Problem guests suck. They cause damage, waste your time, and never read your listing. How do rental hosts avoid the problem guests that lurk on every platform?
You don't let them stay with you. A problem guest that doesn't stay at your rental is not a problem. Sounds impossible to filter them out, right? It's not like when someone books they come labeled as a problem guest. But if you learn what to look for, most problem guests do in fact come with big flashing red warning signs. You just need to learn how to see them. These five tips come from a survey by experienced hosts on how they prevent problem guests from booking with them.
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Always Ask the Magic Question
There is one magic question that will help you sort out potential problem guests faster than anything else. "What are your plans while in town?" If guests don't have a clear answer to this question then that is a major red flag. Also, the answer can help you decide if your place is a good fit for them and head off any possible problems. If your potential guests are in town for a hunting trip and your rental is a zen garden with high-end furniture then maybe these guests would be more comfortable staying somewhere else.
Repeating Questions
Bad Guest Reviews
Most hosts tend to shy away from leaving guests negative reviews because they want their guests to book with them again. If a potential guest has a bad review then that means the previous host was willing to forgo future bookings from this guest in order to warn other hosts about them. That's huge and you should listen to these reviews. Even if the review isn't that bad, you need to learn to read between the lines. A so-so review may not sound that bad but it was clearly bad enough that this host didn't want the guest to stay with them again. That's a big deal. Check the reviews of all potential guests and don't be afraid to ask them about any problems you see.
Price Point
Problem guests are often not worth the income because of the damage they cause and the aggravation. Under a certain price point, you will find a much higher percentage of your guests will be problem guests. What is this magic price point? It depends on your area, the competition, and your average nightly price. You need to test your nightly rate to find this magic price point. If you find that when you lower your nightly rate to a certain price that your rental is occupied with more problem guests then that is your magic price point. Going forward, your base rate should stay above this nightly rate. By bumping up the price, you will help weed out more problem guests.
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