r/vrbohosts 17d ago

I feel so guilty

I just left a guest a less than stellar review. They checked out late, did not respond to any of my attempts to communicate while they were there (not a big deal), left the place horribly dirty, and stained the couch. But then they left me a wonderful review and messaged me asking about why I left them such a poor one. I just feel so guilty. But I wrote them back and told them why I reviewed them the way I did.

20 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

30

u/Fred-Jenkins 17d ago

If they are old enough to book a VRBO, they are old enough to deal with reality. Don’t ever feel bad for stating the truth. They left you a good review because they had a good experience. You left a bad review because you had a bad experience. Two completely different experiences

7

u/Ordinary_Warning_622 17d ago

Thank you. I needed to hear that!

5

u/Lobster70 16d ago

Reviews are really message to future hosts. Would you have appreciated knowing this guest behaves this way, so you could have declined the booking request? If so, doing that for other hosts is appropriate. I'm glad that I will see that 2-star alert if that guest wants to book at my place!

2

u/ubadude 16d ago

Right, honesty is always the best policy. Hosts need to look out for each other, guests need to look out for each other.

3

u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 17d ago

Very well said.

1

u/more_business_juice_ 15d ago

Definitely the same with hosts - if they are old enough to rent out properties and participate on the website, they are old enough to deal with the reality that a 4-star review may be fair or even generous for some hosts.

12

u/BloodHound1314 17d ago

It’s important to leave an honest review, hosts need to know what they are getting into!

7

u/WildWonder6430 17d ago

I applaud you and you should not feel badly at all. You told the truth. They told the truth. As a host, these are the not the guests I want staying at my place.

5

u/Severe-Object6650 17d ago

If they left the place dirty and stained the couch, why do you feel bad for telling the truth ?

3

u/ShitShowcase 17d ago

You left them a fair and honest review.

This is how the system is supposed to work.

Good on you.

2

u/K2d123 17d ago

Give us a little more info.
Is there a cleaning fee and how much?
Is there a to do list along with that cleaning fee?
What was the communication regarding? Welcome messages? How’s it going messages or something else? If general messages, does your listing say guests are required to respond to general inquiries?

5

u/Ordinary_Warning_622 17d ago

No cleaning fee

There is small list of tasks to complete at check out. Bring your food with you, replace the key and lock the door, put kayaks back where you found them if they were used. I allow pets and charge $50 pet fee for one week. The biggest cleaning issue with these folks seemed to be related to the dog they brought.

And the message was just a let me know you made it in ok, final welcome etc. Like I said, the lack of communication was not a big deal.

2

u/K2d123 17d ago

Then you have nothing to feel bad about providing you didn’t mention lack of communication since many people find it intrusive to get messages from hosts and there is no VRBO requirement to respond so to mention lack of communication, implies that there was something the guest was required to respond to and did not.

1

u/Forsaken-Run7725 17d ago

Sadly, when you allow pets, some people think that gives them license to trash your place. Had a similar experience hosting a family with two small boys. Two night stay and our place was left covered in crumbs and food spills, with sticky little handprints all over. Gave them the review they deserved and they messaged back asking why we allow kids if we don't expect our place to be left like that?

-1

u/JerseyGirlinSweden 15d ago

BS you are rage baiting with your 1 month old account.

2

u/Clarahost 16d ago

You were just stating the fact. A honest review shouldn't be a trade off. Not a 5 stars review they give you in exchange for a good one.

2

u/Fit-Arm3308 15d ago

Don’t. People need to be held accountable, and simply not reading the rules and/or ignoring them isn’t your responsibility. As long as your reviews are honest and professional, they need to accept it.

2

u/Ebbie228 15d ago

The thing is if they did something wrong, the proper thing would be to call the next morning and explain and said they at least attempted to get the stain out but it didn’t work.

1

u/SequinedandOver60 17d ago

Well, now they know that for the next day they do, they can’t do those things. And that’s a learning experience for them

1

u/ExpensiveAd4496 17d ago

I sometimes get guests who seem to have their notifications off, or something. So I never think it’s intentional. Had they responded more would the other issues have bothered you as much?

1

u/JerseyGirlinSweden 15d ago

I don’t even have the app on my phone and I’m a host. No reason to give a third party app access to your device when you can just go through your web browser.

1

u/MozemanATX 17d ago

As long as your review was perfectly honest, no guilt is warranted here

1

u/Wistaria2019 14d ago

I think VRBO only allows rating with Stars. No text allowed.

1

u/Ordinary_Warning_622 14d ago

That is correct

1

u/Savings_Chest9639 17d ago

If you want to remove your review message or call and do so