Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 16:30:43 GMT
Patrick shared Jan 2015 on Hosting 911
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-101055
Should I shovel my stairs and driveway for guests?
I have guests renting out my entire house until tomorrow and then new guests arrive tomorrow afternoon. It is supposed to snow 6-12 inches tonight. I left them access to the garage so they could use the steps in there and not need the front steps. Should I go over there and shovel off the driveway? My shovels are all in the garage and would need to get permission from guests? Should I ask guests if they want me to do it? Or do you think they should do it? It's my first winter season renting out my house and appreciate the help.
12 comments•1 like
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Richard
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I don't think you would need permission from guests to do that. I am sure they would be happy if you shoveled the driveway for them!! However, you should have a plan, communicated in advance, about whose responsibility it is to do this regularly. I would assume that you wouldn't want to be shoveling the driveway every day for guests. So, it might be reasonable to do it on the day guests arrive, and then explain that they need to do it every day after that for the rest of their stay, and tell them where the shovels are.
Reply Like 1 like
Susan
Susana year ago
For liability purposes, you should shovel the driveways and steps, walkways. Pay a neighbor to do it.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
My thoughts exactly. Shovel and ice melt for liability purposes.
Patrick
Patricka year ago
My shovels are in the garage. I would need to tell them I need to open it. I guess I feel it's my responsibility to have it done for them. Like you said, it's a liability.
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Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I think the guest would appreciate it if you clean them, but make sure it's done properly - I've actually heard the opposite - someone suing a property owner because they cleaned the walkway so it appeared clean and safe but it had black ice.
Here's one example from a quick search: www.randolphwolf.com/blog/responsibility-homeowner-remove-snow/ "Thus, the law in New Jersey on snow and ice removal is as such: Residential homeowners and renters are generally not liable for defects to a sidewalk or natural accumulations of snow and ice but may be liable for snow and ice conditions if they attempt to make a sidewalk safer for pedestrians by negligent attempts to address snow and ice."
Not sure if this applies to you, but it's good to know.
Reply Like 1 like
Patrick
Patricka year ago
I'm in California, but that makes sense. Thank you.
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Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Can I please have some snow! It's about 90 here today
Reply Like 2 replies•2 likes
mark
marka year ago
90? Aren't the trees exploding and the rivers near boiling?
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Lol it's about 32 c, it's bloody hot ok and the worst thing is I work on a beautiful island with amazing beaches dealing with campers all day on New Year's Eve and they are all swimming at those awesome beaches and I'm in the OFFICE! So close yet so far.
Patrick
Patricka year ago
I decided to tell the guest I had shovels in the garage. I asked if they wanted to do it or if they wanted me to do it. I said some people enjoy it and some don't. They said they wanted to do it. I'll make sure it's cleared for the other guests checking in after them.
Reply Like 1 like
Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
Here in Minnesota, property owners are responsible for ice and snow removal unless they have an express written agreement with the renter, and even then they are responsible for seeing that the job is done effectively. Here, one is much more likely to get sued if one doesn't clear it.
This is something that is a continual challenge for my rental. We had a snow emergency this week when I had guests. We don't have a garage and have two off-street parking spots near the rental, but we generally don't let guests park there in the winter because an extra car makes it too tight for my neighbor to effectively shovel. And I truly value my neighbor's goodwill. Happily, we have guests January through March this year who will have no cars.
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Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
In other words, I would have shoveled it or had someone on call to do so at the beginning of the snow season. As a guest, I'd be taken aback at being asked to do the shoveling, though I'm glad it worked out for your guests, Kristy.
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Patrick
Patricka year ago
Thanks for the comments. There was no snow when they got there. It snowed during their stay. I feel I worded it well and gave them the choice. They said they liked it. I re shoveled for the next group.
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Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
Yeah, snow is so pesky. I was caught unaware this week too--my guests arrived mid-thirties and no snow and left with six inches and below zero temps. It sounds like you worded it perfectly for your guests.
Reply Like 1 like
Sharon
Sharona year ago
Guests that don't mind doing back breaking work and paying you for the privilege......doesn't get better than that. I love snow on postcards, not so much on my driveway.
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-101055
Should I shovel my stairs and driveway for guests?
