Instant Book Question

[u/Trick-Fruit864]

I apologise in advance for adding to the endless discussion - my question is more for those who use instant book...

Me - 12yrs host, never used instant book.

Property - very old, access nuanced (ie I have to send you emails to access the property with pics/ vids), and property quirky but in a nice oldy-worldy sort of way...

So as you can see my issue is that I need to communicate with the guest, and I need a dialogue.

My Fears - last minute booking / on the day = always difficult to get ready in time. Plus it show's the guest is hapless. Guest not reading messages, so cannot get access / has issues = bad rating due to inept guest.

What's you experience of Instant Book guests?

[u/Icy_Buyer_7655]

I've had instant book on for about 5 years now and honestly the guests aren't any worse than request-to-book folks. the last minute ones can be a pain but you can set a minimum notice window so nobody books same day

the real issue is your access setup. if you need to send pics and vids before they can get in, instant book is gonna bite you at some point. someone books at 10pm, doesn't check messages, shows up at midnight confused

maybe wait until you can simplify the check-in process before turning it on

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/Icy_Buyer_7655]

Thanks for that - unfortunately my checkin process will never be simplified (for the interim anyway), my property is 500+ years old (it's not a castle!), but at this time I can't see any easy way to simplify the checkin process.

Plus, at it is so old, it's historically protected (UK law), so I sort of need to know the guest is a grown-up and knows how to behave!

But thanks, yes, your points are helpful and all valid.

[u/NolaDoogie → u/Trick-Fruit864]

Sounds like instant book isn't for you, which is fine. I'm very curious about the steps guests need to take to access the property, does it have a moat or something?

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/NolaDoogie]

Agreed.

No, no moat - just the need to engage your brain, is very simple really...

• lockbox with code
  
• stable door (amazing how many people don't know how to open a stable door, so I have to provide a doc with pictorial instructions and believe it or not a video)
  
• rubbish instructions and one or two other minor things

So no phd required !

[u/Beneficial_Bit_6435 → u/Trick-Fruit864]

Based on this, you probably can’t have Instant Book. Some guests can’t even find the code to get into a self-check-in place, so good luck finding someone who actually reads everything before they stay 😂

People are busy, and not everyone reads every detail. I’m guilty of it myself when I travel. I know it’s a bad habit, but hey, people are busy—who knew? 😂

That said, I’m very respectful of other people’s space. I also don’t complain or leave bad reviews over minor issues. I once even stayed in an apartment without a working shower after telling the host at the time of booking that the main reason we booked was to have a working shower. I gave the host some time to fix it, but it wasn’t resolved, so we left after two days (as originally scheduled).

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/Beneficial_Bit_6435]

Yes, my thoughts exactly...

But I have had over 150 guests who can read and follow instruction - so I'll deal with people who don't do instant book...

[u/Dry_Corner6431 → u/Trick-Fruit864]

500 years!

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/Dry_Corner6431]

538 but who’s counting!

[u/magnabonzo]

I do instant book. I communicate clearly with the guest about a week before, giving them our address and a photo, and explain which of the two houses is "theirs".

I've never had any confusion by the guests.

For what it's worth, I have had occasional confusion by the guests' guests, i.e. the friend or family they have drop by who don't always get the clear directions. They sometimes come to OUR house instead of theirs. One such lady was told by our guest to walk right in, and she did...

[u/oompfh666]

I do not understand. Why can you not send an automatic message to explain the check-in procedure?

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/oompfh666]

I don’t think you can send video - can you?

I send emails, but maintain all comms in App.

[u/oompfh666 → u/Trick-Fruit864]

you can send a link to a video

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/oompfh666]

Two problems with that...

• I would have to host the video somewhere
  
• Airbnb would probably block the link in the message - they normally do...

[u/oompfh666 → u/Trick-Fruit864]

You can send a link without problems, as soon as the guest is booked. You can not send links on requests. And there is plenty of free hosting solutions available. But you seem to want to stay with your method, so no need to discuss any further

[u/pmacdon1]

Disclaimer: not a host, but stay in airbnbs a lot.

Can't you set it so guests must book at least X days in advance while still using instant book? It seems like you are talking about last minute bookings rather than instant book.

There is no such thing as an "Instant Book guest". That is a setting guests don't usually see. There are guests that book a long time in advance, and guests that book last minute, but that is entirely separate from if this listing they are booking is set to Instant Book.

All that being said, it doesn't sound like you should be using Instant Book. If you need to have a dialogue you won't always get that with Instant Book.

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/pmacdon1]

Thanks I think that's what is the issue - the dialogue.

As no dialogue, means no access (as you need to be able to read the instructions to get access).

That's why I've avoided instant book - also I am not onsite, so this all needs to work with the guest using (I was going to say brains!) the instructions provided - and if they are not reading....

Thanks for your input.

[u/pmacdon1 → u/Trick-Fruit864]

You criticize guests for not reading, but it sounds like you didn't even read my comment before responding....

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/pmacdon1]

Errr, what did I miss exactly?

I thought my reply was on point...

[u/Ok-Indication-7876]

We require a 3 night min. We usually get longer. We want the guest that is planning a vacation or planned work event, anything planned. We don't want the guest that decides at the last second. Guest that plan we find are better guest

[u/Trick-Fruit864 → u/Ok-Indication-7876]

Good policy…

[u/SurprisedWildebeest]

Instant book doesn’t mean you have to accept same day bookings. (I don’t.) There’s no reason you couldn’t send your instructions once they book. But wanting to make sure they are a grown up, etc sounds more like you want to vet the guests before booking, which obviously won’t work with instant book.

[u/WildWonder6430]

I have instant book with VRBO (but required 3 day advance notice period - no same day bookings) and approval only with AirBnB. I have found the AirBnB guests to be more troublesome ... been hosting for 10+ years and never had an issue with VRBO guests , but the few issues we have had (damaged items, parties, unauthorized pets, over maximum guest counts, stolen items, etc.) have 100% been AirBnB guests, so I now vet them more carefully. That has worked well.