FYI: It took awhile to figure out the switches

[Inna22]

That's a message I got from a guest today with a list of other more or less legitimate complaints (loose door knob, loose chair etc). Is that something I should be or could be doing something about? I do offer to come over and greet and go over the switches at that time. The house has an insane number of switches but there is nothing unusual about them. I feel like if you are here for a couple of days, you just pop all lights on and turn all off

[Kelly149]

@Inna22 I don’t do signs, but I did use a label maker to label a few of the switches that go to outdoor fixtures. It’s not super difficult to hit a few switches and see what happens. But people. Are. Special. 

I always leave on a few key lights & a music channel on the tv like @Pat271 so at least we know they started out being able to see. 

[Brian2036]

@Inna22 @Sarah977 @Kelly149 @Kitty-and-Creek0 @Branka-and-Silvia0 

I turn all the lights on if they are expected to arrive after dark.

My house has been called “spooky,” probably because the nearest street light is about 4 miles away.

 I like it that way and it pains me to see light pollution in the distance. 40 years ago I couldn’t see anything brighter than Venus, which is one reason I built there.

Leaving the TV on to a soothing music channel is an excellent idea.

If people can’t figure out how to turn things off I guess they’ll have to sleep with the lights on, which some do anyway.

[Kitty-and-Creek0]

@Brian2036 

We are out in the mountains, with no electrical power other than what we generate from solar and a generator for those times when there is no sun. The nearest street lights are about 12 miles from us, which is great. We love our dark night sky. We leave the artwork spots on in the guest room, and some basic other illumination. We do not have TV, which is another wonderful thing about being out here. We do a personal introduction to the space, and if someone is a returning guest they already know the way around and can arrive late if they wish. All our bulbs are low wattage with high output, so our big storage batteries can get us through a normal night of usage. 

[Colleen253]

@Inna22 I think it makes sense to have labels on switches if you get even one guest mentioning they had trouble. Cover all bases. That way, you save yourself and the guest the time and hassle of an in person visit to explain them all, and save the guest the frustration of figuring them out. It’s a win for all. 

[Sarah977]

There is a switchplate in my guest bathroom with 3 switches on it- one for the ceiling light, one for the fan, one for a wall sconce. Even I hit the wrong one half the time, and I've lived here for 13 years 🙂

[Brian2036]

But @Sarah977 , you apparently have enough sense to know that if you flip what you thought was the light switch and the fan comes on, you need to try another switch.

That ability may not be as common as one would hope….

[Sarah977]

@Brian2036  Yeah, but guests are lazy and easily fussed 🙂

Also I can find my way around in the dark in my own house.

[Elaine701]

We've been down this road before with previous properties. Too many switches, confusing for guests. 

When we bought this place, there was a separate switch for every lamp in the house. Too complicated! . So we rewired it for one switch that turns on/off the whole room, and right where you expect it to be, such as next to the door.

Yes, there are multiple switches, for example next to the bed or at the kitchen counter, but they all perform the same function; room on or off (and/or dimmer, where appropriate). 

Also the entire terrace, garden and pool... On or off. Several switches in various locations, but they all do exactly the same thing; All on or all off. 

To avoid language barriers, we've had them labelled iconically with light, fan, etc. icons, using text only when necessary, in the most common Latin format (e.g., "Terrace" = terrazza, terasse, etc...)  They know what it means in most any European language 

We've found that it minimises any confusion. Also tends to encourage turning them off when not in use, since they don't have to hunt for switches for each lamp, since many will just give up and leave it on, if they can't find the switch for it, or just can't be bothered. 

Also, since we're solar powered, we have automation which helps prevent overloading the system. For example, the pool filter asks "permission" from the power system before running. So, if the guest is running major appliances, then the pool is denied permission, and will wait until they've finished before running, to prevent using too much power at once. Same with the irrigation system. 

"Guest proofing" 😊