Rental Property Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2017 · 59 posts · 51 votes
Hi all - Thought I'd share some of the "red flags" or warning signs I consider when accepting bookings at our vacation / short term rentals. If several or most of these are present, I won't hesitate to deny or cancel the booking. And all of our "horror stories" can definitely be mapped back to these warning signs. Based on "learning the hard way" I've since updated our settings on Airbnb and Homeaway to pre-empt these when possible.
Curious what others have observed??
1. Last minute booking (1-3 days in advance)
2. Empty profile - no pic, no personal info, minimum verifications
3. No reviews + New account (typically created same month as booking)
@Selena Walsh our biggest red flag are local people booking. Especially, if they don't mention why. We have cameras and I'm very vigilant if they're locals or visiting a local person. I have busted a few "parties" this way. I make them leave and keep their money. They don't read and even notice the cameras. This goes for seasoned or newbie guests. It's hard to judge and you just have to trust your instincts and watch them on the cameras.
I have had a few bad experiences so far, but its a small percentage. One turned out to be a frat party and it was the Gatlinburg POlice that contacted me. Some student at Tenn had an uncle book for him. Had about $6K in damage and insurance only covered $3K.
There were zero red flags on the booking.
Others have been like @Peter Sanchez and @Michael Greenberg related above. I will say that offseason guests who stay at low rates are my single biggest headache. They need tons of care from my local team, tend to leave big messes, and more damage/theft. Inraised prices on 2 of our cabins to avoid it even though utilization will suffer. Like they say, peace of mind is too valuable.
I also installed exterior cameras this summer as a result of the issues. They paid for themselves this oast weekend when I had 13 people try to crash in my 3 bedroom cabin.
So true Chuck! No matter what the business, the customers who pay the least, expect the most and are what I kindly refer to as P.I.A.'s (you can guess the acronym.
Funny you mentioned cameras, I just installed my first two nest cam's, they're great!
@Michael Greenberg let me know how you like the NEST over time. I installed Arlos but am getting frustrated by their missing some important activity. I find myself having to setup "routines" to capture video when the door unlocks as the motion detection just doesn't always catch it. Plus my battery life has been pretty poor so far; but it could be related to a higher level of outdoor activity at that particular home too. Not sure yet.
I have had a few bad experiences so far, but its a small percentage. One turned out to be a frat party and it was the Gatlinburg POlice that contacted me. Some student at Tenn had an uncle book for him. Had about $6K in damage and insurance only covered $3K.
There were zero red flags on the booking.
Others have been like @Peter Sanchez and @Michael Greenberg related above. I will say that offseason guests who stay at low rates are my single biggest headache. They need tons of care from my local team, tend to leave big messes, and more damage/theft. Inraised prices on 2 of our cabins to avoid it even though utilization will suffer. Like they say, peace of mind is too valuable.
I also installed exterior cameras this summer as a result of the issues. They paid for themselves this oast weekend when I had 13 people try to crash in my 3 bedroom cabin.
Chuck, have you gotten any pushback on your exterior cameras? I LOVE mine (front porch/driveway in view), as I can verify when service folks arrive, and how many guests we have for a given reservation.
I had an issue lately, where the registered guest themselves had a niece, niece's child, and a couple friends stay over night 1 of 4. So more guests than had been declared, first of all. We didn't have the cabin set up for that many.
Then I caught them smoking cigs on the porch, and just off camera around the corner smoking other things. Only know that because they discussed it at high volume in detail, and the audio on the camera is awful, only good for picking up 2-3 feet away - and iffy at that. Only realized anything was amiss as I had checked NEST app for the temperature given I'd just had an HVAC guy up there fixing an issue and the temp had been out of whack for previous guest, and saw a smoker.
We spell out NO SMOKING, NO DRUGS on the property (not just in the cabin) in the house rules, and will now be putting up NO SMOKING signs on the porch in a couple areas. Curious if anyone's gotten flack on exterior cameras?
I haven't gotten anything yet, but it is featured prominently in my listings that there are exterior security cameras on the property with no chance of interior or hot tub views. My attorney advised me to add it to the listing so as to avoid the "invasion of privacy" issue. I was especially sensitive to this "privacy issue" originally because guests at 1 of my cabins called the police due to a "peeping Tom" watching their teen daughters in the hot tub. And, at the same property, I have had issues with the owner next door parking in or blocking access to my driveway as well.
This tread is an excellent read. I picture all of us Sevier county investors sitting around a fire telling these stories. Endless amounts of entertainment alone.
@J Chad Davis My parents are physicians, so are my grandparents and uncles and cousins (but not me). If the car you are driving is 15 years old you are very frugal, you are not making enough money to justify buying a new vehicle every decade, or you buy a quality vehicle that will go for 20+ years.
I've had 1400 renters in the last 7 years. People with vehicles worth less than $5000 are going to be a problem. I quit renting to them 3 years ago. I run across half a dozen a year.
If someone rides up to your clinic on a bicycle for a self pay procedure, how confident are you that they will pay the bill when they get it in the mail?
P.O.S. Car in STR = Ride a bicycle to see Dr. Davis.
@J Chad Davis one house I get about 3 months, the others I get 6. The 3 month house seems to have much higher activity outdoors causing the camera to kick on more.