Guests' habits

[Graham32]

Do you find that some guests have strange habits? Here are a few that I have noticed: Not unpacking their suitcases but leaving them open on the floor when there is adequate cupboard space. One guest brought everything into her room from her car eventhough it was securely locked in the garage. Hanging clothes and towels on the door and cupboard handles. Complaining about things after they have left. Not reading the rules of the house. Moving furniture around unnecessarily. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Graham32 I would be more worried about a host who keeps an eye on their guests this closely.

[Graham32]

These are just observations. On the whole everything is fine and I get very good reviews from my guests.

[Graham32]

Mine is more of a homestay, so we do share space in the house and often form quite a close relationship, but obviously, I respect my guests' privacy. These were just observations that I have noticed over the years, not meant as judgments. I tend to get very good reviews from my guests.

[Christine2602]

@Graham32 

Personnellement je ne défais jamais ma valise. Exceptionnellement si j'ai une tenue pour un mariage ou autre, je la suspend Sinon je pioche directement dedans.

Où est le problème ?

[Translation added by Community manager]

Personally, I never unpack my suitcase. Exceptionally, if I have an outfit for a wedding or something, I hang it up. Otherwise, I just grab what I need directly from it.

Where is the problem?

[Graham32]

The problem comes when there is hardly room to move in the room, especially if it is quite a small room. It's just an observation.

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Graham32 

I’m actually the same I rarely unpack my suitcase unless I’m staying for a few weeks. For short stays, I just keep everything organized inside my luggage so it’s easier to move around and pack up quickly when it’s time to leave. It saves time, keeps things simple, and honestly avoids that “did I forget something?” stress.

And hopefully my host never notices this little habit of mine too haha

[Guy991]

Dear @Graham32 ,

I have a few observations to share.

The first one may be less direct than what another host said here, but: stop judging your guests, and I hope other people in general too. You never know what brought them to this point in their life. I do not judge people, and I remind my co-host of this too.

I recently had a guest who asked us for something we had never been asked before, and I am talking about hundreds of stays. Judging that guest would not have helped them or me. Compassion did.

There are a few more things worth thinking about:

If you have a clean closet waiting for your guests’ clothes, leave a note or send a message letting them know it is empty and ready for them. Communicate your efforts.

If guests write to you after they have already left, in my opinion it means you are not communicating clearly enough during their stay the importance of raising issues in the moment.

If guests don’t follow the house rules or read the listing description, in my experience it means they were not reminded clearly enough right from the start.

And one last thought — sometimes guests rearrange things, and sometimes we choose to leave things where they put them. A guest who stayed ten days occasionally knows better than I do where something works best. Not always, but sometimes it is a genuinely useful suggestion worth keeping.

I hope you will find something here helpful.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Graham32]

You are quite right. I meant these more as observations rather than judgements. I normally spend some time with the guests when they arrive and they appreciate my concern that they have an enjoyable stay. I get very good reviews and there is rarely a problem.