EP179: How to Effectively Screen Your Airbnb Guests - a podcast by Jasper Ribbers

As children, we are taught to fear people we don’t know, and concerns about ‘stranger danger’ make potential Airbnb hosts hesitant about joining the platform. The good news is, there are a number of steps you can take to screen potential Airbnb guests that will ensure your safety – and improve the quality of the experience for guests who do make the cut!

Tanner Henkel is an Airbnb Superhost out of Toronto. He moved to the city in November of 2016, and quickly realized that his new building in the heart of downtown was prime real estate for Airbnb. Tanner enlisted the help of his roommate as a co-host, and now he has the opportunity to travel – and earn a substantial income through Airbnb.

After a frustrating experience with a guest who didn’t communicate his specific needs, Tanner developed a vetting process to protect his Airbnb business and verify that guests have appropriate expectations. Today he shares what he’s looking for in a guest profile, how he communicates with potential guests to ascertain their needs and expectations, and his advice around red flags to avoid. Listen and learn how you can apply filters to the Instant Book feature so that only guests who meet minimum requirements can Instant Book your listing!

Topics Covered

How Tanner got started with Airbnb
•Moved to Toronto in November 2016
•Master suite in new building, heart of downtown
•Didn’t want to be locked into one location
•Read Get Paid for Your Pad
•Enlisted roommate as co-host

The concerns Tanner had getting started with Airbnb
•Guests might ruin house, throw parties
•Obtaining consent from building management

How Tanner compensates roommate for co-hosting
•Shares income 70/30 when roommate covers check-in and cleaning
•Tanner assumes hosting responsibilities when in town

The experience that led Tanner to screen guests
•Guest surprised by shared space (despite clear description on listing)
•Several issues during stay (bathtub depth, using key fob for building access)
•Left after only two nights of 8-day reservation
•Tanner contacted Airbnb to resolve
•Gave guest partial refund
•Airbnb cancelled remainder of reservation (no penalty to host)
•Able to recoup money

How Tanner screens Airbnb guests
•Review guest profile for reviews
•Read reviews guest has written (for special requests)
•Confirm guest has complete profile with clear pic of face
•Confirm that guest has verifications, references
•Communicate with guests prior to visit, clarify expectations
•What will you be doing when you’re in town?
•Who all is staying?
•Have you used Airbnb before?
•Have you visited the city before?
•Use info to tailor guest experience, provide relevant information

Red flags to look out for
•Profile picture doesn’t show face
•Spare profile
•No verifications
•No social media accounts connected
•Not responsive
•Wants to communicate off-platform
•Asks about neighbors, doorman, surveillance

How Tanner handles the Instant Book feature
•Uses filters
•Guest must be verified, have certain number of reviews
•Requires 48-hour lead time

Why Airbnb encourages use of Instant Book
•Improves usability of platform
•Prevents discrimination

Instant Book considerations for hosts
•Can cancel three times without penalty
•Must jump through hoops to turn off
•Make use of filters to keep business safe

Connect with Tanner
Tanner’s Airbnb Host Profile

Resources
Get Paid for Your Pad: How to Maximize Profit from Your Airbnb Listing by Jasper Ribbers and ...

---

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Further episodes of Get Paid For Your Pad | Airbnb Hosting | Vacation Rentals | Apartment Sharing

Further podcasts by Jasper Ribbers

Website of Jasper Ribbers