My mom and I are staying in a beautiful Airbnb in Treviso, Italy. The manager messaged me today and asked if she could bring someone interested in buying the place to show them the apartment tomorrow. We said yes, of course, but it’s a bit of an imposition because now we feel that we have to clean and make sure all of our personal things are put away and safe. We were not planning on doing a good cleaning until our last night, which is Sunday. Now we feel like we are obligated to make the house presentable to show.We will not be here because we are taking a day trip. Has anyone ever had this happen? Is this something that is done? Are we entitled to any compensation because of the inconvenience? Thanks in advance for any help.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
5580 posts
You don't know either of those people. It doesn't matter what they think of you. I wouldn't clean or put anything away, except for valuable things.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
Not normal nor ok. Warrants a bad Airbnb review - when renting a whole apartment the idea is that you have full use of it exclusively during the rental period (unless agreed upon otherwise before booking).
I don’t think this is an Airbnb service issue -I don’t think they can refund you or anything, but wouldn’t hurt to complain politely to them about it and see.
Don’t clean any more than usual, hide valuables, and review honestly.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4573 posts
You have paid for the use of the space, and if you think it is inconvenient, then say 'no'....or state that as it wouldn't be available to you for X hours, then would a refund be forthcoming? That is a little hard ball and might affect your AirBnB review, but if it bothers you so much, that is your perogative.
As they are asking for a Saturday visit, and Sunday is check out, I think you are within your rights to ask them to defer the visit until after check out. If they push back, then let them know that you will not be making any effort to prepare the property for a viewing.
I appreciate that either way, you may feel some obligation and that is no fun on a vacation. I wouldn't be giving the host 5* after that request.
Posted by
752 posts
Perhaps mention in your review that the owner is trying to sell the apartment, as this may affect availability in the future. Useful info for people considering booking this rental, particularly months in advance.
Posted by
USA
381 posts
You would definitely have been within your rights to say NO to this request. But since you already said yes, don't feel obligated to do any cleaning whatsoever, other than making sure valuables are not in view.
You have no obligation to help the owner sell the place! Yet I don't think you should give a bad review because of the request unless you felt heavily pressured by the owner to say yes when you didn't want to. After all, you did agree.
For what it's worth, a vacation rental condo we ended up buying we saw only when it hadn't been cleaned yet after someone checked out and before the next folks checked in. We didn't need to see it in pristine condition to know it was right for us.
Posted by
Tucson
4151 posts
Just curious. Is this one of those Airbnb rentals where you pay for cleaning and then have to clean anyway? Like this thread talks about?
Posted by
OP
New York
521 posts
Hi all, thank you so much for the replies. This is actually not an Airbnb where you are required to do additional cleaning, I was also following that thread and found it very interesting! What I ended up doing was emailing the apartment manager and explaining that we felt obligated to not only do some additional cleaning but also packing away our personal items and not being able to leave important items as there is no safe. I asked if the owner might be willing to compensate us for the inconvenience. Not five minutes later, I heard back from the apartment manager saying that she did not want to cause us stress on vacation and feelings of obligation and that she just canceled the showing. I thought that was kind, but now I’m wondering whether the showing is truly canceled, as it is 11:38 PM and I’m wondering why she would contact the client at that hour. And how can the client who was only in town for one day now be able to come view the apartment after we leave? My suspicious mind is wondering now if the apartment will be shown anyway because she knows that we will be leaving at 7 AM for Trieste and will not return until early evening!! 🧐
Posted by
USA
1662 posts
Wow Kristen, a tricky situation it seems. It's not always good to tell "too much of your personal plans."
Even though the manager messaged you, I agree it's an imposition. Perhaps the apartment manager thinks nothing of it; especially since she knows you'll be out for the day, but, I think it's not in good taste. It was rented to you; not on any condition that she could bring a "potential buyer for a showing." Hopefully, she is telling the truth when she said she messaged the interested parties.
I can really understand your bit of skepticism (in the way it went down.) Might be the Boston girl in me, lol!
Anyway, to be safe, lock up (in your luggage) all your personal toiletries, meds, and other valuables. If you are worried about your stuff or people peeking around, you won't enjoy your day trip. You could always position something a certain way, and if it's moved, then you know someone was there. JK! Don't fret. Just pack your valuables and put away clothes, etc.
Also, you are not getting any benefit "cleaning to be pristine for a showing." It's not your responsibility.