Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 20:53:35 GMT
Helen shared on Manchester HOsts June 2014
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-90442
Kitchen access & cooking
I've been hosting for over two years and during that time I've been allowing my guests to use my kitchen to make themselves meals while they're staying. Most of them don't do this, most of the ones who do behave respectfully and don't 'hog' the kitchen or leave a mess, but there have been a few who have ruined pans, taken it over for hours at a time and generally been a nuisance. I never really like it when people use my kitchen. I run a small catering business from home and my kitchen is my 'office', my pans and things are the tools of my trade and I don't really enjoy letting other people cook with them, but I've been gritting my teeth and putting up with it so far, although I do try and make it clear that it's fine to heat up a pizza/make a quick pasta dish and not ok to spend five hours cooking an elaborate meal. Obviously as hosts you'll all know that guests are all different: most of them realise that they're in someone else's home and are very considerate, but the tiny few who are overly demanding can be very stressful!Now my catering business is picking up a bit and I need to have the kitchen to myself more often - including sometimes in the evenings and weekends, depending on what I've got on. I've decided (I think) that from now on I'm going to be saying the kitchen is not available for guests to use after breakfast is over. I think I offer a clean, comfortable, friendly place to stay, with breakfast and a homely feel, at a much cheaper price than a budget hotel, in a great location, with absolute buckets of local knowledge and helpful information. That should be enough, right? Or am I shooting myself in the foot, since most guests seem to assume, until told, that they can use the kitchen to cook in whenever they want?I'd like to know what other experienced hosts think. Chorlton is packed full of places to eat out, including inexpensive places - but will my bookings drop off if I tell guests they have to eat out in the evenings??Thanks guys!
8 comments
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Helen
Helen2 years ago
Sorry about the lack of spacing above - there were spaces in it before I posted it, don't know what happened there!
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Danny
Danny2 years ago
You're absolutely right Helen.
It's YOUR home and above all, guests should be actively conscious and respectful of this.
For the short-term guests, very few of them request to use the kitchen, which I allow between certain times.
Guests that are staying longer are welcome to use it whenever they like.
Call me a devils advocate but if bookings drop off, honestly don't worry about it. Clearly that person isn't the right person to be in your home if they can't abide by YOUR rules/standards!
It's your home not a self-catering hotel!
Like 2 likes
Julia&Gaynor
Julia&Gaynor2 years ago
I am in better situation here I guess. Our incomes allow us do not do any airbnb at all, we are not relaying on that income, that gives a little freedom with choosing who is staying with us. I clearly stated that guest will not access to kitchen for cooking, if they want to heat up and use our plates and cutlery and use our dining room it is fine with us but no use of my pots and pans :-) Besides I don't like my partner being around in my kitchen, I am not talking about strangers. The funny thing is that our last guest left in review that kitchen is not available for lunch and dinner...well it is clearly stated in the overview and house rules)< I guess they didn't really that as they didn't like that bus fare is £4 in Manchester...pathetic! But to be honest most of our guest just to pleasure to host so we are very happy to have our empty all year round room occupied now and then...patience to all of us
Like 1 like
Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
I hope this does not come across as a rude question Julia/Gaynor but I am genuinely interested, If you don't do it for the money - why do you do it?
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Julia&Gaynor
Julia&Gaynor2 years ago
Karyo&Colin, I want to believe it is not your intention to be rude. I didnt say I am doing airbnb for peanuts :-). I am doing it for utilize free space in the house. My point from the post was that we could a little picky with choosing who stais with us as we dont relay to airbnb income.
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Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
I don't think many of us are relying on airbnb for an income.I may be wrong! The problem ,we find is that you get used to the extra cash and although we do not need it to get by, without it our crazy holiday itinerary would be cut back and Karyo would have to stop buying coats!!
