I’m not a at 100% but I do have a b+(86) response rate and I feel inspired to get that response grade up but I do love the idea of those numbers being attached to my account. I wish they had this on tinder/hinge back in my day I could’ve saved a lot of time diving in DMs of people with 2% response rate😭🤣
When we first joined our approval rate on requests was not great. Over time we figured out that a detailed home description, plenty of photos, and a personal bio that shows you are a real person makes a big difference. Also, being open to doing a call with the host first has helped us in a couple of instances. Hosts want to know who is staying in their home.
I will say sometimes hosts just don't respond. This is definitely just a part of Kindred...
Would love to hear what has worked for others. Any specific changes that made a noticeable difference?
Just noticed a new feature where you can add additional credits to a booking request that go entirely to the host. Could be useful if you’re below their minimum stay requirement or just want to sweeten the deal to improve your chances of getting approved.
Has anyone tried this yet?
Has anyone rejected guests because you have a bad gut feeling? Either from the kind of message they send/general communication/weird video call vibes?
I always feel bad because maybe I’m making negative assumptions but i also can’t ignore my gut.
I’m pretty annoyed about this. Like 4pm check in is so late but I don’t want to lose .5 credit to check in 1 or two hours early so I’m just going to be wandering around the airport after a long flight.
I already had Paris on the calendar when I decided to give Kindred a try. Someone in a Reddit post had suggested booking a free cancellation Airbnb as a backup while keeping an eye out for a Kindred to open up. That’s exactly what I did, and one eventually did pop up. Cancelled the Airbnb and went with it.
It wasn’t in the neighborhood I had my heart set on. I ended up in Neuilly-sur-Seine, which I would not have chosen on my own but it turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. Way less touristy than where I originally planned to stay and it felt like a more real side of Paris. Ended up saving around $400 too.
The hosting side of things had me more anxious than I expected. I kept wondering if my place was nice enough compared to some of the homes I’d seen on the platform. My guests never reached out during their stay. When they checked out they left a really thoughtful note. That meant a lot and put my mind at ease that they had a good time.
One thing I took away is Kindred probably makes the most sense for stays of at least 4 nights. The logistics and the credit value just feel more worth it the longer you stay.
Considering hosting for the first time, and definitely thinking about prepping the house… there are deep clean things like inside drawers, appliances, etc. that even my regular housekeeper won’t do unless I pay for ‘deep cleaning’. So curious about what and how they clean for Kindred homes. I am located in Los Angeles so if anyone has any local insight that would be much appreciated!
For me it's Japan. I'd love to stay in a traditional home in Kyoto, walk to temples in the morning, and actually feel like I live there for a week rather than just passing through as a tourist. Kindred has usually made my experience feel more authentic which I love!
Drop your dream destination in the comments.