Dirty and inconsiderate guests at our STVR

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Dirty and inconsiderate guests at our STVR

John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes

So I college buddies rented our Lake House over Labor day and went to a Clemson football game.

The guy that rented the house was supposedly a host also.

They left the place a mess. Stove top was filthy, stuff dripped down the cabinets. Left dirty dishes in the sink.

They got stuff out and didn't put it back. We have a cover for the pool table. They left that off the table, left out the iron. Took a heavy wooden rocking chair down by the grill and left it there. Too heavy for the cleaners to put back up on the screened back porch.

They left the dock chairs on the dock not strapped down even thought we have signs at the dock to retire everything in case a storm comes through.

I tell the cleaners there will be hard ones and easy ones. They were very unhappy and now I have to drive an hour tomorrow (each way) to go take care of the things they couldn't.

If you haven't already guessed it this was an Airbnb booking.

This just never happens with Vrbo guests in my experience. 

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Jules Aton
MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y

That anyone thinks it’s ok to leave dirty dishes is beyond my comprehension. 

4Reply
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  • Ken Boone
    Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    Yea it's always unpleasant to get guests that are just rude and inconsiderate. Fortunately, most guests are not like that. But it does piss ya off!

    2Reply
  • Mark Miles
    Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 541 posts · 715 votes
    1y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    So I college buddies rented our Lake House over Labor day and went to a Clemson football game.

    The guy that rented the house was supposedly a host also.

    They left the place a mess. Stove top was filthy, stuff dripped down the cabinets. Left dirty dishes in the sink.

    They got stuff out and didn't put it back. We have a cover for the pool table. They left that off the table, left out the iron. Took a heavy wooden rocking chair down by the grill and left it there. Too heavy for the cleaners to put back up on the screened back porch.

    They left the dock chairs on the dock not strapped down even thought we have signs at the dock to retire everything in case a storm comes through.

    I tell the cleaners there will be hard ones and easy ones. They were very unhappy and now I have to drive an hour tomorrow (each way) to go take care of the things they couldn't.

    If you haven't already guessed it this was an Airbnb booking.

    This just never happens with Vrbo guests in my experience. 


     Brutal, sorry to hear that.

    I tell my Cleaners to charge me more if guests leave the place in a truly horrific condition.

    But I also remind my cleaners to do this sparingly or I’m gonna start asking for cleaning discounts when the place is left tidy.

    It works out well, if it’s a really bad guest the cleaners will charge me a little more but they do it judiciously so it works out ok

    3Reply
  • Jules Aton
    MD/DC · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    That anyone thinks it’s ok to leave dirty dishes is beyond my comprehension. 

    4Reply
  • Lisa Graesser
    Rental Property Investor · The Villages, FL · Member since 2017 · 341 posts · 397 votes
    1y

    Truly sucks to deal with non-guests like that. Do you have a local landlords Facebook group. Maybe start a private "Do Not rent to" list for your area.

    0Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Lisa Graesser:

      Truly sucks to deal with non-guests like that. Do you have a local landlords Facebook group. Maybe start a private "Do Not rent to" list for your area.


       They were supposedly from Colorado. We are in SC.

      0Reply
  • Mike GrudzienPro Member
    Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    John,
    That sucks.
    Get me the names.
    I'm a Marine veteran with special skills...
    (DISCLAIMER: That was a joke.But you know where my heart is...)

    3Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    1y

    This year has been especially hard on stuff in our lake house. We have had guests destroy at least 10 bath towels. We haven't lost that many since we started 8 years ago.

    Broken vases, glasses, at least 10 forks are gone as well as spoons. Been a hard year for sure.

    3Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Michael Baum:

      This year has been especially hard on stuff in our lake house. We have had guests destroy at least 10 bath towels. We haven't lost that many since we started 8 years ago.

      Broken vases, glasses, at least 10 forks are gone as well as spoons. Been a hard year for sure.

      From my experience it's a small percentage of guests that are just disrespectful. Most are great, but the bad ones are certainly irritating. I'm sure these people don't think they are even doing anything wrong.
      2Reply
  • Jeff Langley
    Member since 2021 · 167 posts · 141 votes
    1y

    I’m in the same boat. I’ve encountered more dirty and disrespectful guests from Airbnb than years past. Such a fine line to charge them too because we’ve got retaliatory reviews and threats to charge us… which of course Airbnb sides with the guests for 30%. Airbnb has been 💩 

    2Reply
  • Trent Reeve
    Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
    1y

    you dont realize what people are willing to do at other people's places until you become a host. I bought some fun games to put in my places, probably a quarter of them missing. I guess they were too fun to be stay at my place. I've left out a full box of dishwasher pods and used to leave a big bowl of tide pods, have them stolen. I now leave about 5 of each out. missing silverware, had grill tools go missing, ceiling fan remote go missing (why, its not like it will work with your fan at home). Sorry you dealt with that, hopefully thats your worse guest of the year.

