When running an Airbnb, it can be hard to ensure in a privacy-safe way that your guests are not sneaking any extra people to avoid paying more for their stay. It can also be tricky making sure that extra guests aren’t coming for an Airbnb party that might have slipped past you. Of course, you do your best to make sure that no unwarranted guests arrive for a booked stay. However, it does happen sometimes. This is even more difficult to keep track of if you have implemented a self-check-in process to your booking system. It might seem like there is no way to get control of these situations. But, here are a few tips and tricks you can implement to prevent extra guests in your Airbnb.

Why it’s important to know if you have unregistered guests

This might go without saying. But, it is very important to know if you have extra, unapproved guests staying at your Airbnb. One of the major reasons this is true is because it is a fire hazard if there is a group staying that exceeds the apartment’s maximum. It is also important to know whether or not there are additional, unapproved guests in your Airbnb because if there are, it is very possible your guests may be trying to throw a party. These events can cause extensive property damage, resulting in the possibility of lost bookings and expensive repairs. This is a major reason why many cities are making efforts to tighten Airbnb restrictions or ban them altogether. So, the question becomes, what can you do to best minimize and prevent these events from happening?

Guest screenings

Now, guest screenings likely won’t be enough to prevent extra guests in your Airbnb altogether. However, they may be able to clue you in on what groups are party-risk guests. By conducting a guest screening process, you will get to know your guests a little more and will be better able to assess whether they may require a security deposit. Unsure what factors to look for in a guest screening? The two things you should immediately check are the age of your guests and their location. Their age will tell you a bit about what they might get up to, and how well they can handle their alcohol. Their location will tell you how likely they are to throw a party. Meaning, if they are from the same area as your property, and are between 18-22 in age, it is very likely they are coming to throw a party.

Neighbors and ground staff

Whether your Airbnb is an apartment or a house, it would be a good idea to make sure that your neighbors have your phone number in case of an emergency. Doing this would also be a show of good faith. This is because the biggest issue neighbors of Airbnbs usually have is the lack of communication from the host. You shouldn’t make your neighbors your watchdogs. But, providing them with a way to contact you should they need to will only benefit your relationship with them. Not only will it make your neighbors feel better about living next to an Airbnb, but you will be able to know in the moment if anything gets out of hand that they notice. Of course, your neighbors will not always be available. They also may not always notice if something is going on at your property. Because of this, if you have any staff on the ground it may be a good idea to have them check on the group if you suspect there may be unregistered guests there. If you do not have ground staff available and you are very worried, consider reaching out to your guests yourself.

Room monitors

The most full-proof way to ensure that there are no unwarranted guests staying at your Airbnb is by installing room monitors in your unit. Don’t worry, these devices are 100% privacy safe. The general features of room monitors vary depending on the brand. But, if you want to be covered for all party risks, install Alertify. Alertify is a small, plug-in room monitoring device that detects excessive noise, indoor smoking, and elevated occupancy levels. The device also monitors temperature levels and the air quality of your Airbnb. After installing Alertify, Airbnb hosts will receive customizable notifications if any of these activities occur. Not only can hosts now intervene on these situations before any potential damages or complaints happen, but hosts will have evidence. Hosts will also have access to an online portal where they can view and download reports of what activities occurred and when. These reports are especially helpful in the event of needing to prove guest damages. They also come in handy in the event of a fraudulent chargeback or handling other disputes.