Scratched Floors do I charge?

[Luke Carl]

Hello super hosts. Had a guest check out today and the scratched the crap out of my gorgeous hard wood floors with what looks like broken wheels on a suitcase if I had to guess. Do I file a claim for this or is this what I get for not having fake floors? How much would you charge? No way to fix it without refinishing the whole place I’m guessing. What do you do in this situation?

[Julie McCoy]

Ugh that blows.  But weren't you just telling me scratches give floors character?  ;)  

Seriously, in this situation you're probably better off leaving it be with the guest.  Since he can nail you with the review, and in all likelihood this is only the first scratch of many that floor will experience... let it slide and patch it up, and take a deep breath and realize it's like the first scratch on a new car.  Inevitable but painful.  But at least the next one won't hurt so much.