    2Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:

      you dont realize what people are willing to do at other people's places until you become a host. I bought some fun games to put in my places, probably a quarter of them missing. I guess they were too fun to be stay at my place. I've left out a full box of dishwasher pods and used to leave a big bowl of tide pods, have them stolen. I now leave about 5 of each out. missing silverware, had grill tools go missing, ceiling fan remote go missing (why, its not like it will work with your fan at home). Sorry you dealt with that, hopefully thats your worse guest of the year.


       We mounted our celling fan remotes to the wall. It is hard to find nice ceiling fans anymore that don't come with remotes.

      We have 2 ceiling fans in the main room. We synchronized one remote to control both fans, so we have a spare remote in the owner's closet. That was over a year ago.

      2Reply
    • Trent Reeve
      Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
      1y
      Quote from @John Underwood:
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:

      you dont realize what people are willing to do at other people's places until you become a host. I bought some fun games to put in my places, probably a quarter of them missing. I guess they were too fun to be stay at my place. I've left out a full box of dishwasher pods and used to leave a big bowl of tide pods, have them stolen. I now leave about 5 of each out. missing silverware, had grill tools go missing, ceiling fan remote go missing (why, its not like it will work with your fan at home). Sorry you dealt with that, hopefully thats your worse guest of the year.


       We mounted our celling fan remotes to the wall. It is hard to find nice ceiling fans anymore that don't come with remotes.

      We have 2 ceiling fans in the main room. We synchronized one remote to control both fans, so we have a spare remote in the owner's closet. That was over a year ago.


       I have the holder on the wall. but you have to be able to remove them when you need to change batteries, otherwise i would glue them into the holder.

      2Reply
    • Account Closed
      Investor · FL · Member since 2016 · 332 posts · 388 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:
      Quote from @John Underwood:
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:

      you dont realize what people are willing to do at other people's places until you become a host. I bought some fun games to put in my places, probably a quarter of them missing. I guess they were too fun to be stay at my place. I've left out a full box of dishwasher pods and used to leave a big bowl of tide pods, have them stolen. I now leave about 5 of each out. missing silverware, had grill tools go missing, ceiling fan remote go missing (why, its not like it will work with your fan at home). Sorry you dealt with that, hopefully thats your worse guest of the year.


       We mounted our celling fan remotes to the wall. It is hard to find nice ceiling fans anymore that don't come with remotes.

      We have 2 ceiling fans in the main room. We synchronized one remote to control both fans, so we have a spare remote in the owner's closet. That was over a year ago.


       I have the holder on the wall. but you have to be able to remove them when you need to change batteries, otherwise i would glue them into the holder.


       To make it easier to find for people searching for it, I just made another post on a solution to the missing fan remote problem.

      0Reply
    • Trent Reeve
      Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 706 posts · 634 votes
      1y
      Quote from @Account Closed:
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:
      Quote from @John Underwood:
      Quote from @Trent Reeve:

      you dont realize what people are willing to do at other people's places until you become a host. I bought some fun games to put in my places, probably a quarter of them missing. I guess they were too fun to be stay at my place. I've left out a full box of dishwasher pods and used to leave a big bowl of tide pods, have them stolen. I now leave about 5 of each out. missing silverware, had grill tools go missing, ceiling fan remote go missing (why, its not like it will work with your fan at home). Sorry you dealt with that, hopefully thats your worse guest of the year.


       We mounted our celling fan remotes to the wall. It is hard to find nice ceiling fans anymore that don't come with remotes.

      We have 2 ceiling fans in the main room. We synchronized one remote to control both fans, so we have a spare remote in the owner's closet. That was over a year ago.


       I have the holder on the wall. but you have to be able to remove them when you need to change batteries, otherwise i would glue them into the holder.


       To make it easier to find for people searching for it, I just made another post on a solution to the missing fan remote problem.


       looks like you need to understand wiring, which i dont. I'm about 2 years with only 1 remote missing. just bought a universal remote which works with my fan. I get it and maybe down the road when the next one goes missing, i spend the money on an electrician to put something similar in.