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Alain
Alain2 years ago
Helen, I decided to take the kitchen off my listing long time ago!! This to avoid that people get stuck in the living room taking my freedom away..so if they ask I may just say something like "ok, because you are special, if you really really need to, that odd time you can cook a quick meal in the kitchen"
Like 2 likes
Helen
Helen2 years ago
Thanks Alain, that's what I thought - it's much easier to set a firm boundary and then relax it for certain guests when it seems appropriate, than to be vague and get taken advantage of :-)
Like 1 reply
Alain
Alain2 years ago
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-90442
Kitchen access & cooking
I've been hosting for over two years and during that time I've been allowing my guests to use my kitchen to make themselves meals while they're staying. Most of them don't do this, most of the ones who do behave respectfully and don't 'hog' the kitchen or leave a mess, but there have been a few who have ruined pans, taken it over for hours at a time and generally been a nuisance. I never really like it when people use my kitchen. I run a small catering business from home and my kitchen is my 'office', my pans and things are the tools of my trade and I don't really enjoy letting other people cook with them, but I've been gritting my teeth and putting up with it so far, although I do try and make it clear that it's fine to heat up a pizza/make a quick pasta dish and not ok to spend five hours cooking an elaborate meal. Obviously as hosts you'll all know that guests are all different: most of them realise that they're in someone else's home and are very considerate, but the tiny few who are overly demanding can be very stressful!Now my catering business is picking up a bit and I need to have the kitchen to myself more often - including sometimes in the evenings and weekends, depending on what I've got on. I've decided (I think) that from now on I'm going to be saying the kitchen is not available for guests to use after breakfast is over. I think I offer a clean, comfortable, friendly place to stay, with breakfast and a homely feel, at a much cheaper price than a budget hotel, in a great location, with absolute buckets of local knowledge and helpful information. That should be enough, right? Or am I shooting myself in the foot, since most guests seem to assume, until told, that they can use the kitchen to cook in whenever they want?I'd like to know what other experienced hosts think. Chorlton is packed full of places to eat out, including inexpensive places - but will my bookings drop off if I tell guests they have to eat out in the evenings??Thanks guys!
8 comments
Follow
Like
Helen
Helen2 years ago
Sorry about the lack of spacing above - there were spaces in it before I posted it, don't know what happened there!
Like
Danny
Danny2 years ago
You're absolutely right Helen.
It's YOUR home and above all, guests should be actively conscious and respectful of this.
For the short-term guests, very few of them request to use the kitchen, which I allow between certain times.
Guests that are staying longer are welcome to use it whenever they like.
Call me a devils advocate but if bookings drop off, honestly don't worry about it. Clearly that person isn't the right person to be in your home if they can't abide by YOUR rules/standards!
It's your home not a self-catering hotel!
Like 2 likes
Julia&Gaynor
Julia&Gaynor2 years ago
I am in better situation here I guess. Our incomes allow us do not do any airbnb at all, we are not relaying on that income, that gives a little freedom with choosing who is staying with us. I clearly stated that guest will not access to kitchen for cooking, if they want to heat up and use our plates and cutlery and use our dining room it is fine with us but no use of my pots and pans :-) Besides I don't like my partner being around in my kitchen, I am not talking about strangers. The funny thing is that our last guest left in review that kitchen is not available for lunch and dinner...well it is clearly stated in the overview and house rules)< I guess they didn't really that as they didn't like that bus fare is £4 in Manchester...pathetic! But to be honest most of our guest just to pleasure to host so we are very happy to have our empty all year round room occupied now and then...patience to all of us
Like 1 like
Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
I hope this does not come across as a rude question Julia/Gaynor but I am genuinely interested, If you don't do it for the money - why do you do it?
Like
Julia&Gaynor
Julia&Gaynor2 years ago
Karyo&Colin, I want to believe it is not your intention to be rude. I didnt say I am doing airbnb for peanuts :-). I am doing it for utilize free space in the house. My point from the post was that we could a little picky with choosing who stais with us as we dont relay to airbnb income.
Like
Karyo&Colin
Karyo&Colin2 years ago
I don't think many of us are relying on airbnb for an income.I may be wrong! The problem ,we find is that you get used to the extra cash and although we do not need it to get by, without it our crazy holiday itinerary would be cut back and Karyo would have to stop buying coats!!
Like
Alain
Alain2 years ago
Helen, I decided to take the kitchen off my listing long time ago!! This to avoid that people get stuck in the living room taking my freedom away..so if they ask I may just say something like "ok, because you are special, if you really really need to, that odd time you can cook a quick meal in the kitchen"
Like 2 likes
Helen
Helen2 years ago
Thanks Alain, that's what I thought - it's much easier to set a firm boundary and then relax it for certain guests when it seems appropriate, than to be vague and get taken advantage of :-)
Like 1 reply
Alain
Alain2 years ago
