Renting to a Guest with No Reviews on Airbnb or Vrbo – Should You?

If you’re thinking of renting out your home on vrbo or airbnb, you may be wondering if it’s worth it renting to a guest with no reviews. While there are some risks involved, there may also some benefits that you should consider.

Remember that everyone has to start somewhere. Just because a renter doesn’t have any reviews on their profile yet doesn’t mean that they’re not a good person.

In fact, they may be even more conscientious and respectful than someone who already has several reviews because they know that they need to make a good impression.

Secondly, renting to a guest with no reviews can actually be an opportunity to get your property noticed by people who might not otherwise see it.

If your guest has a great experience and leaves a glowing review, then your property will be more likely to show up in search results in the future.

But there are clearly also some risks involved. So what are the some key things to keep in mind to help you make the decision? Let’s dig in.

Check if the Guest is Verified on the Platform

For starters, it’s important to check to see if the person is verified on the platform. This means that they have provided vrbo or airbnb with their real name and contact information, and ID verification.

While this doesn’t guarantee that they will be a good guest, it does give you some peace of mind knowing that they are who they say they are.

Ask the potential guest questions

If the guest doesn’t have reviews and/or they haven’t verified their profile on the platform, and you are still considering renting to them; you could ask some additional questions such as:

Can you tell me a little more about yourself and the trip you have planned?

Do you have any reviews on other platforms (such as TripAdvisor or Yelp)?

Can you provide me with some references?

By asking these questions, you can get a better sense of who the person is and whether or not they would be a good fit for your vacation rental property.

Ask the Guest to Get Verified

If the guest is not verified on Airbnb or Vrbo, you could ask them to do so. This will give you some additional peace of mind, as well as help to protect your property from any potential scams.

The steps to get verified on either platform are fairly simple and only take a few minutes.

For Airbnb, guests can verify their ID by going to the profile page and clicking on the blue “Verify your ID” button.

For Vrbo, guests can click on their name in the top right-hand corner of the screen and select “Get Verified” from the drop-down menu.

Benefits to Renting to a Guest with No Reviews

There are also some benefits to renting to a guest with no reviews. For one, they may be more likely to take care of your home since they want to create a good reputation on the platform. Additionally, they may be more flexible with their rental dates and terms since they are new to the platform and are trying to build up their reviews.

Remember, just because a guest has no reviews doesn’t necessarily need to be a negative. They may be new to the platform and haven’t booked anything before. By taking the time to get to know them better, you can help to get a better idea of the situation.

Risks of Renting to a Guest with No Reviews

Of course, there are also some risks involved in renting to a guest with no reviews. For one, they may not be as familiar with how the platform works and may not be as respectful of your property. Additionally, they may not have any references that you can contact to vouch for their character.

There are also scams on the platforms, and some renters may try to take advantage of hosts who are new to the platform.

To help mitigate some of the risks, it’s important to ask the right questions when you’re considering renting to a guest with no reviews. For example, you may want to ask them about their previous rental experience, why they don’t have any reviews yet, and what kind of references they can provide. By doing your due diligence, you can help ensure that you’re making the best decision for your rental property.

Additional Measures You Can Take

Even if you do decide to rent to someone with no reviews, there are some additional measures you can take to help protect your property.

For example, you could:

• Require a damage deposit
• Get a copy of the guest’s driver’s license or passport
• Check references
• Have a strict cancellation policy
• Require the guest to obtain trip insurance

By taking these precautions, you can help minimize the risks involved in renting to someone with no reviews.

Bottom Line

Renting to a guest with no reviews doesn’t have to be a risky proposition. By taking the time to get to know them better and taking some additional measures, you can help ensure that your rental property is protected. Remember, even after thoroughly vetting the visitor as much as possible, your intuition is still a good indicator of whether or not they’re suitable.

Have you rented to a guest with no reviews? How did it go? Share your experience in the comments below.

Also, don’t forget to check out our article on Best Times for Airbnb Check In and Check Out

FAQ’s

Q: Can I require a damage deposit from a guest with no reviews?

A: Yes, you can require a damage deposit from any guest, regardless of whether or not they have reviews.

Q: How can I check references for a guest with no reviews?

A: You can ask the guest to provide references from previous landlords, employers, or personal references. You can also check online to see if there is any information available about the guest.

Q: I’m new to the platform. How can I protect myself from scams?

A: There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from scams, including checking references, getting a copy of the guest’s driver’s license or passport, and requiring the guest to obtain trip insurance.

Q: I’m considering renting to a guest with no reviews. What questions should I ask them?

A: Some questions you may want to ask include:Previous rental experienceWhy they don’t have any reviews yetWhat kind of references they can provide

By asking these questions, you can get a better idea of the guest and their rental history.

Q: What’s the best way to protect my property when renting to someone with no reviews?

A: In addition to requiring a damage deposit and checking references, you could also require the guest to obtain trip insurance. This will help protect your property in the event that something happens to the guest during their stay.

Q: I’m not sure if I should rent to a guest with no reviews. What should I do?

A: If you’re unsure, you can always ask the guest to provide additional information, such as references or a copy of their driver’s license or passport. You can also check online to see if there is any information available about the guest. Ultimately, you should trust your gut and go with your intuition.

Q: I’ve been scammed by a guest with no reviews. What can I do?

A: If you’ve been scammed, you can report it to the platform and file a police report. You can also alert other members of the community by writing a review of the guest.