      0Reply
    • Dena Beck
      Member since 2024 · 43 posts · 15 votes
      1y
      Quote from @John Underwood:

       That is solid. I have a floor lamp that has a switch, but it also has a remote with a lot more functions.  I have never left it out.  But, this makes me think I should spend some time trying to find a way to permanently mount it to the wall..... thx

      1Reply
  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    Not sure if its just the scale but I deal with this on at least a monthly basis.  Not a huge deal as I have staffed labor, but the entitlement is definitely thick with Airbnb guests.

    [email protected]813-563-0877
    Vacation Rentals of Florida53 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • Mike GrudzienPro Member
    Lender · Eugene, OR · Member since 2019 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    I used to have dry goods (kleenex, TP, garbage bags, etc.) in the pantry.  Guests took the whole roll of garbage bags (150 bags on a roll).  Now I put out 1 bag per night's stay plus 1 extra...

    1Reply
    • Jon Martin
      Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Mike Grudzien:

      I used to have dry goods (kleenex, TP, garbage bags, etc.) in the pantry.  Guests took the whole roll of garbage bags (150 bags on a roll).  Now I put out 1 bag per night's stay plus 1 extra...


      I had a guest steal a full roll of garbage bags too! There really is nothing that a guest won't steal. Pieces of linen sets disappear over time to the point where the 3X sets/bed whithers down to 1.5-2X. I think there is a mental gymnastics where guests think about the money the spent and feel like taking something worth $10-15 isn't a big deal. 

      Should probably add a leakage line item into underwriting based on % of furnishing cost just like the standard for CAPEX and maintenance.

      1Reply
  • Jeremy Jareckyj
    Real Estate Agent · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2020 · 490 posts · 205 votes
    1y
    Quote from @John Underwood:

    So I college buddies rented our Lake House over Labor day and went to a Clemson football game.

    The guy that rented the house was supposedly a host also.

    They left the place a mess. Stove top was filthy, stuff dripped down the cabinets. Left dirty dishes in the sink.

    They got stuff out and didn't put it back. We have a cover for the pool table. They left that off the table, left out the iron. Took a heavy wooden rocking chair down by the grill and left it there. Too heavy for the cleaners to put back up on the screened back porch.

    They left the dock chairs on the dock not strapped down even thought we have signs at the dock to retire everything in case a storm comes through.

    I tell the cleaners there will be hard ones and easy ones. They were very unhappy and now I have to drive an hour tomorrow (each way) to go take care of the things they couldn't.

    If you haven't already guessed it this was an Airbnb booking.

    This just never happens with Vrbo guests in my experience. 


     Submit an aircover. Hoping your cleaner got good photos of all the extra cleaning and damages done. Agree with you on the VRBO bookings though!

    0Reply
  • Caleb Brown
    Real Estate Agent · Kansas City · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    1y

    If he's a host you should stay at his STR and do the same.....just kidding :)

    3Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    1y

    Amen @Trent Reeve and @Mike Grudzien.

    I used to put out a full bin of dishwasher pods. Did it for a few month the first year of operation and some lady took the whole thing. 

    I asked her about it and she just said she felt she could just take them. I charged her $50 for them. 

    The biggest thing that goes missing is the beach towels. I am assuming that kids are being rushed to move and leave at the end of their stay and they just shove them in their bags.

    It is almost time to go shopping for more. You can get them under $3 for cheap ones after the summer is over. Nice ones at Costco as well.

    I keep plenty of TP out as well as an extra roll of paper towels. I do have rolls of garbage bags and no one has taken them.

    2Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Michael Baum:

      Amen @Trent Reeve and @Mike Grudzien.

      I used to put out a full bin of dishwasher pods. Did it for a few month the first year of operation and some lady took the whole thing. 

      I asked her about it and she just said she felt she could just take them. I charged her $50 for them. 

      The biggest thing that goes missing is the beach towels. I am assuming that kids are being rushed to move and leave at the end of their stay and they just shove them in their bags.

      It is almost time to go shopping for more. You can get them under $3 for cheap ones after the summer is over. Nice ones at Costco as well.

      I keep plenty of TP out as well as an extra roll of paper towels. I do have rolls of garbage bags and no one has taken them.


       How did you charge her $50 for the pods? Did she have to approve the charge?

      1Reply
    • Michael BaumPro Member
      Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @John Underwood:

       How did you charge her $50 for the pods? Did she have to approve the charge?

      It is right in my rental agreement. It has it's own section about items that go missing. The minimum charge is $50. 

