Airbnb has grown incredibly since it’s start in 2008. It has become a household name, with over 4 million listings worldwide and over 660,000 in the U.S. alone1. New people are joining every day and there are still many people who are using Airbnb for the first time. The wide spectrum of personalities and experience makes for lots of interesting people that you experience. While not everyone fits neatly into one of the categories below, there are some common groups of people that every host has seen.
The Newbies
These are the people that have never used Airbnb before and question everything. They are very enthusiastic and friendly but will not stop messaging the host. “When do I check-in?”, “What’s the Wifi password?”, “We’ll be there in 1 hour… Okay thirty minutes out… Okay we’re here!” are all common. They don’t realize that all the information can be found on the app and so they call your personal phone for every question they have – and they have many. The good thing about this group is that you have plenty opportunities to provide great service and get that 5 star rating.
The Slobs
This group is not always obvious and many times you don’t know until after. But if you go in or your Airbnb cleaner sends pictures, you know. Cheetos bags on the bed, half-eaten cookies on the oven, lipstick on the floor. They don’t usually mean harm and they probably live this way at home, but nevertheless it can be very obnoxious. They use all the extra pillowcases and blankets, all the shampoo and just live hard. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about these people after the fact, except leave a bad review. These are the times when I go back to the famous Rocky Balboa quote, “It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward.
The Old Couple
When you host the old couple at your place, any technology you have is no longer a convenience but is now a hassle. From the keypad at the front door to the fancy coffee maker, any piece of technology can lead to a phone call or an extended message on Airbnb. I hope you have instructions printed in big letters somewhere…
The Millennials
Being a millennial myself, I have a certain amount of empathy for these people. We were raised to expect the world, given trophies for participating, and ill-prepared for some of the responsibilities thrust on us in adulthood. However, as an Airbnb host these guests are THE WORST. First, they try every trick in the book to get a discounted price on your room. MY PRICE IS FIRM. Then, they ask, “Where is the aeropress coffee maker?” like every Airbnb should have one. IF IT ISN’T ON THE LISTING, I DON’T HAVE IT. As my friend likes to say, “They expect a steak dinner on a McDonald’s budget”. I need to pay my bills and my Airbnb cleaning service; I can’t be providing everything for free…
The Partiers
Partiers come more frequently in bigger houses. You never know what you will find when you get a group of partiers. I have heard of finding weed, throw-up in the bathtub, clothes, and lots of beer left in the fridge (not always a bad thing). If this is not your cup of tea, you can always set your house rules to No Parties; this won’t always stop them, though.
The Considerate
Last, but not least, there are the considerate people who stay on Airbnb. Truth be told, these are the majority of the guests. They are easy-going, appreciative, and communicate well. These people make Airbnb hosting not only profitable but enjoyable. You feel like you really are helping someone find a nice place to stay at an affordable price.
