Can you believe a long term guest wants a new bed for the room?!

[Suzanne302]

But..................................He offered to buy it! LOL! See, there ARE good guests out there. 🙂

I have a double bed with a very old mattress that I know is only adequate, at best. Luckily I have other amenities to make up for the crappy bed. But a guest who will be staying with me Nov-Jan asked if I would mind and if it would be possible for him to buy a new bed for the room.

I've seen so many posts about guests demanding things from hosts, but ladies and gentleman, that is how it's done! Even better, I told him I had planned on upgrading the bed in the spring anyway so I will just do it earlier than planned and he STILL offered to help pay for it. My plan is to buy the bed and mattress I had already researched (queen with memory foam) and ask him to spring for a nice mattress protector, and he can also buy a mattress topper if he wants.

[Sarah977]

@Suzanne302  So nice. A decent, reasonable, mature human being. Refreshing to read after the other recent post where a long-term guest asked for the host to buy a microwave and now wants cable TV!

I read home-share host complaints about guests eating all their food, but my guests actually replace things they've eaten because they couldn't get to the store, without being asked, and even buy me bags of coffee or replace a bottle of wine I invited them to share with me. Some even ask before they arrive if I need anything from the States or Canada, and then refuse to let me pay them back for it. I've also had guests refuse my offer of a refund for the first night that they missed on a week or two booking, because of an overbooked flight, and they've turned it down, saying "Oh, no way- it wasn't your fault, why should you take a loss."

But a new mattress? That's awesome. Lucky you.

[Suzanne302]

@Sarah977 Love those stories and it sounds like you have amazing guests. I just feel like people only post about the bad guests (because people love to vent, myself included!) and you'd think they are everywhere.

But my guess is there are more stories of good guests that people just don't bother posting about.

[Cormac0]

@Suzanne302 

And when he leaves will he be taking his mattress with him? Its my experiences of this type of thing they be looking to sell it to you when they leave.

What will you do with your existing mattress?

[Suzanne302]

@Cormac0  Did you read the whole post?

My mattress is 15+ years old. The bed is only a double. It works, but it wouldn't be described as comfortable. Quite frankly, it's awful! I planned to dump it and upgrade in March, before the busy season.

If the guest paid for a new bed, I'd get rid of my old bed, and yes, he would take the new bed with him when he left. At that point I would go ahead and buy the new queen bed and memory foam mattress I'd planned on buying anyway.

So, to summarize....My current bed sucks. Thanks to this guest, I'm going to upgrade my bed sooner than planned and the cost is going to be subsidized by the guest. When I said I would buy the bed he STILL offered to pay for part of the bed, knowing it would stay in my room after his lease is up. It's a win-win for host and guest. This is a GOOD thing!

[Helen3]

If you know your current 15 year old bed and mattress sucks and you have a long term guest, then really you should be arranging to replace it now rather than in six months.

Morally I wouldn't feel comfortable taking money from a guest for something which is my responsibility,  nice as it is for the guest to offer to pay. @Suzanne302 

[Suzanne302]

@Helen3 Ah Jesus. Ya try to make a nice post and people either don't read what you write, or take it as a chance to chastise the host.

Maybe saying my mattress "sucks" was a bit of an overstatement to drive the point across to the host who didn't seem to understand my original post.

I would sleep on my current mattress. I've had more than 100 guests sleep on my current mattress with no complaints. The point was it's not a brand new fancy memory foam but it works fine for the few nights my guests usually stay.

I offer incredible value in my listing and I don't feel I've been cheating guests or doing them a disservice by not upgrading my bed yet. 100% of my reviews reflect that guests are happy with their stay in my home.

It's not my "moral obligation" to upgrade my mattress. The mattress comes with the listing, take it or leave it. By that reasoning, anyone without a high end, luxury listing should immediately upgrade their furnishings. Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it?

[Kira32]

Good for you! @Suzanne302  

Can your guest also trow in a new kitchen at my place?

Just joking lol.

Just don't forget to send him my way😂

[Sean433]

Click Bait

[Suzanne302]

@Sean433I know, right?! Just like the titles of all your listings...

[Sean433]

@Suzanne302 

Apples to oranges .. but its your post, have fun with it. 

[Dimitar27]

Today's bed is something...very personal. More then 20 types of mattresses are available on the market worldwide. And every type has his own sub-categories. Many mattresses are made under request and they are specific for one person. Nobody, except the owner will feel comfortable with such a mattress. I think, that your guest just needs something very specific.

[Jeremy100]

Sounds great but is there ever a free lunch.  You know what they say about looking a gift horse in the mouth - open its mouth wide and have a bloody good look inside!  But if he does not try and sell it to you or takes it with him - then we’ll done.

[Ann72]

Good heavens, @Dimitar27 and @Jeremy100, what cynics you are!  @Suzanne302's post made it clear that it's a straightforward offer and that she stepped up and is buying the bed herself.  I'm sure she has told this guest what kind of mattress she's buying and that he's fine with it.  Now put your rose-colored glasses back on and enjoy your weekend.  🙂

[Jeremy100]

I can understand a guest bringing their own pillow or towels etc but their own bed and mattress- well that’s just strange.lol