I may have panicked...

[Ben551]

I don't know if it's that I've been away and need to get my head back into "business" mode, or whether I just flat out panicked...

My new guests arrived last night and, although we've had beautiful summer-like sunshine filled weather for Autumn so far, it has turned very cold almost overnight this week.  We were worried so my wife went down and asked whether our guests needed any extra blankets for their comfort.  They are a load of retirees about my parents age, so figured they might feel the cold.  When my wife knocked on the door, she found they had the electric fireplace roaring and were quite comfortable.  They said no to extra blankets and said they were "tough folk" and it took far more than a little chill in the air to bother them.  Wife stayed down there for 20 minutes chatting to them, apparently lovely couple and had great stories to share. 

So righto, we thought we were good.  Until this morning...

It seems that only 2 out of 4 guests were present during the "offer of blankets" last night.  The other 2 guests appeared this morning and complained of being bitterly cold last night!  They were just about to leave to go out, so they asked us (pointedly) to drop some extra blankets off later when they returned.  Sounds fine when I write this, like a normal conversation even.  But it was the emphasise placed on the "we were very cold" that shook me.  She said it twice and gave a stare with a grave, seriousness to it. 

If my over 60's mother said she was cold, in that tone... I'd be a dead man.

I was mortified.  I ran to our stores of blankets... then as I was riffling through and deciding this one, or that one, wasn't good enough... I thought "hey, lets get the best blankets money can buy!"  Total overreaction, I know, but I've never had a guest tell me point blank that they were unhappy before..  so I got in the car and headed across town to the best bedding store.  $250 of blankets later... (...including 2 super thick blankets, and 2 electric blankets with fleece covering and his/hers heat control zones...) I now feel prepared to respond with an arm load of fleecy ammunition.

My emotional self says "great decision, entirely the right thing, they'll be super pleased and I'll feel much better about having made that lady cold." 

My business self is saying "what a complete Womble"...

PS:  I hope you like the meme picture.  I made it myself.  At least I can do one thing right today...

[Ann72]

@Sandra126 Keeping them tied (the way hotels do, I guess?) is a good idea.  Even better if most guests don't use them.  I'll put them in the two places that have big dryers, though, so as not to drive my housekeeper mad.  🙂

[Ben551]

@Sandra126 @Ann72  do you find every guest uses them?  Or do most just leave them tied?

[Sandra126]

Some guests do, most not. I will know if used. Because I don't advertise that I have them, I don't have to put them out. So if drying weather is bad, for instance, I don't put them out. My choice. They are thick towelling.

[Cathie19]

I have the opposite problem. Depending on who comes and the cohort mix, I might supply a sarong to wrap themselves in around the place, or after a swim. (Pool towels as well!) 

[Rosemarie9]

Oh bliss! What I wouldn't give for some Australian heat again! I have a serious seven year itch with Ireland at the moment. I know something is up when I have to watch Neighbours and Home and Away every day. I think I could handle being hot instead of rained on, and blown away by wind. Although I'm guessing guests complain about air conditioning and not heating all the time! You can't win.

[Emilia42]

@Ben551, this story made me laugh. I would have done the exact same thing.

Just last night I was thinking to myself "What has Airbnb done to me?!" Yesterday morning I get a frantic call from my boyfriend (who was cleaning the Airbnb while I finished up working.) One of the glass shower doors had just shattered! I run down and there he is dripping with blood trying to get his foot to stop bleeding. I'm thinking "OMG, I have a check-in in 2 hours! Thank god this didn't happen while a guest was here!" He hobbled out and I tended to his injuries only AFTER the place was perfect for the incoming guest!

[Ben551]

Lol @Emilia42 that’s hilarious. So true too. I have injured myself before and done exactly the same thing; not treated it until after the cottage was guest ready... we look nuts to say it.

[Rosemarie9]

I have a panic moment at least once a week. That's why my reviews say I provide so much in the listings. But seriously, I am reigning it in this year. Although I love the sound of the washable electric blankets, and it may cut down my frankly stupid oil heating and electricity bills. I wish I had the funds for solar, but I am still not sure that it is feasible in Ireland. Alas, I need to repair/replace  my woodburning stove, so there goes another couple of grand. Upgrading a 39 year old home is a drain on the wallet and I wish I could rip out everything. I have to settle for a bit at a time. I always get myself in a tizz at this time of year, deep cleaning and re decorating for my whole home rentals from next month. Three years in and still panicking, my friends think I have developed some sort of PTSD of the airbnb host kind! I'm so glad to hear it is not just me.

