I have a lot of rules on my listing. Much more than most. I don't seem to have too much trouble attracting guests, but I guess it may help if I had less of them. Here is a list of rules I have that many guests don't follow and my reasons for having them.
I would appreciate feedback on which rules, if any, should be deleted. And if it would be ok to keep these/some of these rules but list them as "preferences" instead, out of recognition they are often not followed and can't realistically be enforced. That way, guests would know how I'd like them to behave, while not having unrealistic expectations.
RULES THAT ARE OFTEN NOT FOLLOWED.
RULE Always lock the front security door.
EXPLANATION I don't live in a rough/dangerous place. In 20+ years I only once had a drunk guy come to my front door. And I've never been burgled, either. I have this rule because I want to be able to open my main wooden door any time someone comes, knowing that if in the unlikely event they are a bit of a nutter, that they can't just come straight in. Also, during the day, sometimes the wooden main door is open to allow airflow through the security door and I don't like the thought of anyone being able to come in off the street, which, once again is unlikely.
I think greater than 50% don't follow this rule. Possibly because they are not in the habit of doing this, and it is hard to break habits.
RULE Don't eat in your bedroom
EXPLANATION. Their bedroom is private and so I can't easily check up on them. They can spill food on the carpet and leave it there so that it gets ground in. They can eat in their bed and have crumbs, nuts etc underneath their bed that are difficult to clean up (the bed is next to a desk and can't easily be moved to get underneath it). I have already had a few problems with nuts, crumbs etc under the bed. No problems with carpet food stains that I'm aware of. This rule is also frequently broken.
RULE Keep showers down to 5 min daily.
Hot water is expensive and I live in Australia. We are not supposed to waste water. I currently have a boarder who has two 12 minute showers a day. I read online the average shower length is 7 minutes for a male and 9 minutes for a female. I think most boarders' showers are 8 to 10 minutes in my experience.
RULE Don't leave windows open when you go out.
For insurance purposes, if my place ever was burgled, I think this rule may help. But many guests like to leave the toilet window open 24/7 (even though air freshener is provided) and their bedroom window open all day (perhaps just closing at night when it's cold). Presumably, they leave the bedroom door open because they like to keep their bedroom door locked and closed for great privacy and then leave the window open to prevent the bedroom getting stuffy (but generally always forget/don't bother closing their bedroom window when they go out.)
It would be highly unlikely, in my opinion that either windows being open increases the risk of burglary. The toilet window is extremely high and to get to the bedroom window, they have to climb over a very high fence that borders the next door neighbour's property (which is 4 units/condominiums).
RULE. Don't alter the shower head height.
Almost everyone does this. My concern is that the constant adjustment will make it loose. If it is adjusted for tall people it works for everyone. But almost everyone changes it. Is my concern valid?
RULE. Don't put food or other inappropriate items in the recycle bin.
I am often fishing out things that shouldn't be there, including food.
RULE. Wipe down shower tiles after shower to prevent mould.
Don't think anyone at all follows this rule.
OTHER RULES THAT ARE NOT OFTEN BROKEN - UNSURE IF I SHOULD STILL HAVE THEM
RULE. Don't leave food uncovered in any part of the house.
I do this to deter rodents. It doesn't happen that often but some guests do this.
RULE. No smokers
Sometimes smokers book and then tell me only a few days before that they it is okay because they will smoke outside. I don't want to lose the booking at short notice, so I let them stay. Doesn't happen often. No problems so far. Not sure if I should allow smokers if they only smoke outside, or not.
RULE. Please don't put your dirty underwear on my towel.
Only one guest did this.
RULE. Women can't wear their high heels on my wooden living room floor.
It wrecks wooden floors, apparently. Are women very likely to break this rule?