Perspective from being an Airbnb guest (also a host)

[Christina B.]

I'm currently travelling (and in Tysons Corner near the D.C. area) and earlier this summer, I was also in Chicago. I tried SO hard to find a STR that met our group's needs (senior over 96 with mobility issues, AC necessary for heat sensitive, something central & vibrant for Gen X). Could not do it as the only STRs that didn't have stairs (or had elevators) required me to provide government issued ID for everyone in our group (which some objected to for privacy concerns). We ended up at the one hotel in Navy Pier and while it worked great for our group, there are definitely opportunities in Chicago for high end places that don't mandate IDs for everyone.

In Tysons, I was able to find an airbnb that worked for a different group with different needs (we have family and friends all over and I needed a hub to visit Potomac, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, etc.). However, we're having very mixed experiences with this unit that has more significant wear and tear (walls, floors, shades, etc.). So much so that I ended up documenting and taking a lot of pictures on Day 1. There's significant drywall damage in one bathroom (along with water stains under the exposed sink). Some sheets were questionable in terms of being clean (tossed up, not folded) inside a closet (to use for a spare mattress). Sheets and towels were mostly clean (but stained or marked and probably should be retired). A bunch of small issues (e.g. no hand soap in one of the bathrooms, no dish soap in the kitchen, toilet paper holders not secured so visibly off the walls, and can't fully open the dishwasher because its door hits the oven/range door when oven door is closed at a 45 degree angle (I can't make this stuff up!). All the outlets on one wall in the kitchen were dead but my husband was able to troubleshoot the GFCI. On the plus side, although the mattresses are terrible and hard (and I like medium-firm!), this location can't be beat and they're over-generous in providing extra bulk supplies of trash bags, hand soap, shampoo, body wash, laundry and dishwasher detergent. We found some empty hand soap containers in the kitchen sink so just refilled those and used them.

When I reached out to the hosts as a gesture of good faith and provided the pictures, etc., they replied with a clearly tinned, automated response. (Thanks for letting us know. We'll let maintenance know after you leave.) Frankly, I wasn't looking for a refund but as a host, I would be horrified to get this kind of message (although I would also really appreciate it as I'd want to make things right). I'm well aware that our cleaners will occasionally miss some things (although not on this level) and I'd like to know. Also, I probably would have had someone run over with dish soap, etc. as a gesture.

While I would really like to write an honest review of this airbnb, I'm leaning toward not writing anything because I don't want to jeopardize my great reviews as a guest (which is a possibility with hosts like this, given how extensively I've cited the issues). But I realize that's not beneficial to other guests. I feel like there has to be a better system for reviews that what either Airbnb or VRBO have currently- that could be better balanced and work for both guests and hosts. Otherwise, in one sense, we're just "gaming" the system one way by not leaving a review knowing a negative review won't post if we don't post, etc. Always curious what the fab and diverse community here think. TIA!

[Lauren Kormylo]

It’s Airbnb and Vrbo’s fault for the current review system bias. We hosts all wish a 4 rating on those platforms was “very good” like it is everywhere else, and a 3 was “average”, but they’re not - they’re failing grades. And too many ratings like that can get a host kicked off the platforms. 

Right now I’m vacationing in an oceanfront beach condo that would sell for about 1.1 million. It’s beat up from renters, needs some paint and TLC and a deep clean. In this area, it’s common to not supply linens, TP, soap, or anything else. We have to bring all of that. I’m probably going to rate it a 5, because it’s cheaper than comparable condos here, and I know how hard guests are on beach rentals, and I have specific bed arrangement requirements. If I were to tell the host about the problems after I submitted my review, I would preface it by saying that I gave her 5 stars because of the great location and price, but that I have a few suggestions to make the house even better etc. That way the host is not put on the defensive and worried about your rating. I would not tell her that I am a host too. Everyone knows that hosts make the most critical guests. If you give this host less than 5 stars, be prepared to be blocked from booking that place in the future. Again, that’s the platforms fault for requiring 5 stars as a baseline.