Can I still have nice things??

[Natalie406]

I just started to host and want to know how many people have nice things at their place?

I am a designer and love to have fashion bedding, carpets, furniture etc at my home, and Im talking Homesence, TJmax nice things not crazy expensive.

I thought if people wreak things they will have to pay to fix or replace them.

Is this wrong? So far it seeming to be a hassle. I've had a guest let their child color on the couch and the carpet

and another spill coffee on my carpet and both thought this is an "accident" so why should they pay?

I would love to know your experiences 

Thank you!!

[Lilly28]

@Natalie406

Accidents happen, not so often by the way. I have nice things in my flat, and yes, I had accidents - but wanted money only when something was broken to pieces, happened just once. The second time I was asking the guest to pay for the burned kettle, he refused, so I had to buy a new one and had one very bad review  from him out of revenge. Once I gave 4 for cleannliness for a guest with a very small child, I still cannot forgive myself for that - two stains on the carpet from chocolate - it was just an accident. Now I have more stains on my carpets - I am just waiting the summer time for give them to professional cleaning. Nobody will pay you for chipped or broken piece of china - unless it is expensive and you agree with the amount due with the guest. As for stains from coffee on carpet - this can easily be cleaned unless the carpet is plain white. Cold water - after that - alcohol, vodka is a good choice. Waching powder with peroxide - removes all stains, even from red wine. Take it easy, and ask Resolution center to chase the guest only when big damage is done. In that case you must have pictures from the danage and receits of the damaged thing showing how much is its cost.

[Jessica-and-Henry0]

@Natalie406

I have fairly pricy and nice appliances and things at home shared with guests because I did not intend to host when I initially moved into my current home. But most are not fragile and have easy upkeep so I think that definitely helps. I also prefer to get machine washable and stain resistant items, or get them treated to be since I myself am prone to spills 🙂 

Whatever new items you buy for your listing make sure you keep reciepts and they are easily replaceable. And don't sweat the small stuff. Compared to when YOU are using something factor in more frequent replacements of everything and more wear and tear. Nice is good but I think for guest spaces functional is also very important.

Good luck~

[Thomas192]

 If you have irreplaceable items in any common areas of the home, I'd tuck those out of harms way first.

In a perfect World the guests would have to all be vetted with full background checks, etc.  But it is what it is, some guests are slobs, some not, some are thiefs, most are not. 

Rule of Thumb:  Super expensive or irreplaceable, don't tempt the Gods, just move them out of harms way.

This is a business.  Guests are not always as wonderful as Airbnb would like us to think.  

Another thing you might do is Raise your damage deposit to amount you're comfortable with but doesn't scare off would be bookers.

Best of luck!

[Sarah977]

@Natalie406 It's your home and you should furnish and decorate it as you like. Most guests will appreciate it, the occasional ones will abuse it. Stash away anything that is irreplacable, family heirlooms, anything you would be devastated to lose, etc, where guests can't get at them. 

My guests have been non-destructos, really respect the space and comment on the nice things they see around the place. Someone might accidentally break a plate or a glass, but I do that sometimes, too.

What you don't want to do is have expensive items in the guest space. One host here was upset because her guests stained a $300 duvet. You don't want $300 duvets in a guest room.

But just your stuff that you've chosen because you like it and it works well in your home? Go for it. 

[Robin4]

@Natalie406

Natalie, you have to be practical and realise that guests will not have the same level of respect for your property as you have! And many of them will be of the opinion the money they are paying you entitles them to some protection from 'accidents' which may happen!!

I do put certain very personal items in my listing cottage and I point them out to guests and say that by doing so I am inviting them into a piece of my life to make their stay more personal and enjoyable. Also, by pointing them out it makes the guest aware that I consider them of value and something I do keep track of,  just in case they might think any of these things would better belong on their shelf than mine!

There are around 600 books in the library section of the cottage, some of them personally autographed by the writer! Some are from the 19th century and quite irreplaceable....

But guests do appreciate that these things are untrusted to them for the duration of their stay.

But Natalie, furnishings are going to be abused or at least not recognised for what they are. I have an authenticated Turkish tripple knotted silk rug on the concrete floor of the cottage for some time. I removed it when a guest marked me a 3 star for cleanliness stating the rug (which is probably worth more than the late model car they arrived here in) looked old and shabby! So I hot footed it down to Ikea and purchased a $80 piece of synthetic junk which now adornes the floor and I have no more 'old and shabby' comments.

Don't put expensive style into your listing Natalie, guests are not going to give you higher star ratings for them and you stand the chance of breakage or damage.

I also have a photo of my mother on the cottage wall!

It's one of only two adult pictures that remain of her! She thought she was unattractive and destroyed every photo she could find of herself, I got this one from her sister some 15 years ago.

Why would you put something like that in a rental area? The guests are all intrigued by it and sort of feel honoured to be a small part of it.

