Multiple beds being used...

[Hayley2]

Hey guys, we've been on full-time with our family home in Jan Juc, Australia for one month now and it's going really well, only a few nights vacant since we started so far which we're so happy with. One issue I am finding is that guests state that they're only bringining two adults (couple) but then I find the second bed is getting used. I don't charge extra for extra people as I like to keep it simple but I am getting a bit frustrated when I come to do changeover, only expecting to do one bed and I have to do two. Should I just change my expectations to thinking I'll be doing all the beds every changeover and if not, that's a bonus? Keen to hear if anyone has any advice on how to handle this. Cheers, Hayley.

[Stephanie6]

Hayley, we have noticed the same thing!  We had one couple that used the master bed and also both twin beds in the main room.  They had even pushed the two twin beds together!  I'm not comfortable asking about guests about their sleeping arrangements, so I'm just happy when I only have to change one bed.  Because the guests sometimes "make" the bed at checkout, I do take a close look at the "unused" beds.  I learned pretty quickly to use duvets with covers instead of bed spreads and blankets so I could wash all of the bedding easily. 

You could not make up the "extra" bed when the guests are a couple.  I keep all the beds made up so the place looks nice and because I don't want the guests to use a mattress without bedding.   

[Hayley2]

@Stephanie6 thanks for the feedback. I'm the same as you, I don't like to leave unmade beds as I think it makes the house look a bit dull. I'm happy if every bed gets used but that's if there's 6 people staying, I just thinking it's strange if 2 or 4 people or staying and then 2 or 3 beds get used (we have one queen, one double, 2 singles... and yes we've had the beds pushed together before too). I just feel like when the beds are made up people use them as they're there but if they actually had to make them themselves they wouldn't use them if that makes sense? I think it's just a matter of me adjusting my expectations and also perhaps saying to the guests "I've made up the main room for you, let me know if you expect to use any other beds" so that way I'll know early if I'll be changing more beds (more time) and also so they won't get a shock when the other beds aren't made if they go to use them... I'm thinking I just pop the donna and pillow covers on and not the actual sheets so it still looks nice. 

[Monica4]

I have 6 beds in 5 bedrooms...two of these beds in separate rooms are doubles, two are antique three-quarter beds and two are singles. I keep all of them made up because they all sport my hand made quilts and that is the theme of the old stone house. I often have couples that don't sleep together so my price is not based on "one bed" for 2 people and I charge $20 extra per person after 2 guests. When a couple uses only one bed, I count it as a treat for me to only have to change one bed. I do always check the other beds and I have a unique way of making them so that I can tell if they have been used. Yes, I did have guests that snuck in more guests, used the extra beds, and then thought they could fool me by making them up again themselves. These guests were confronted and paid up.

The reason why I don't charge one set price for the whole house is because I often have just two people booking so I want to keep the base price low. The extra charge per person doesn't only cover the extra cleaning expense, but also the use of the hot water and normal wear on the house furnishings.

[Clare0]

@Hayley2 @Stephanie6 Is it possible that more guests are staying than the number indicated on the reservation?

[Stephanie6]

No extra guests in my case.  We have a security camera at the street entrance so it is easy to verify the number of guests.  

[Clare0]

@Stephanie6 Like you I rent an entire house and my pricing is for the space and  is not based on the number of guests. Some hosts charge for the number of guests.  I do not.   I guess the way I look at it, since they are paying for the entire home, they can fill it with 1, 2, 3 or 4 guests.  The price is the same.  So from that prospective, I'm not concerned with how many beds are used.  How do you look at it?  Do you tell people that they are restricted to a certain number of beds? Just wondering.  

[Stephanie6]

I have an extra charge for more than 2 guests.  I don't restrict the use of the beds since that would not be welcoming.  My only concern is to make sure and wash the bedding if they do use an "extra" bed. 

In fact, there are extra pillows and blankets that a guest may also use.  If they have not been moved/refolded I assume they were not used and are clean. @Clare0 Do you have other linens that are changed out for each guest?  I appreciate your advice since there are not any host "best practices" or requirements.

[Clare0]

@Stephanie6 Well, I guess that "best practices" are up to the individual host.  Personally I make sure that all evidence of a previous guest is gone before the next guest.  My job is easier than yours since the majority of my guests book for 4 people since the entire house price is so high.  The guest booking for 2 pays the same amount....kind of the reverse of what you are doing.  That might work fine for me, but in your location your pricing might work better.   

On rare occasions when there are just 2, I don't change the linens on the extra beds unless I see they were used.  No amount of remaking the bed can fool me into thinking they were not used.  And, to answer your question directly, no, I don't have extra linens available unless I have guests staying for a week or more.  Extra pillows, towels, and blankets, yes. 

[Stan26]

My husband and I have two  homes that we rent. We have found that a small percentage (30%?) Use every bed in the house even if there are only two guests. We call it the Goldilocks syndrome. I think it is very rude for a couple to sleep in both queens and both singles in a night. I was wondering how to word that or charge for it. 

[Mel131]

Nothing more annoying than having to change more beds than expected! 

Just a thought on couples using both beds, perhaps one is a snorer! I sometimes have to decamp to another room when my husband is snoring loudly.