Are you worried about hosting the wrong guests at your Airbnb? Guest screening is your best defense. Learn how to protect your property, develop your own Airbnb guest screening process, and spot red flags.

9 Ways to Screen Airbnb Guests and Spot Red Flags Before It’s Too Late

Guest screening is essential for safeguarding your property, finances, and reputation as a host.

While Airbnb screens guests, having your own process tailored to your needs guarantees thorough vetting.

Pay attention to red flags such as poor communication, reluctance to provide necessary information, or negative reviews from previous stays.

Picture this: a guest arrives at your property, and within days, your worst fears are realized—damaged furniture, noise complaints, and a spike in stress levels. 

Taking 5 minutes to vet travelers before accepting each booking is a tempting step to skip in your short-term rental (STR) management process. However, screening Airbnb guests can end up saving you thousands of dollars in damages and an incalculable amount of stress. 

Don’t risk hosting bad Airbnb guests. Whether you're a seasoned host or just starting out, implementing a robust Airbnb guest screening process protects your property and maintains your peace of mind. In this guide, we'll explore ways to implement your own Airbnb guest screening process and identify red flags to keep on your radar. 

Know exactly how much to charge based on your vacation rental pricing strategy.

What Is Guest Screening and Why Is it Important?

Airbnb guest screening is when a host evaluates potential guests before approving their booking requests on platforms like Airbnb. 

This process involves reviewing the guest’s profile, verifying their identity, and assessing their suitability for your rental based on past reviews, communication, and other criteria. 

Why is screening Airbnb guests important?

Minimizes the risk of property damage and the associated cost of repairs or losses

Reduces the likelihood of negative reviews from exploitative or high-maintenance guests

What Is Airbnb’s Guest Screening Process?

Airbnb screens guests through the following key methods:

Identity Verification: Guests must provide government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, to confirm their identity.

Profile Completion: Guests complete their profiles with photos and bios, giving hosts more information about who they are.

Review System: Hosts and guests leave reviews for each other after their stays, allowing hosts to see a guest’s history and reliability.

Booking Requirements: Hosts can customize their booking settings to require verified ID, positive reviews, and other criteria to screen potential guests.

Risk Assessment: Airbnb uses algorithms to evaluate the risk of each booking and flag potentially high-risk reservations for further review.

Why You Should Also Have Your Own Airbnb Vetting Process

Airbnb’s methods are broad and may not cover all of your specific needs. Customizing your screening process allows you to address unique features of your property or hosting preferences that require particular attention. Here are a few examples where additional screening steps could be beneficial:

Properties with Pools or Water Features: If your rental includes access to a pool, hot tub, or is located near a body of water, consider adding a screening step that requires guests to acknowledge the presence of the water feature and confirm that all members of their party can swim.

Luxury or High-Value Rentals: For properties that contain high-end electronics, art, furnishings, or other valuables, hosts might want to include a step in their screening process to verify the age and identity of all guests.

Pet-Friendly Properties: If your property is pet-friendly, you might need to screen pets as well as people. This can include requiring guests to provide information about the breed, size, and number of pets. Additionally, confirmation that pets are trained and do not have a history of causing damage or disturbances could be part of your screening process.

Hosts can better manage the risks associated with their specific property features by integrating tailored screening steps.

9 Tips for Effective Airbnb Guest Screening

Follow these nine tips for effective Airbnb guest screening:

1. Establish Clear Communication Early On

Start by communicating with potential guests as soon as they inquire about your property. Send a friendly welcome message, ask about their travel plans, and provide detailed information about your house rules. Pay attention to how quickly they respond and the tone of their messages—this can give you insight into their reliability and respectfulness.

Take full advantage of Airbnb’s built-in features, such as guest profiles, verified ID, reviews, and ratings. Airbnb allows hosts to see if a guest has verified their identity with a government-issued ID. Additionally, check the reviews and ratings from previous stays. A guest with a consistent history of positive reviews is more likely to respect your property and rules.

