7 Things Bad Airbnb Hosts Do + What Really Matters To Guests

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As Airbnb hosts, we are always talking about our guests, including what makes them good or bad Airbnb guests. At the same time, I often talk about how to be a good (or better yet, great) Airbnb host. But we rarely talk about what makes some people bad Airbnb hosts!

So, today, let’s talk about some of the things that some Airbnb hosts do that guests don’t like. Often, it comes down to communication and tone, which can be easy to misinterpret in messages that lack facial expressions and body language. But there are other very specific things you really want to avoid doing if you want to be a successful Airbnb host!

Airbnb Hosting Tips To Earn You 5-Star Reviews

New here? Welcome! I am Sarah, a top-rated Airbnb superhost here to help you work smarter, not harder. I love to pull back the bells and whistles and help you earn those 5-star Airbnb reviews as easily and consistently as possible.

Sarah Wearing Her Apple Watch As An Airbnb Tool

Here at Our Little Lifestyle, I share my top Airbnb hosting tips to help you anticipate and address your guests’ needs and streamline your workflow. We also travel quite a bit, so it’s key for me to have simple, effective systems in place so that I can manage our four short-term rentals while on the go!

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7 Things Bad Airbnb Hosts Do

But today, let’s talk about some of the things you DON’T want to do as an Airbnb host. People don’t set out to be bad Airbnb hosts, but somehow, there are plenty of them out here. And, if you encounter one, send them a link to my blog!

But I won’t leave you with only the bad things. In each section, I’ll share what you should be doing instead.

#1 Poor Communication (or None at All)

Guests want to feel like someone’s on the other end of the app who actually cares. Bad Airbnb hosts ignore messages, take hours (or days) to reply, or give short, unhelpful answers.

Great Airbnb hosts respond quickly and clearly, ideally within an hour, with a friendly and helpful tone. Your initial welcome message really sets the tone. It lets guests see that there is a real person behind the screen, who really cares about their stay.

#2 Overpromising and Underdelivering

Photos that look nothing like the property or inaccurate listings (like saying “walk to the beach” when it’s actually a mile away) create instant disappointment. The worst Airbnb photos are the ones staged like a magazine shoot, with items that won’t be in the rental for guests to use. Or the images taken before a listing is actually ready don’t reflect the rental’s actual state.

Transparency builds trust between Airbnb hosts and their guests — exaggeration destroys it. It’s better to underpromise and overdeliver, which is why overly staged Airbnb listing photos are a bad idea. A great Airbnb host often earns reviews like “even better than we expected” and “pictures don’t do it justice”.

#3 Making Guests Feel Like a Bother

Some of the worst Airbnb hosts treat guests like an inconvenience. Harsh tone in messages, strict check-in instructions without warmth, or passive-aggressive house rules can sour an otherwise nice stay. Some guests may be new to using Airbnb, and a friendly welcome from you will make things go more smoothly.

Make sure you are talking to all guests as if they were one of your friends: friendly, patient, and positive. Remember, hospitality is at the heart of (air) Bed & Breakfast! Address them by name and remember key details they share, such as their celebrations or their children’s ages.

Make sure your Airbnb House Manual has everything they need before their stay, so that they don’t even have to bombard you with questions.

#4 Ignoring Maintenance and Cleanliness

Broken lamps, worn bed sheets, or dusty corners signal neglect. Even small things like a dead or mismatched light bulb or a grimy showerhead make guests wonder what else isn’t being cared for. Missing items, such as remote controls and sound machines, or promised amenities, lead to disappointment. Here are 16 Airbnb essentials that I always buy in multiples for my Airbnbs!

It’s important to visit your rental regularly and replace items or deep-clean your Airbnb as needed. Linens and Airbnb bedding are essentially consumables and should be replaced if stained or torn. Consider fresh paint in high-traffic areas as required, and so a reset every year before your main season starts.

#5 Nickel-and-Diming Guests

Charging for every little thing (like early check-ins, late checkouts, and guest count) can leave a bad taste. Read my tips on how I handle early check-in and late checkout requests. Some of these things are just basic customer service.

There are exceptions, such as special requests including your pet fee. Something like that is very valid and necessary to protect your property. But don’t try to upsell things that could instead be easy wins and earn you great reviews. And fixed costs, like your Airbnb cleaning fee, should not be built into your nightly rate either. These days, guests see the final total as one average nightly rate anyway when they search Airbnb. Read How To Price Your Airbnb Rental for more on that!

#6 Not Knowing The Local Area

A lack of local knowledge, such as no local recommendations, helpful tips, community information, or personalized suggestions, can make your guests feel lost. They might miss out on the best your area has to offer, which often leads to higher satisfaction with their stay. Most bad Airbnb hosts rarely visit the destination where their rental is located.

As a great Airbnb host, you should be able to answer questions and provide dinner reccomendations off the tip of your tongue. Know seasonal changes, highlight the pros and must-dos specific to the dates your guests are staying. My curated guest reccomendations are one thing that sets me apart from other listings in our area, and you can see that in my reviews!

#7 Failing to Take Feedback Gracefully

Bad Airbnb hosts get defensive or lash out when guests mention issues. It’s easy to take offense, but how you react, especially in a poor review response, says more about you than the actual problems do. Always collect yourself before responding to bad Airbnb reviews.

Great Airbnb hosts listen, thank the guest, and fix what they can. A calm, professional reply to a less-than-perfect review goes a long way, even if you don’t agree. Read how I incorporate guest feedback for some great insight into my workflow!

What Really Matters To Airbnb Guests?

At the end of the day, being a great Airbnb host isn’t about perfection — it’s about effort, communication, and care. I am sure most bad Airbnb hosts stories come from a property being misrepresented and rude Airbnb hosts.

Guests don’t necessarily expect luxury, but they do notice when a host goes the extra mile to make their stay easy and comfortable. A friendly message, a clean space, and thoughtful Airbnb extras can turn an ordinary stay into a five-star review.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already ahead of most hosts! Keep focusing on what you can control, stay kind and responsive, and your guests will remember you for all the right reasons.

More Airbnb Hosting Resources (Even For Bad Airbnb Hosts)

Hosting on Airbnb is an always-evolving job, and there is always room for improvement. So, whether you are just getting started on Airbnb or are a seasoned host suffering from that eventual burnout, my free Airbnb hosting tips can help you improve and earn those 5-star reviews!

Read all Airbnb hosting blog posts, or you can start on my FREE 5-Star Airbnb Hosting Guide, which will help you find what you need.

And, I invite you to join my Airbnb Hosting Group on Facebook for easy access to ask me questions. Just make sure to answer both questions when you request to join so that I can approve you quickly.