I have guests renting out my entire house until tomorrow and then new guests arrive tomorrow afternoon. It is supposed to snow 6-12 inches tonight. I left them access to the garage so they could use the steps in there and not need the front steps. Should I go over there and shovel off the driveway? My shovels are all in the garage and would need to get permission from guests? Should I ask guests if they want me to do it? Or do you think they should do it? It's my first winter season renting out my house and appreciate the help.
12 comments•1 like
Following
Like
Richard
Deborah
Deboraha year ago
I don't think you would need permission from guests to do that. I am sure they would be happy if you shoveled the driveway for them!! However, you should have a plan, communicated in advance, about whose responsibility it is to do this regularly. I would assume that you wouldn't want to be shoveling the driveway every day for guests. So, it might be reasonable to do it on the day guests arrive, and then explain that they need to do it every day after that for the rest of their stay, and tell them where the shovels are.
Reply Like 1 like
Susan
Susana year ago
For liability purposes, you should shovel the driveways and steps, walkways. Pay a neighbor to do it.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Nicole
Nicolea year ago
My thoughts exactly. Shovel and ice melt for liability purposes.
Patrick
Patricka year ago
My shovels are in the garage. I would need to tell them I need to open it. I guess I feel it's my responsibility to have it done for them. Like you said, it's a liability.
Reply Like
Julie and Eric
Julie and Erica year ago
I think the guest would appreciate it if you clean them, but make sure it's done properly - I've actually heard the opposite - someone suing a property owner because they cleaned the walkway so it appeared clean and safe but it had black ice.
Here's one example from a quick search: www.randolphwolf.com/blog/responsibility-homeowner-remove-snow/ "Thus, the law in New Jersey on snow and ice removal is as such: Residential homeowners and renters are generally not liable for defects to a sidewalk or natural accumulations of snow and ice but may be liable for snow and ice conditions if they attempt to make a sidewalk safer for pedestrians by negligent attempts to address snow and ice."
Not sure if this applies to you, but it's good to know.
Reply Like 1 like
Patrick
Patricka year ago
I'm in California, but that makes sense. Thank you.
Reply Like
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Can I please have some snow! It's about 90 here today
Reply Like 2 replies•2 likes
mark
marka year ago
90? Aren't the trees exploding and the rivers near boiling?
Fleur, Dan and kids
Fleur, Dan and kidsa year ago
Lol it's about 32 c, it's bloody hot ok and the worst thing is I work on a beautiful island with amazing beaches dealing with campers all day on New Year's Eve and they are all swimming at those awesome beaches and I'm in the OFFICE! So close yet so far.
Patrick
Patricka year ago
I decided to tell the guest I had shovels in the garage. I asked if they wanted to do it or if they wanted me to do it. I said some people enjoy it and some don't. They said they wanted to do it. I'll make sure it's cleared for the other guests checking in after them.
Reply Like 1 like
Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
Here in Minnesota, property owners are responsible for ice and snow removal unless they have an express written agreement with the renter, and even then they are responsible for seeing that the job is done effectively. Here, one is much more likely to get sued if one doesn't clear it.
This is something that is a continual challenge for my rental. We had a snow emergency this week when I had guests. We don't have a garage and have two off-street parking spots near the rental, but we generally don't let guests park there in the winter because an extra car makes it too tight for my neighbor to effectively shovel. And I truly value my neighbor's goodwill. Happily, we have guests January through March this year who will have no cars.
Reply Like
Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
In other words, I would have shoveled it or had someone on call to do so at the beginning of the snow season. As a guest, I'd be taken aback at being asked to do the shoveling, though I'm glad it worked out for your guests, Kristy.
Reply Like
Patrick
Patricka year ago
Thanks for the comments. There was no snow when they got there. It snowed during their stay. I feel I worded it well and gave them the choice. They said they liked it. I re shoveled for the next group.
Reply Like
Serafina
Serafinaa year ago
Yeah, snow is so pesky. I was caught unaware this week too--my guests arrived mid-thirties and no snow and left with six inches and below zero temps. It sounds like you worded it perfectly for your guests.
Reply Like 1 like
Sharon
Sharona year ago
Guests that don't mind doing back breaking work and paying you for the privilege......doesn't get better than that. I love snow on postcards, not so much on my driveway.