Here is my opinion after renting 9 different properties 2 in Denmark, 4 in Italy, 3 in France.
1. Only 2 of the properties were pure rentals not occupied by the owner as primary residence. In the US, I rented often using VRBO in California and ALL the properties were vacation homes where the owner may have few closets and perhaps 1 bedroom reserved and locked.
2. When they list a kitchen, they may not even have a microwave oven. That happened in 2 of the properties. In very few cases there were coffee supplies. If they listed that a grocery was nearby, there were no directions. Too much time wasted by each guest to re-invent the wheel.
3. In one case, when I booked an entire apartment, I was received at the airport and taken to a Bed and Breakfast place without any kitchen. Too late to make a change and did not even bother to contact AirBnb.
4. In one of the cases in France a property was listed as 5 min away from a major attraction. In Europe you assume the 5 min is walking time. Wrong. It was driving time. I would not have rented if I knew this.
5. None of the properties had a clothes dryer and they advertised as such. Our only option was to increase the heat and let the clothes dry on hangers near the radiator or on chairs and such because the nearest laundromat was just not convenient.
6. When they advertised an elevator, it was barely enough for 1 person and 1 checkin bag.
7. When they say parking was nearby, it was paid parking. They did not say where exactly the parking was, if it is paid, how to pay for it and how much it costs.
8. Not even in 1 case I had simple instructions in English to operate the appliances in the kitchen, the TV, the clothes washer or even the shower in the bathroom.
9. In the kitchen, often we found an induction electric stove where you need a special flat cookware which we did not have. The cookware they had was not necessarily non-stick and there was no scrubbing pad. I had to look hard to find what looked like clorox powder and a kitchen towel to scrub it.
10. Not in one case were clear checkin or checkout instructions about what was available to use and what was expected when we checkout.
I can go on. You get the idea?
What can AirBnb do?
1. Add filters in search such as:
a. Is the unit mostly occupied by the host?
If so, AirBnb needs to inform the host that prior to rental, they must remove their personal things enough so that the guest has enough space in the refrigerator and closets as a minimum. If they leave something in the refrigerator they must have a note if any of it can be used such as water, butter, milk, bread.
I personally will not even rent a place unless it is vacation home with an empty kitchen and perhaps 1 bedroom and 1 closet reserved for host.
b. Filter for specific appliances including the type in kitchen.
I would not have rented if there was no microwave oven, regular non-induction cooktop and non-stick cookware.
c. Is it a unit rented by the host or owned?
I think many hosts are illegally listing their properties as AirBnb without the consent of the landlord. I will not rent unless the landlord permits it.
d. Is there a checkin list with instructions in english?
Thanks to Google Translate for other languages. If the answer is no, I would ask the host for it before even renting. I wasted too much time trying to figure out how to use the kitchen, clothes washer and where to put trash. Too many messages with the host for these things. Not my idea of vacation.
e. If they list parking, the size of the car which fits there.
In almost all the cases, my car would not fit and it was the size of Toyota RAV 4 or a Corolla.
2. Qualify properties before allowing a listing.
Looks like it is totally open ended with no screening by AirBnb. AirBnb can charge a small premium for such properties.
3. AirBnb MUST ask the hosts for better photographs.
Showing entrance to the property, parking space if any, all the appliances, space available in the closets, refrigerator, what is available for guests to use (Soap, Shampoo, towels, extra pillows, blankets, supplies in the Kitchen such as oil, salt, pepper, cooking utensils, cups, plates). In other words full disclosure.
Having said all this, I like the idea of AirBnb as long as it is not misused by renters to lower their cost instead of having a room mate or to make quick extra bucks.
1. Only 2 of the properties were pure rentals not occupied by the owner as primary residence. In the US, I rented often using VRBO in California and ALL the properties were vacation homes where the owner may have few closets and perhaps 1 bedroom reserved and locked.
2. When they list a kitchen, they may not even have a microwave oven. That happened in 2 of the properties. In very few cases there were coffee supplies. If they listed that a grocery was nearby, there were no directions. Too much time wasted by each guest to re-invent the wheel.
3. In one case, when I booked an entire apartment, I was received at the airport and taken to a Bed and Breakfast place without any kitchen. Too late to make a change and did not even bother to contact AirBnb.
4. In one of the cases in France a property was listed as 5 min away from a major attraction. In Europe you assume the 5 min is walking time. Wrong. It was driving time. I would not have rented if I knew this.
5. None of the properties had a clothes dryer and they advertised as such. Our only option was to increase the heat and let the clothes dry on hangers near the radiator or on chairs and such because the nearest laundromat was just not convenient.
6. When they advertised an elevator, it was barely enough for 1 person and 1 checkin bag.
7. When they say parking was nearby, it was paid parking. They did not say where exactly the parking was, if it is paid, how to pay for it and how much it costs.
8. Not even in 1 case I had simple instructions in English to operate the appliances in the kitchen, the TV, the clothes washer or even the shower in the bathroom.
9. In the kitchen, often we found an induction electric stove where you need a special flat cookware which we did not have. The cookware they had was not necessarily non-stick and there was no scrubbing pad. I had to look hard to find what looked like clorox powder and a kitchen towel to scrub it.
10. Not in one case were clear checkin or checkout instructions about what was available to use and what was expected when we checkout.
I can go on. You get the idea?
What can AirBnb do?
1. Add filters in search such as:
a. Is the unit mostly occupied by the host?
If so, AirBnb needs to inform the host that prior to rental, they must remove their personal things enough so that the guest has enough space in the refrigerator and closets as a minimum. If they leave something in the refrigerator they must have a note if any of it can be used such as water, butter, milk, bread.
I personally will not even rent a place unless it is vacation home with an empty kitchen and perhaps 1 bedroom and 1 closet reserved for host.
b. Filter for specific appliances including the type in kitchen.
I would not have rented if there was no microwave oven, regular non-induction cooktop and non-stick cookware.
c. Is it a unit rented by the host or owned?
I think many hosts are illegally listing their properties as AirBnb without the consent of the landlord. I will not rent unless the landlord permits it.
d. Is there a checkin list with instructions in english?
Thanks to Google Translate for other languages. If the answer is no, I would ask the host for it before even renting. I wasted too much time trying to figure out how to use the kitchen, clothes washer and where to put trash. Too many messages with the host for these things. Not my idea of vacation.
e. If they list parking, the size of the car which fits there.
In almost all the cases, my car would not fit and it was the size of Toyota RAV 4 or a Corolla.
2. Qualify properties before allowing a listing.
Looks like it is totally open ended with no screening by AirBnb. AirBnb can charge a small premium for such properties.
3. AirBnb MUST ask the hosts for better photographs.
Showing entrance to the property, parking space if any, all the appliances, space available in the closets, refrigerator, what is available for guests to use (Soap, Shampoo, towels, extra pillows, blankets, supplies in the Kitchen such as oil, salt, pepper, cooking utensils, cups, plates). In other words full disclosure.
Having said all this, I like the idea of AirBnb as long as it is not misused by renters to lower their cost instead of having a room mate or to make quick extra bucks.
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