What to do with personal items?

Nicole339
Level 1
United States

What to do with personal items?

I'm a first time host and only making my home available for the solar eclipse on August 21st.  The eclipse is coming right over my city and many hotels are booked up.  A friend told me I should place my home on Airbnb for some extra money.  I live in my house; all my clothes, food, friends and family pictures, DVDs, bathroom supplies, etc. are in the house.  Is it okay to leave those things out?  Or should I pack things up?  I have a family looking to book my home for 3 nights and 4 days for the solar eclipse.  Any advice and tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!

6 Replies 6
Cynthia-and-Chris1
Level 10
Vancouver, WA

Any expensive/fragile/important items, lock away or remove from the house. Make room in your closet and a couple bedroom drawers for their items. Make sure your guests understand this is regularly your personal home so they're not caught off guard by your personal items. 

If you had to vacate while hosting then if I were in your shoes I'd pack up and clear out as much of my belongings as possible, possibly store personal items where guests cannot have easy access. When you say family - does this mean children? Because if there are children, they will be curious about being in someone else's home and might want to go through your things. Even if their parents tell them not to, kids are kids. Another option you could consider is you staying in your house while you host. I'm not sure how many rooms you have and your situation, but you could either temporarily move into a different part of the house (like sleep in your home office?) while you let guests use the bedrooms or vice versa. The family might not want the host there, but there is still some time till August 21st so you might be able to find a smaller group to host that wouldn't mind being in an shared house but private room type listing during that time (like a couple or one parent+one child) This might be less money but also less risk and prep work. Also, depending how it turns out, who knows? You might even want to consider hosting more regularly if you have a spare room 🙂 Good luck~!
Kate157
Level 10
SF, CA

Hi @Nicole339, my personal policy is:  if you can't afford to lose it, don't leave it out. People are not as careful with items in a rented space as they are with their own things. 

Nicole339
Level 1
United States

Thanks everyone for your advice, it is much appreciated.  The kids are young enough to sleep in a pack and play. There will be 2 of them. I do not think it would be feasible for me to stay in the house. I have 3 bedrooms but they are all together on the same hall. It's a smaller home so we would all be right in each other's business. 

 

I currently have 2 dressers full of clothes and 3 closets full of belongings. Should I at least clean one closet out for them to use and ask them not to use the other closets?  I will definitely make sure they are aware that I live in the house and will be leaving belongings in the home. 

 

Thanks again everyone!!

Andrea9
Level 10
Amsterdam, Netherlands

@Nicole339

 

Definitely give the guests closet space. Another host on the forum gave a good tip to close off cupboards/closets using zip ties to keep the handles together. Or find another way to really mark them as private, for ex. a clear sign PRIVATE inside the cupboard they'll only see if they are (in)advertently snooping. 

Hi Nicole, 

I am currently thinking about doing the same thing with my Florida home. I was going to rent it out a few times a year during spring break and in the winter time but wasn't sure what to do with my personal stuff. Can you tell me how you ended up doing it and how it turn out? I would appreicate it. I too would be a first time host. 

 

Thanks, 

Stacey

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