Carl’s place has everything a single traveler or couple needs and is located in a great Parisien neighborhood not far from two metro stops with plenty of transfers.
However, Carl uses BNB sitter, a management service for Airbnb.
This was my first time experiencing this service.
With the growing use of sitters, I see many pluses for Airbnb property owners but drawbacks for guests.
In my case, I arrived early and the sitter was already there, which was a big plus. He also was friendly and showed me most of what I needed to know. That said, he didn't show me the exit button (some of us come from places that do not have them so please don't assume folks will figure it out). I think if this were his own property, he wouldn't have forgotten something like that.
A day or so after settling in, I was still jetlagged and in my PJs working on my laptop around 13hs/1 p.m. when someone suddenly knocked on the door. I asked “Who is it?” and the response was that it was the sitter with the plumber.
Me: “Can you come back?”
Answer: “Uhhh, no. Not really.”
So, unprepared for visitors and not even showered, I opened the door and let these two men into the studio.
Well, what if I was not there? So, they would have gone into my space with my things strewn about and my valuable everywhere?
And, since I was there, and not prepared, I was made to feel very uncomfortable and not safe.
It was not a good experience.
So, these are examples of some drawbacks of not just BNB Sitter, but any Airbnb sitting service.
My thinking is that guests get the short end of the stick because, at the end of the day, the company aims to please the owners, not the guests.