A Michigan Airbnb host faced shocking devastation after his rental property was savaged by unruly guests who left significant destruction and even billed him for their ‘redecorative’ efforts. Vince Villegas, 41, who manages the one-bedroom rental home located in Saugatuck, Michigan, returned on the slotted checkout date to discover nearly $3,000 worth of damages.
Upon arrival at around 10 am, Villegas was met with pandemonium. Furniture lay tossed outside onto the property’s snow-covered front lawn, and various pieces had been moved inside, including several carpets rolled up and hidden elsewhere. “We saw all the furniture outside… vases, cups of water, a dog bed at the door, you name it. It was absolutely insane,” Villegas recalled.
The damage did not stop at furniture being displaced; the guests had also allegedly engaged in bizarre behavior indicative of ritualistic actions. Red paint had been smeared across the walls, light switches, and bathroom mirrors. A rock was found awkwardly situated inside the shower, and strange sticky substances were discovered brushed onto surfaces—specifically, one door and the bedroom floor. This peculiar situation left Villegas compelled to contact local authorities amid his bewilderment.
After realizing the extent of the situation, he attempted to reach out to the guests for answers. “We eventually called the sheriff’s department, and the sheriff came, and they were going to help us remove him from the property,” he added. It wasn't until 3:30 pm, nearly five hours after the scheduled checkout time, when the renter showed up. Initially combative with the sheriff, the guest eventually reduced tensions and prepared to vacate.
Interestingly, the disgruntled tenant packed his belongings, reportedly carrying out his clothing in trash bags. He attempted to justify his previous chaotic actions by claiming to be “a well-known decorator designer from Chicago,” stating he wanted to “make it more homely for him and for others.”
To add insult to injury, not only did the guests leave behind considerable destruction, but they also sent Villegas a $1,000 invoice for their supposed ‘redecorations’. “It cost us $3,000 to put back what they moved and replace what they destroyed,” Villegas lamented to The New York Post. The incredulity surrounding the incident quickly garnered public attention, as Villegas took to TikTok to share footage of the wreckage, which has since amassed over two million views.
Viewers were quick to comment on the scene, with one remarking on earlier videos they had seen resembling an ‘exorcism’ due to the unexplainable markings left behind. Many offered unsolicited advice such as cleansing the property spiritually or ensuring protective symbols be placed around to ward off any future events.
The bizarre occurrences at Villegas’s rental home reflect broader trends affecting Airbnb hosts. Property damage not only presents financial burdens but also layers of interpersonal conflict and stress as seen with Villegas’s encounter. Following the incident, much time and resources were required to restore the home back to its original condition. “The property has now been cleaned,” Villegas confirmed, adding the police had identified the peculiar red substance on the walls to be lip gloss.
This unfortunate experience serves as both cautionary tales for Airbnb hosts and as compelling stories of human behavior when faced with unique situations. It underlines the challenges hosts face—not only in managing properties but also when unforeseen tenant disputes arise. The incident is bound to resonate within the Airbnb community as both hosts and guests navigate the events unfolded over one chaotic stay at a Michigan rental property.
