Hi,
I have a fairytale location on oceanfront in Scotland, but house is bad. It’s written all over in my house description that house will be demolished , that I am NOT putting fresh paint ( before demolition).
It’s a reason house can’t not be repaired, and have to be demolished!
House is empty sometimes, and it’s a shame , - it’s gorgeous place . So I thought that since it’s difficult to find exchanges for a lot of people, our second home will give a chance of vacation. ( I personally want to be there all the time, but I have commitments, and have to be away from my dream place).
I had my first 2 HE guests . Before confirming I showed on video call how bad house is.
I said to my guests since they ask me on short notice, I can’t guarantee cleaning / or my assistance because I will be in USA that time.
My first guest definitely cleaned my house to the maximum possible for this house, but my second guests put only 3 stars for her work . By the way my first guest plans to come back, she loved location, condition of the house is “ like camping “ doesn’t scare her.
Her description is very similar to my description of the house. Still somehow she put only 3 stars about “house matches description “.
Second guests from France , before I confirmed, I asked if they got any better offers than my house. They didn’t , so they stayed.
So far 2 exchanges ,when guests wrote mixed reviews. Expectations was higher than condition of my home.
Should I just leave HE?
I don’t think I will be able to find exchanges for me with mediocre reviews .
I don’t mind to share our second house when it’s available, but I would like to be hosted in return when I am travelling.
Most of my communications on video call with potential HE guests ,- they say that they don’t mind bad condition of the house.
What would you do if you were on my place? Should I stay or should I go ( away from HE)? Again my main concern,- I want to be hosted too. But it looks like I don’t have a chance to be guest.
So far I couldn’t find any exchanges related to my travels.
I think it’s quite strange that guests give 3 stars for “house matches description“ if it’s in your profie that the house is in bad shape … I might even respond to such a review saying that. You can contact HE about this I think, that you’d like to respond.
I would certainly not leave HE. If you’re afraid people won;t have you as a guest because of the 3 stars, just explain to them similar to how you did here.
Is it possible to respond to their review comments on where it does not match description and modify your listing where they feel you have not been clear enough. Also if they have not mentioned specifics ask them what does not match description it may be there is something to mention that you think is obvious but they did not realize.
There are always people who have something bad to say. It happened to me in Airbnb. I then searched what those people had to say for other stays and the reviews were not good either fir other houses/ apartments.
It does not matter how truly you are in the description, then some people still expect it will be better or just didn’t read the description.
Stay in HE and I am sure more authentic people will enjoy your house. Still, expect some bad reviews and try not to get upset or discouraged.
We have 2 houses on opposite coasts of Scotland.
I have not decided yet . I will try to find more exchanges , but if I will not find hosts, it’s no reason for me to stay here.
It’s not sure you won’t find exchanges for you as a guest. Some people in France for example are searching for Guests desperatly every day in the Facebook groups, even in a few weeks
I send them text that I am thinking to leave HE , since I think reviews are the reason I
can’t find any exchanges .
I will wait for answers.
First one was a last minute exchange, I was explaining that I am not ready, but she insisted.
Second one I said that they are welcome to stay if they don’t find anything better than my house.
Both was multiple times told that house is in bad condition, and I can’t put fresh paint before demolition.
I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t had the best experience to start your Home Exchange journey. It sounds to me like you have already done all that you can to warn your guests of the condition of your home. It is very clear in the listing that the house will soon be demolished and that it is not in the best condition. However because of the absolutely stunning location, and the lack of other listings on the platform in that area, you are likely to still get a high amount of demand to stay. This means that people may hope that the condition of the property is better than it is, just to stay in that area.
Although the star ratings you have been given are low for the areas of ‘Home matches description’ and ‘cleanliness’, you have been given 5 stars for communication. The reviews are very clear that you personally are a great host. This would certainly not put me off having you to stay in my home as a guest! My advice would be to contact member services and reply to these reviews explaining as you have done here. Try not to be too disheartened by this
To me it is not obvious where they find the house does not match the description. Are the pictures not of the house as it is now? The one person described it like camping. Why do they say that? I would ask HE to be able to write a response but the reviews do not give you anything to respond to. Instead I would add more in your description on the house rather than we will demolish (because it does not look in the pictures like a house to demolish). I would focus on the physical aspects of the house not when or why you will demo. what is currently falling down? what is under construction? Is there hot and cold running water? Is the electric reliable/ unreliable? If you only have the fireplace for heating how cold does it get in the times when it is comfortable to go to the house. What months are comfortable in this region in this house? Also I would not title your house soon to be demolished if you want exchange. I think you don’t need to quit HE, you need to provide more detail. The pictures and your message seem different.
The pictures do indeed suggest that the house is in excellent condition. If that’s not the case, then probably take new pictures cause based on the current images, I would not expect to be ‘camping’ in this house.
