Source
r/AirBnB•
TrueObservations

In your experience, are local guests more likely to be a problem?

I have had majority bad experiences with local guests. Sampling of experiences:

  • Older gentleman booked, he smoked the entire time in the room despite no smoking signs posted everywhere, I had to replace the mattress and curtains and air out the house for 5 hours in the freezing cold. No financial help from Airbnb despite ample evidence.
  • A mid-20s woman booked, did drugs, drank a case of beer & screamed all night (until 5am) with the guest she brought along, freaking out my other guests & disturbing us.
  • A lady in her 50s booked for a week and had loud phone sex in the bathroom each day and very graphic sex ads on her computer in the common spaces
  • A late 30s dude booked and tried to sell me and my other guests his MLM products to annoying lengths
  • A mid 20s couple booked, smelled the place up, left dirt and hair shavings everywhere
  • A guy, late 20s booked and left a sex worker at my place who thought it was his place and that he was coming back (he didn't and ghosted her). I'm pro sex workers, but he left her obviously drugged and confused and I had to give her a ride to her safe house
  • A couple, late 20s smoked in my room and tried to cover it up, they were excessively loud into the night

There are many more bad experiences with locals, and a handful of that turned out to be just fine. Demographics of my bad experiences have spanned quite diversely across gender, race, and age. The common denominator across my bad hosting experiences has been local guests.

What are your personal thoughts on local guests? What kind of experiences have you had?

Posted Dec 20, 2019, 11:29 PM UTC

112
AustynCunninghamHost•

Why are local guests booking your place so much?

For me it is very rare for a local to book, usually it happens for a "Moms Weekend Away" where 4-5 moms leave their husbands with the kids for the weekend, or visa-versa. And they have actually been the best/easiest guests..

3
TrueObservationsOP•

We live in a huge city, there's enough people to support the demand for local booking I suppose

2
TrueObservationsOP•

We're also a cheaper listing, is your listing on the more expensive end?

1
AustynCunninghamHost•

Okay that makes sense. We have like 750k metro. And yes mine is a higher priced listing which would effect the quality guests.

1
CertainSum1•

A “local” guest is always a red flag. Whatever they’re doing, they should do it at their own home.

3†
maccrogenoff•

I host a room in my house. I've had plenty of local guests with no problems. I would be more cautious if I hosted a whole house.

I live in Los Angeles, CA which is a sprawled city with famously bad traffic. I often get guests who want to spend the night closer to where they need to be in the morning or who don't want to drive home after an activity close to my house.

4
iratik•

I've lived on Airbnb for 6+ months a few years back when I wasn't satisfied with the options available enough to sign a year lease. I ended becoming a permanent roommate at the last place I booked for temporary housing. IMHO, local guests are sometimes trouble. I would pay attention to red flags, and make them redder since they are local.

1
MsMadMadWorld•

We’ve never had an issue with local guests. I do make sure to note that our neighboring tenants have a new baby and we are very strict about no parties/loud noise at night. Maybe that keeps some of the riff-raff away?

2
autumnfrostsHost•

I've never had a problem with local guests, even ones that threw up a whole load of red flags: a very young couple booking the 31st of December. The biggest mess they left was crumbs on the sofa, haha. I guess they just wanted to spend the evening away from family.

2
MumsZeWord•

Local guests always throw up a red flag for me, especially if it’s a one night stay. Lots of groups trying to throw a party, crash for a party night after seeing a show nearby, that kind of thing. That’s based on our space and location, and pricing. I try to be up front with them and remind them of our House Rules, and that my partner and I both live on the property (so we’ll know what’s up).

1
RRH_NYC•

We almost never accept local guests - parties, drugs, and prostitution seem to be fairly common themes.

1
analyst_84•

Most local guests cause issues so I just politely decline

1
middleCmanHost•

As a neighbor next to an Airbnb hotel I can't help but notice that locals are the WORST!! I learned why they don't do what they do at home and its because they obviously don't want to piss off the people they have to live by

1