[Ben551]

@Rosemarie9 I know the feeling when it comes to repairs and maintenance of an old home. It’s a constant issue where I am. I would take a 39 year old Irish built house any day, over my current “kiwi built 80 year old shack”... seriously, I don’t think New Zealand homes are up to standard. No insulation, no double glazing, no central heating... the foundations are toothpicks and sticking plasters in an earthquake zone...it’s amazing anyone survives!

We are, bit by bit, solving this. I started with double glazed windows, though I found they have a mad system here of “cheap” double glazing that is either an un-pressurised retrofitted layer, or its aluminium!! Who in the hell uses aluminium for a window frame!?! I’ve never seen anything like it. Aluminium is a conductive metal that attracts moisture, therefore mould. More than that, it expands at a different rate to glass when the sun strikes the glass. Believe me when I say, a double glazed window with Argon gas fill is essentially a bomb. Eventually that glass will heat up and explode. It’s not an ‘if’ it’s a ‘when’. Kiwis seem to be so used to seeing alumium framing though, so they trust it and buy it. I think the local aluminium mining industry has something to do with it.

Needless to say, I found a suppler of European grade uPVC argon filled double glazing and (window by window) have been importing it from the UK... lots of neighbours asking about our “amazing looking widows”. To me they just look normal.

God knows what I’ll find when I move on to NZ insulation products...

[Rosemarie9]

I probably mentioned that I had been looking at businesses online, and looking at what to expect in New Zealand building wise, and what you said rings true. I heard that it is a bit difficult to source certain items although I am used to aluminium windows from Australia. However the climate is slightly warmer and drier in Sydney! I used to live on the Northern Beaches there, and it is surprising how many beach shacks were selling for well over a million even seven years ago. I actually appreciate upvc now, as much as wood is lovely, you really need it in damper climates.I wouldn't say builders here in Ireland are brilliant, there are too many cowboys doing rush jobs. My dream was to buy a Georgian bed and breakfast in town here, however the structual engineer did his search and told me it would cost 250,000 euro to fix the damp. Everything is covered over with paint instead of fixed, the boom bust economics of the country may be the reason. So I bought a good old bungalow instead, in a great location, and tip away at the never ending diy.

[Sandra126]

@Ben551, just stick a few sheep in the walls and ceiling and squash 'em down. That'll do it. Seriously though, you should be able to find wool insulation being where you are!

Baa.

[Kimberly54]

Hi @Rosemarie9, you are NOT at all alone! 😉  The benefit to become OCD/PTSD-tormented is that my house and property are amazing.  It is a little addicting... you really don't have to re-decorate all the time. (as IF the next guest would think, "Wow, it doesn't look like she completely replaced that dated-design from last season!")  Do NOT ever sign up for sites like HOUZZ.  Don't do it.  And if you do, consider getting some professional help (psychological, not another design idea)!

Best!

[Rosemarie9]

It's more touching up paint and trying not to purchase more decorative cushions! Just before I read your comment, I was reading a cleaning tip on HOUZZ! I didn't know about it before, I am addicted to pinterest already! My day has been filled with tweezing out old silicone from my kitchen and scrubbing grout in my bathroom, and cleaning the top of cupboards. I love it when people ask me what I do all day. Um, constant bookings= washing, ironing, cleaning.... they think I get a cleaner in, no, I do it all except the mowing and occassional window cleaning. The local paint and hardware shops know me well! Oh to be a lady of leisure, no, that would bore me stupid!

[Kate-Mary0]

It's so hard being a host, isn't it? I had a giggle at your post @Ben87  - just because I'm fairly sure I would have reacted in the same way! I try so hard to make sure my guests are comfy, its really disheartening if you don't think they are having a top banana time! I try and add some special touches to make my guests smile (plus I do love a five-star review), and I found this checklist helpful to make sure I had all bases covered: https://www.airgms.com/airbnb-supplies/

[Valerie192]

Hi @Ben551  this reminds me of a recent stay of a lady from New York who claimed she "loved sleeping with the windows open." We were having a particularly cold spell in Los Angeles and I warned her that it does get quite chilly overnight. I tried to show her the remote for the ductless heater/air con wall unit but she basically dismissed the effort saying she wouldn't need it and would likely sleep with the window open. Therefore, I didn't even get a chance to show her where the extra blanket was on the closet shelf. The next morning she said didn't sleep well at all because she was too cold and didn't want to "try to figure out the remote on her own." (which is silly because it's a basic remote with a temp up and down feature) I just kind of shrugged my shoulders because she really did bring it on herself... But I guess lesson learned to show features even if the guests think they know best because sometimes they don't!