Ask them if they’re willing to provide some additional information before their stay. While you can’t deny the guest at that point, it will at least give you the chance to prepare ahead of time.

5. Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, if something doesn’t seem right, then don’t put yourself at risk. As the old saying goes, ‘trust your gut,’ and this really could not be more on point. While your gut isn’t correct 100% of the time, it can help you determine who is and isn’t a risk. If you have completed all of the above steps, and you are still are feeling uneasy about it, don’t ignore those feelings.

Can You Cancel a Reservation on a Bad Guest?

Technically, yes. You can cancel a reservation on a guest you’ve already booked. Just be aware that cancellations on a reservation can result in additional fees and penalties. Airbnb will also post on your profile that you’ve canceled on a guest. You’ll usually have the opportunity to explain what happened, but the post can’t be deleted. After all, you’re canceling on them, affecting their plans for the night, and leaving them without a place to stay.

Although Airbnb wants to avoid as many cancellations as possible, if you don’t feel comfortable communicating with the guest, you have the right to protect yourself and your property. After all, safety first is always a good idea.

At the end of the day, don’t let a few lost bookings deter you from the headache of bad guests. If you think there could legitimately be a safety and security risk, broken rules, or property damage then it’s best to say no.

Happy hosting!