Everyone is a Critic

Being reviewed is the hardest part of renting on Airbnb for me. I put a lot of work into keeping my kids quiet and the house clean. When I don't meet my guests' expectations my feelings are hurt. Every time I would get reviewed my heart would stop until I read it. Most of the time they were super nice reviews. But even the ones where I'm given a suggestion I would take it personally. Even if you have the perfect house, you won't be able to meet the expectations of everyone.

If you have a thin skin like me, running a bnb might not be a good fit for you. It's hard to be reviewed on your home. Your home is a extension of you and when someone reviews you harshly you can feel like a failure. Just rememeber that it's not personal. That person may have unrealistic expectations, or was just having a bad day. It's good to shake it off, and focus on the good reviews.

All that being said. it's good to have good reviews and 5 stars. When I book a place I want them to have at least 4 out of 5 stars. I encourage guests to leave me a review by leaving a binder in their room with my house rules, the wifi info, and some recommendations for good local places to eat. I also leave them a note in the binder thanking them for staying with me, explaining how this makes it possible for me stay at home with my kids, and asking them to please let me know if anything is less than a 5 star review.