The idea of letting strangers into your property is nerve-racking for sure. It is almost everyday we hear terrifying stories of property damage or items being stolen from the rental. To ensure peace of mind, you need to run a background check and screen airbnb guests. Though airbnb guest screens as well, you also need to have a tailored process in place that will help you capture potential red flags so you can save yourself from panic and stress.
In this article, we’ll talk about the process of airbnb guest screening, how to catch the red flags (digitally) and some tips and tricks to efficiently screen the guests. Let us dive right into it!
Why is it Important To Screen Airbnb Guests?
Let me cut to the chase. You need to weed out problematic guests before they weed out your reputation, your Airbnb reviews, your property and your wallet. Letting such guests into your rental means that not only your property is at risk, but your airbnb business might also just hit rock bottom and you could end up with a trashed house and a therapy bill (To heal guest-induced trauma).
What could potentially happen?
Property Damage:
You don’t want to come back to your property having holes in your walls, with mysterious stains on your carpet, the broken appliances and the list goes on. If you dont screen your guests, be ready to empty-out your wallet and makeup for all the damage they did.
Reputational Harm:
One bad guest leads to one bad review and that leads to countless lost bookings. It took years to build your airbnb business, and one negative review might just be the cause of lost business and long-term reputational damage. And Let me tell you, Only 5% of guests recover from reputational harm (the rest are still crying). One bad review holds the impact of around 25 five-star reviews.
Safety Risks:
If you want to turn your home into a crime scene, don’t screen guests. Unvetted guests in your rental may bring drugs or weapons, may engage into illegal activities and can potentially harm someone in your neighbors. If these guests cross boundaries, the police might have to be involved, tarnishing your reputation as well as causing a scene outside your rental.
How Does Airbnb Screen Guests & Is It Enough?
Airbnb uses a guest screening process to help hosts feel secure when renting out their spaces. Here’s how it works: every booking is automatically reviewed using algorithms that consider factors like the timing, guest profile, and type of listing. For users in the U.S., Airbnb might run background checks, looking for any red flags like criminal records. It’s not 100% foolproof, as gaps in public records can exist, but it adds a layer of safety.
Additionally, Airbnb flags risky bookings—like those that might lead to unauthorized parties—using advanced technology. In such cases, the booking might need manual approval or specific agreements from the guest. These systems help protect hosts and ensure smoother stays.
Why Background Checks Aren’t Enough – The Limitations of Airbnb’s Guest Screening Process:
Airbnb’s background checks have notable limitations. Firstly, they are only conducted in the U.S. and sometimes omit significant details due to gaps in public records or restricted databases. This means criminal activity in other countries might not be detected. Additionally, checks are based on the information guests provide, such as names or birth dates, which could be falsified. Moreover, Airbnb emphasizes that its checks are not exhaustive and advises hosts to use their judgment, which can still leave room for risks. Airbnb itself does not guarantee the reliability of the guest and suggests the hosts run a background check on their own as well.
Spotting The Red Flags During The Manual Guest Screening
While no system is foolproof and it is challenging to catch a squatter remotely, here are a few red flags that you need to watch-out for. If you see a few of them, simply decline the booking as soon as possible.
Fake Profile
- Incomplete details
- Missing Profile Picture
- Missing ID
- Unusual Username
- Images taken from other sources
Behavioral Red Flags
- Aggressive or pushy messaging
- Generic or copy-pasted messages
- Unresponsive or evasive during conversation
- Inconsistent and unclear travel plans
- Unwilling to provide additional Information
- Frequent Cancellations
- Last Minute Booking Request for 1 night stay
- Multiple Bookings in short span of time
Reviews and Ratings
- No Reviews and ratings from previous hosts
- Fake looking reviews (overly positive)
- Identical or similar reviews from multiple profiles
- Reviews that seem unrelated to guest experience
Other Red Flags
- Suspicious payment methods
- Payment request outside of hosting platform
- Unclear employment or education info
- Unverified Contact Info (Fake email)
- Profile Creation date coinciding with booking requests
- Requests to Exceed Number of Guests After Booking
- Scammers ask unusual questions (e.g., cooking specific cuisines or date availability) to build trust before requesting a video of the rental.
- They use the video to fraudulently list the property, scamming others into paying for fake bookings.