Here are some key questions you can ask to understand guest intentions better and ensure they align with your expectations:

What are your travel plans during your stay?

Will you be hosting any events or gatherings at the property?

Do you have any specific concerns or questions about the property?

Customize the questionnaire to address any specific concerns you might have.

If the guest has profiles on other platforms (like social media or other booking sites), check for consistency in the information they provide. Consistent details can confirm their identity and intentions, while discrepancies might raise red flags.

Set specific booking requirements, such as requiring guests to have verified ID, positive reviews, or a minimum number of previous bookings. These requirements help filter out potentially unreliable guests. For instance, you might require at least three positive reviews before accepting a booking request. Customize these settings in your Airbnb account to align with your comfort level and hosting experience.

Request a security deposit to cover any potential damages. This provides financial protection and  deters guests who might otherwise not take care of your property. Vrbo also has security deposit options that you can utilize if you list your vacation rental on multiple booking platforms.

If something feels off during your interactions with a potential guest, don’t hesitate to decline the booking. For instance, if a guest is evasive when answering questions or their profile lacks detail, it’s okay to prioritize your comfort and safety by declining their request.

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Red Flags to Watch Out For When Screening Your Guests

We’ve reviewed guest screening steps, but the question remains regarding how to tell if a guest represents a risk. We’ve put together a list of potential red flags indicating a guest could cause problems. 

Guests that try to manipulate the platform or your own house rules–by requesting to pay outside of Airbnb or asking for an exception on the allowable number of guests, for instance—are worth taking an extra minute to assess. While some requests are reasonable, frequent or unusual requests can indicate potential for future issues.

How Insurance Backs Up Your Airbnb Vetting Process

Airbnb's AirCover for Hosts offers extensive protection, including $3 million USD in Host damage protection and $1 million USD in Host liability insurance. This comprehensive coverage helps protect you from financial losses and legal expenses if issues arise despite all your efforts to screen guests. 

However, hosts and property managers should also consider additional short-term rental insurance of their own. While AirCover provides significant benefits, it may not cover all types of damages or incidents. Payouts can also sometimes be slower compared to dedicated protection programs. Supplementing Airbnb’s AirCover with your own insurance policy offers extra peace of mind and more comprehensive protection. 

Plan your STR strategy based on real booking activity and trends—plus, see how things change year over year.

Running a short-term rental always comes with risks, and Airbnb guest screening is just one part of a broader risk management strategy. 

From property damage and theft to noise complaints and liability issues, there are many potential pitfalls to running a vacation rental. For a better understanding of the risks involved and strategies to manage them, check out our guide on short-term rental risks.

Guests must provide government-issued ID to verify their identity, complete their profiles with personal information and photos, and are encouraged to leave reviews and ratings after stays. Additionally, Airbnb uses algorithms to assess the risk of each booking and allows hosts to set specific booking requirements to screen potential guests.

Does Airbnb perform background checks on guests?

Airbnb performs background checks on guests in certain countries, primarily focusing on criminal records and sex offender registries. However, the extent of these checks varies by location and is not exhaustive. Hosts are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence as part of their screening process.

What should I do if a guest has no reviews? 

If a guest has no reviews, gather additional information before accepting the booking. Ask detailed questions about their travel plans and request verified identification. Check their profile for completeness and consistency. Trust your instincts—if anything feels off, it’s okay to decline the booking.

Is it possible to decline a guest after screening? 

Yes! As a host, you have the right to accept or decline booking requests based on your comfort level and the information provided by the guest. If you have any doubts or concerns about a potential guest, it’s important to prioritize your safety and peace of mind by declining the booking if necessary.

AirDNA’s powerful yet easy-to-use tools make hosting and investing a breeze. This means having every insight you need, all in one place, always up-to-date.

Worried about problem guests? Check out AirDNA’s nine Airbnb guest screening strategies and the red flags you need to know.

9 Ways to Screen Airbnb Guests and Spot Red Flags Before It’s Too Late

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