@Laura2592 @Ann72 @Suzanne302
At the risk of being the odd one out in this session - I would do my best to not be defensive and look at this from another perspective. The guests may have a skill set and a collaborative attitude that means to help a non resident host with issues that would likely not be noticed unless the host was in residence. Also, even if resident, these small things are the type that one gets used to, over time. It is entirely possible that they wanted to be part of improving the experience for the next guests and the next, knowing how little things can add up and cause someone to leave you a lower rating. The vast majority of people are well intentioned. Looking at this from a different perspective, I doubt that these guests meant any harm or insult. As a guest, I have often noticed maintenance issues that I considered worth mentioning to a conscientious non resident host. I could have shined them on, and did take care of them myself as much as I could, but wanted - out of compassion - to spare the next guests from finding them. No offense to any of you taking offense yourselves - I would want to know these things, ones that only a guest would find. As a host and a former resort manager I can guarantee you that these things do jump out at me. I've done many years of inspecting between cleaners working and guests arriving. As a guest I would feel very OK with letting the host know about things cleaners overlooked. I've also learned a lot of skills from professional cleaners. eg: How many of us sit on the toilet and see what the guests will see? This is a business we are in. We can all improve and fine tune. Our guest spaces get a lot of wear and tear. I would swallow hard, smile, and take the notes in the spirit they were undoubtedly intended. And, yes, I grew up with a mother with white gloves, who showed me how I could improve. I hated it, but I did learn. I consider that my guests deserve no less from me than white gloves. Keeping up a home is very different from a sterile hotel room. I once hired a cleaner who works at the top local hotel. She did not last long, here, as her training was vastly different and the place was set up to pay her by the room, so she went about doing a 2 hour job in 20 minutes. You can already see that she missed all the important things. A lesson for me. I'm old enough to not consider well intentioned critiques to be insulting. It's not about us, it's about them, and their sharp eyes for detail. An objective, second set of eyes, often sees clearly what we miss.
Thank you, ladies, for taking this commentary in the manner which it was intended.