And besides, who is going to steal my mum??

But, in general, Natalie, keep it basic....you will be better off!

Cheers.....Rob

[Cathie19]

Hi @Robin4. Your mum has a beautiful face, and such a pensive expression. I wonder what she might have been thinking?

[Robin4]

@Cathie19

Who knows what goes on in people's minds Cathie....I should have said 'intact' photos!

She destroyed hundreds....... Dad was a keen photographer, and he took many of mum, a few of which we were able to salvage but this will show you the condition they are in after she had finished with them....

Lance & Madge Wedding Day 1938

I have half a dozen like this, but visually, that is all that remains of her Cathie. It wasn't that she was afraid of having her photo taken, she just felt she never presented well, and yet she wasn't a vain woman. 

People do some stange things in life, I am sure most criminals don't start their lives wishing to be nothing other than a criminal....but something takes over their mind along the way.

Anyway guests do really relate to that photo, and I think feel the better for having seen it there where they can actually touch it, not just be told about it!

Cheers......Rob

[Cathie19]

She was obviously a very sensitive lady. 💛

[Huma0]

@Natalie406

I have lots of nice things in my listing and some of them are fragile too, because this is also my home and, like you, the look of it is important to me. Most of my guests book my place because it looks that way and are respectful of these things. I have nice things in the guest rooms but, apart from some of the furniture (providing coasters and asking guests to use them is key), not much that is too valuable.

However, yes, you can expect much more wear and tear when you have guests in and out of your home. This week, I've already had a broken glass coaster that had to go in the bin. Annoying really as it was one of a set, but oh well, accidents happen. Most wear and tear though tends to be more practical stuff, such as door handles, locks etc. and also a couple of times I've had guests flood a bathroom floor causing damage to the ceiling below. The only time I've filed a damage claim was when a guest broke my expensive front door lock (over £400 to replace like for like). The other stuff, I've just let it go. If the guest is honest and tells me of the damage, I appreciate their honesty.

The most annoying was when a guest scratched the top of an expensive dressing table (it was 100% clear that she did it and she even tried to hide it). She got very defensive and quite rude when I politely asked her what happened (I wasn't even asking her to pay). It's a tiny scratch that no one else will notice, but it was her rudeness about it that that irked me the most. It's funny how some guests get upset and insist on replacing an IKEA mug or wine glass, whilst others can damage a clearly expensive item and are outraged that you would even mention it.

Fabrics are also likely to get stained. Like you, I have mostly designer bedding, but bought at discount, and silk curtains, cushions and throws etc. Lucikly, I've been able to get most stains out. I would be reluctant though to have an expensive rug in a guest room. I do have one in the living room, which guests can access, but hardly any use that room so no disasters yet!

[Robin4]

@Huma0

" It's funny how some guests get upset and insist on replacing an IKEA mug or wine glass, whilst others can damage a clearly expensive item and are outraged that you would even mention it."

Not really Huma, it's a matter of cost, nobody is going to be defensive about replacing a £1 Ikea glass, they will probably buy you the set of 6 for 4 quid.

But when it's an obviously expensive piece of furniture and they can see subsatntial money involved, they will do what ever they can to distance themselves from the offending damage!

And the more outrage they show the more they think you might just believe them!

Cheers.....Rob

[Huma0]

@Robin4

Yes of course your answer is completely logical!

i will go into more detail about the scratched dressing table when I have more time because annoying as it was, the excuses the guest came up with are actually quite funny.

[Zacharias0]

Dont buy things you cant afford to replace.  Youre offering them a fairly inexpensive place to stay not a luxury retreat. Even luxury retreats keep the nice items to a minimum and focus on service and quality of items. Securing high quality carpets may be a waste considering its function but there's nothing wrong with buying a quality mattress, art on the wall or nice window dressings

[John1080]

As others have said, kept your space comfortable for you. Our space is our second home and I would not want to go there if I had to have it furnished with cheap, unattractive pieces. 

I have several nice pieces of furniture, rugs, art, books, etc. and so far no one has damaged anything, although there is always the off chance. Make sure you have screening procedures in place to minimize the chances of this occurring. I also agree with removing irreplaceable, heirloom pieces. 

[Cathie19]

Hi @Natalie406.

my advice is what @John1080‘ @Huma0 @Zacharias0, @Robin4 and others have said.

If it’s too precious- remove it.

If it was to get damaged or disappear, ensure you have photographic evidence that it existed in the space before it disappears.

Generally, people are very good, but as John stated, ensure you have a good vetting process, and also ensure you have a well priced security bond on the space.

You can buy well through sales as @Huma0 said. If it is your personal space, you still want to breathe happily within it. But do ensure personal and private heirlooms are out of sight. Locks are important when restricting between personal and guest space.

If they can’t be seen, they can’t be coveted!