Question from newbie to VRBO and Airbnb

[Anonymous]

When you book one of these… What is the policy regarding how you know if it’s clean, how you know you’re actually getting what you signed up for? Is it totally up to the host, or is there protection for the renter? At a hotel or resort, there is obviously maid service and a management company. Renting an Airbnb kind of makes me cringe because you don’t know if it was cleaned, and with the people that were there before you did. Is this kind of thing left solely to the discretion of the owner or is there a more formal policy, like they have to be cleared through some kind of rental company? We’ve rented beach houses before but there was an actual rental company that was local to make sure things were taken care of if we had issues during our visit, like if the fridge broke, etc. Just wondering how Airbnb and VRBO work in this regard. I know you can look at reviews, but relying solely on reviews makes me a little nervous, because those can be doctored.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re essentially at your own risk and good hosts rely on reviews, so they’ll have a system in place. I’ve rented tons of Airbnbs and VRBOs and have always, without question, found them way cleaner and well-maintained than places I’ve rented through an agency (and many hotels). I’m really careful about which ones I book, though. I spend a ton of time poring through pictures and reviews.

[Anonymous]

If you get there and it’s completely not as represented in photos (like dead cockroaches everywhere, fewer bedrooms, etc), you can try to work with the website for a refund/rebook. It has to be pretty extreme, but they try to make you happy

[Anonymous]

Honestly, sounds like you are better off with a hotel or rental company. I've used airbnb/VRBO before and definitely it has been hit or miss on cleanliness levels, and now use it as my very last option.

[Anonymous]

I think you may be better off at a hotel.

No snark. But I've been in enough Airbnbs to know that you may not enjoy the experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re essentially at your own risk and good hosts rely on reviews, so they’ll have a system in place. I’ve rented tons of Airbnbs and VRBOs and have always, without question, found them way cleaner and well-maintained than places I’ve rented through an agency (and many hotels). I’m really careful about which ones I book, though. I spend a ton of time poring through pictures and reviews.

+1

I never rent an AirBnB/VRBO that doesn't have multiple, positive reviews. We've only ever had one significant issue, and it wasn't something that would have come up on reviews, necessarily.

All that said, if you're that worried about it, I'd stick with a hotel.

[Anonymous]

Airbnb host here --

First, reviews can't be "doctored." Period. So read them. Focus on the negative ones if you're fishing for problems. In most cases, you'll find the negative reviews involve guests wanting things the host wasn't willing to provide, like early check in, extra people or pets.

Second, in addition to spaces with a lot of reviews, look for properties with Superhosts. We have earned our status by fulfilling guests' expectations consistently.

Third, If you think hotels are cleaner than my Airbnb, you are out of your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Airbnb host here --

First, reviews can't be "doctored." Period. So read them. Focus on the negative ones if you're fishing for problems. In most cases, you'll find the negative reviews involve guests wanting things the host wasn't willing to provide, like early check in, extra people or pets.

Second, in addition to spaces with a lot of reviews, look for properties with Superhosts. We have earned our status by fulfilling guests' expectations consistently.

Third, If you think hotels are cleaner than my Airbnb, you are out of your mind.

Fellow Superhost in DC, and same.

[Anonymous]

we have airbnbs and hire a professional company to do the turnover and it's so much cleaner than a hotel. Look for that in the description "professional turnover" and look at reviews. Also feel free to ask the host questions before booking. Hosts are held to a higher standard and can be reprimanded from hosting and be forced to give refunds if they misrepresent or give you a dirty place. Hotels are not held accountable as all you can do is provide a bad review.

[Anonymous]

I read all the reviews. Read them carefully, and read between the lines. I won't rent a place with mediocre reviews or just a few reviews--I need to see tons and tons of very positive ones.

Hotels aren't always that clean, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Partially it depends on your "standards" but also you've gotten good advice -- hotels are gross, most decent airbnbs pay maid services to clean the apartment between renters, and they will almost inevitably have a more "homey" feeling than hotels.

Airbnb allows guests to rate as well as comment so look at the ratings. If the "cleanliness" one is lower by some noticeable amount that might be a red flag that people like the place but it isn't spotless.

If an airbnb's overall rating is below 4.8, I don't even consider it.

[Anonymous]

You have no guarantee and no recourse. If the place is a disaster, oh well. Cannot stress how bad an idea is is to rent through these sites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have no guarantee and no recourse. If the place is a disaster, oh well. Cannot stress how bad an idea is is to rent through these sites.

That’s ridiculous. I’ve stayed in some truly amazing Airbnbs. It is not categorically a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]You have no guarantee and no recourse. If the place is a disaster, oh well. Cannot stress how bad an idea is is to rent through these sites. [/quote]

That’s ridiculous. I’ve stayed in some truly amazing Airbnbs. It is not categorically a bad idea.[/quote]

Doesn’t matter how amazing they are. There is ZERO recourse or protection against a shady owner. They can charge you for nonexistent damage, they’ll charge insane cleaning fees and then demand YOU fully clean before leaving. I’ve had AirBnbs say we couldn’t have the air on above 78 in Florida upon checkin. Add in that these properties aren’t even financially more reasonable than hotels and there is no reason any longer to take the risk. I’m gonna be at the hotel with room service, customer service, fresh towels I’m not washing, AC I can control, and no chance of an unhinged owner making my time there hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read all the reviews. Read them carefully, and read between the lines. I won't rent a place with mediocre reviews or just a few reviews--I need to see tons and tons of very positive ones.

Hotels aren't always that clean, fwiw.

I agree, really read reviews. My tips:

1. If the host responds defensively to any guests, especially passive aggressive comments like: "funny you should complain about the water heater not working when i was so generous giving you an extra hour to check out" do yourself a favor and don't rent from them.

2. Don't rent a place with below 4.9 stars. Nobody's perfect but anything below a 4.9 has something crappy dragging down the score.

3. It's best to only rent from superhosts. They are invested in doing a good job.

4. It's up to you, but i like places with generous cancellation policies (cancel up to the day of arrival and pay one night, for example).

5. Know that if something is grossly misrepresented (they advertised AC and the AC is broken/missing), Airbnb will help facilitate a refund.

that said, after renting a lot of airbnbs, i've switched to hotels with kitchenettes because i prefer a more impersonal/professional vacation experience. i like having maid service and i like