      Now I don't do that for things like the beach towels and even most broken items. The vases and glasses I just chalk up to the cost of doing business. 

      But this lady just said she thought she should have 90+ dishwasher pods.

      I sent her the $50 charge and quoted the rental agreement. She was pissed and wouldn't pay, but AirBNB (of course it was an AirBNB guest) sided with me and forced the charge and deleted the 1 star review. 

      The moral of the story kids? Crime doesn't pay! :)
      3Reply
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    1y

    Here is a pic of one of the towels and this wasn't the worst

    0Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @Michael Baum:

      Here is a pic of one of the towels and this wasn't the worst


       Yikes. That's destroyed.

      0Reply
  • Collin HaysBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Gatlinburg, TN · Member since 2020 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    1y

    I don't use Airbnb, just VRBO, and because I'm integrated, I can slap an extra cleaning or damage charge on instantly and as needed. 

    [email protected]806-672-7102
    SMOKY MOUNTAIN FALLS INC.51 Review
    WebsiteView Page
    2Reply
  • JD MartinBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    1y

    People will steal anything. Last time I was down a few weeks ago to do some general maintenance:

    - Someone stole the serrated scissors we leave in the drawer so people can cut open things that require cutting open.

    - The tablespoon measuring spoon was gone. Likely tossed in the trash.

    - One of the measuring cups was gone. Also likely tossed in the trash.

    - 2 more beach towels gone. These I assume make their way to Disney and get left there.

    - Someone broke the couch frame either by being morbidly obese or by letting their rugrats use it as a trampoline. Unknown which guest, not caught by cleaners.

    That's just the things off the top of my head. Forget about leaving out extra toilet paper, dishwasher pods, laundry pods, paper towels, trash bags - all of that gets stolen so you can only provide a starter pack. 

    It all makes me laugh when VRBO contacts me and bugs me to be a great host by providing even more discounts off my already too-cheap price. 

    On an aside, @John Underwood, I was shocked to see you had bad guests since I thought you only rented to angels 😜😂

    Podcast Guest on Show #243
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    1Reply
    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      OP
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      1y
      Quote from @JD Martin:

      People will steal anything. Last time I was down a few weeks ago to do some general maintenance:

      - Someone stole the serrated scissors we leave in the drawer so people can cut open things that require cutting open.

      - The tablespoon measuring spoon was gone. Likely tossed in the trash.

      - One of the measuring cups was gone. Also likely tossed in the trash.

      - 2 more beach towels gone. These I assume make their way to Disney and get left there.

      - Someone broke the couch frame either by being morbidly obese or by letting their rugrats use it as a trampoline. Unknown which guest, not caught by cleaners.

      That's just the things off the top of my head. Forget about leaving out extra toilet paper, dishwasher pods, laundry pods, paper towels, trash bags - all of that gets stolen so you can only provide a starter pack. 

      It all makes me laugh when VRBO contacts me and bugs me to be a great host by providing even more discounts off my already too-cheap price. 

      On an aside, @John Underwood, I was shocked to see you had bad guests since I thought you only rented to angels 😜😂


       This brings up the point that YOU have to personally check on your place occasionally.  There are things no one else will catch but you. That is until they get really bad. Like the broken couch frame.

      We have nice composite rocking chairs that get broke. It must be a huge person just flopping into one of these chairs to break them, but it happens. The cleaners don't notice these things.

      2Reply
  • Dena Beck
    Member since 2024 · 43 posts · 15 votes
    1y

    I found it to be a rough summer in Myrtle Beach.  Well, I'll say a rough 2025.  I had more damage and weird things go missing in Jan/Feb of this year than I did the entire previous summer season.  This year has been a LOT of badly damaged linens and a few odd things go missing.  But, it just "feels" different, somehow an under current of less respect.  I don't know really how to phrase what I'm trying to say...

    1Reply
  • Anja Schaer
    Investor · Atlanta · Member since 2022 · 146 posts · 72 votes
    1y

    Hey John. I feel you. Some guests just don’t treat a home with the respect it deserves, and it stings even more when they claim to be “hosts” themselves. Sadly, it happens across all platforms, but I’ve noticed the same trend: Vrbo guests usually take better care, while Airbnb can be hit or miss. At this point, I just build “guest wear-and-tear” into my operating costs and coach my cleaners to document everything for AirCover claims when it crosses the line. Hopefully this is your worst one of the year and the rest are the kind of guests that remind us why we love hosting.

    0Reply
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