- One-night weekend bookings often signal potential party plans.
- A security deposit can effectively deter guests from hosting parties.
Please remember that if something feels off, it probably is!
7 Ways to Screen Airbnb Guests
1. Evaluate Communication Style:
Start with prompt communication as soon as they make the booking. Talk to them about their travel plans or acquaint them with your house-rules. Notice how they respond. Is it too late or too quick? How is the tone? Is it demanding or aggressive? Are they providing the required information to you? This can give you a deep insight into the reliability of the guest.
2. Make A Screening Questionnaire:
To know their intentions better, create a screening questionnaire. On the basis of the responses, you can evaluate the trust-worthiness of the guests.
Ask the following questions:
- What brings you to this city?
- How many guests will be staying?
- What are your estimated arrival and departure times?
- Do you have any pets?
- Do you smoke?
- How will you respect the property of the neighbors?
- How long will you be staying?
- Do you plan to have any visitors during the stay?
- How can we contact you during your stay?
- Have you read and understood your house rules?
- Where are you travelling from? (Local bookings in the same city can be suspicious)
3. Check Reviews and Ratings:
As guests check reviews, you as a host, also have the liberty to see the reviews of the guests. Notice how they respond in their reviews, and look for comments that ensure that they respect the rules. Decline inquiries with alarming reviews; if one recent negative review stands out, talk to the guest first to assess the situation.
4. Stalk on Social Media:
Put your detective hat on and stalk them on social platforms. Talley the picture they have on their profile with the one on Airbnb. Check if their contact details and other information they provided matches what they have posted on social media. If you see some discrepancies, it could be a red flag.
5. Set Booking Requirements:
You could set specific booking requirements for the guests and only book them if they fulfill that criteria. This criteria can look something like this:
- 3 Minimum Previous Bookings
- 3 Positive Reviews
- Guest Verification ID
- Complete Airbnb Profile
You can customize these settings to your Airbnb account and the guests that align with your minimum standards, you can trust and go further with the booking.
6. Require a Security Deposit:
Requiring a security deposit can act as a financial safeguard for Airbnb hosts. It helps cover potential damages or extra cleaning costs if guests leave the property in poor condition. Guests are usually more mindful of the property knowing their deposit is at stake, promoting responsible behavior and ensuring a smoother hosting experience.
7. Verified Payment Methods:
Only accepting guests with verified payment methods ensures that the booking is secure and the guest has a valid way to pay for their stay. This reduces the risk of cancellations or fraudulent transactions and reassures hosts that the guest is committed to the reservation. It also builds trust, as Airbnb verifies the payment information before confirming the booking.
Popular Guest Screening Tools
Even after screening Airbnb guests manually, some loopholes might still be left behind. You can refer to the following tools that can make the process of guest screening easy for you.
However, if you find it difficult to screen Airbnb guests on your own, you can always hire professionals from Dosbnb and let the experts handle this task. We provide guest screening services for airbnb guests and to direct booking websites as well. Using high-quality tools and technologies, we make sure you choose a trustworthy guest to be in your rental.
Anyway, let us discuss the tools that you can use for Airbnb guest screening:
Autohost:
Autohost is the most popular and easy-to-use guest screening tool. Specially curated for hospitality businesses to filter-out the problematic guests, it automates the ID verification, security deposits, background and credit assessments. It also claims to increase rental revenue by 15%.
What Hosts Say:
Sarah Says “We use it and love how easy they make everything! It’s tied right into our PMS and the rental agreement is very robust! We’ve had no issues with their AI….the automation and guest portal has worked perfect every time.”
Superhog:
Superhog is a guest verification tool designed for Airbnb hosts and property managers. It conducts identity checks, assesses guest risk, and offers damage protection for up to $5 million, giving hosts peace of mind. By combining tech-based verification with insurance, Superhog ensures a safer hosting experience.
“Superhog gives us peace of mind by verifying guests and offering coverage against potential damages. It’s an excellent layer of security.”
Final Thought
Though it seems like a hassle to screen Airbnb guests, it is your first line of defense against fraudulent guests. Not much is in your control when letting a stranger into your house, but you can check up on a few things that ensure peace of mind and saves you from unnecessary trouble. Now, go forth and host…with caution, anxiety and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Also Read: What is an Airbnb Co-Host?
