[stevenbrianhall]

I've done my part, renting 4 places in Zurich, Milan, Barcelona, and Strasbourg over the last 2 weeks. I have yet to have a bad experience, and as soon as I move into my place, will absolutely be listing it.

In fact, I'll be looking for an apartment with with an extra room, specifically to rent on Airbnb. Not just for the monetary aspect, but I've met some incredible folks over the past few weeks. The model just works.

[stevenbrianhall]

Sorry for the metapost, but it would be helpful for a potential renter to know - has anyone here had a really negative experience with Airbnb? (Briefly) Sharing = Caring. :)

[shail]

may be this works because you are staying with a person only for a very short time and such a short time interaction is mostly nice...its long term interaction which becomes a problem many times.

[catshirt]

for now, but is it not subject to the same kind of quality degradation that all online communities are?

[stevenbrianhall]

I imagine it is, but the bi-directional reviews show that the company has thought about that from the beginning.

I'm MUCH more likely to book a place that is reviewed well, and I am sure that my reviews play a role in the renters decisions to accept me, as well.

[smackfu]

The trick is growing the user base to new users that have no reputation. If "good" places won't rent to me, then the quality of the rentals from my perspective is quite poor.