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+--- Thread: Advice Needed - Major Damage from Guest (/showthread.php?tid=274)
Advice Needed - Major Damage from Guest - DLegend - 07-21-2025
Hi All,
I've been an AirBnB host for 2 years and never once had to file a claim. (I've let little things like missing towels, knickknacks go). A guest grilled close to the house and melted/bubbled the siding (house manual states grilling must be 15’ away from house). They also did several other small things including clogging the tub and leaving scratch marks on our wood floors.
My biggest concern is getting this documented with Airbnb immediately, but all I see is making a claim with the resolution center. I’m going to have to get an estimate on repair and replacement, so clearly I can’t submit a simple request for payment. In addition, it's peak summer season and we have another booking in a week.
Any advice or guidance is appreciated.
RE: Advice Needed - Major Damage from Guest - CEOofFUN - 07-23-2025
At this point open up an AirCover claim ASAP. Get a few estimates from local contractors. If it's just siding you may be able to go with a handyman. Since you said it's bubbling, Im assuming it's vinyl siding which is honestly relatively easily replaceable. However depending on your color it may be a custom order job.
I suggest asking the handyman / contractor if they can remove the damaged pieces in the interim and put something up as replacement if it's going to take a while. Make it look somewhat "decent". It's not like we all havent stayed at a hotel before where something was being renovated and blocked off with a temporary tarp or wall. If you walk around New York City half the buildings are doing some kind of exterior work and have scaffolding up and temporary tarps. Make sure you let the guest know ahead of time as well.
RE: Advice Needed - Major Damage from Guest - Zavv301 - 07-23-2025
I've had to replace a few peices of siding before and it was only a few thousand. Honestly the siding is probably easier to fix than a scratched up floor. Siding peices can be removed easily and put on with minimal effort. Now, making a large scratch/gouge on a wooden floor look perfect is almost impossible. Removing just one peice of flooring is next to impossible, and flooring manufactures usually discountinue their stock after a few years so it's hard to replace just one peice of flooring and make it look perfect.
RE: Advice Needed - Major Damage from Guest - BoLee91 - 07-23-2025
Have you reached out to the guests, and have they said anything? You need to reach out to Airbnb and get a claim going, like yesterday! And keep all communication with the guest on the app.