Post by High Priestess on May 26, 2019 20:20:28 GMT
In the several years I've been part of various host community groups, I've noticed that there are a few "touchy issues" which invariably, when they arise, result in somewhat tense disagreements. Generally the reason for the tension or heated discussions that ensue, is that some hosts cannot seem to refrain from judging other hosts and implying that they know better than that host, how that person should run their own private property and/or their business.
Examples of such "touchy" issues -- thermostat settings. Yes, some hosts will insist that you cannot set limits on thermostat settings on your own property, that if you do, you're the Grinch who ruined Christmas. Coffeemakers. There have been strident lectures delivered to hosts who use Keurig setups, that they are responsible for the destruction of the planet. Duvet covers, when to wash. Some hosts adamantly insist if you do not wash every duvet cover after every reservation you should just pack up shop and close your business because you're lower than pond scum. NEver mind that hotels do not do this. Screening of guests and asking for photo of guest. Some hosts insist there can be no possible good use of a photo of the guest to a host, and that if you want to see a photo of a guest before they book, and dislike Airbnb's new policy that prevents that, you're probably a Klan member or other discriminatory and hateful toad just waiting to reject people on the basis of their race.
And of course, House rules, perhaps the most touchy of all!!
It's quite common to see some hosts bash any host who has "longish" house rules. Because, apparently, they all know that there can be no possible reason for this except wanting to torture people. A surprising number of hosts will be completely dismissive of anyone who has discovered (often to their own dismay) that there is just no way around saying what has to be said. These will insinuate, in a simplistic and demonizing way, "long rules! Bad host!"
There's one article about this here: globalhostingblogs.com/2017/04/08/house-rules-why-warum-por-queзачем-pourquoi/
So I thought I'd share an example of why our house rules end up getting longer and longer...in spite of our own wish for this not to happen!!
As has been written about elsewhere, (for instance, here: globalhostingblogs.com/2017/11/15/mail-and-the-boomerang-guest/ ) allowing guests to receive mail at your home can introduce problems. Not always, or course, but there is the possibility of problems. So for that reason, many hosts myself included will create a rule to help eliminate potential problems.
When I started, it was a simple two words; "No mail."
Then, I discovered people thinking that "mail" did not include packages, so I had to say "No mail or packages delivered to my house, please.
But then, I found that while not ordering mail or packages, guests were using my address in ways they should not and which would cause trouble for me...eg open bank account with my address.
So then it became "no mail or packages may be delivered to my house and do not give out my address to any business or institution, ther than immigration authorities as required or a cab driver.
But then, the whole issue of what to do when guests broke this rule arose. Because in spite of having stated crystal clearly that guests could not get mail or packages sent to my house, and actually reminding guests of this in about 3 different ways, (once in the house rules before they inquire, once after inquiring, and again after arrival) they would have mail or packages sent to my house. So now, I had to add to the rule, what guests could expect if they did this. Because I had already tried handing them the item and scolding them, only to find this didn't work...because guess what. They found out that they could keep ordering packages and say "oops!" Oops! Didn't know about that rule. Oops! It came here by mistake. Oops! It was Amazon or Pottery Barn's error, etc.
Also, something that is helpful in doing property rentals, is understanding human psychology. I have learned that for some folks, one of the best motivators to follow house rules in host's home, is that there are some kinds of consequences for not doing so. Such people lack the basic respect which would motivate them just to behave as expected in a property where they are an invited guest. Rather, they are responsive to consequences. This may be fear of getting a bad review, or it might be a fine for rule violation (unfortunately Airbnb and some other platforms do not allow for this...a shame because it would be very effective). Or it might be that they see they are not able to benefit from breaking the rule.
So...now I have to take another approach, and also tell guests about this in advance, so they would not expect that if they violate my house rules they can benefit from that. So....if guests have mail or packages come to my house...I state I'll return to sender, or throw out.
But then, as you might expect....that wasn't enough either!!...Because now as some of the more astute of you may have guessed, when they dont' get an item that they had delivered to your home in violation of your rules...guess what...not a few will blame YOU for this! "Where's my package!!!" So now I had to also state that I will not be responsible or liable for any items sent to my house..!!
And so you see how things can just go on and on. Yes if guests could "get it" with a simple 2 word statement all would be well. But the nature of some renters seems to be trying to find excuses or ways around the rules, so we end up with longer and longer rules, continually trying to close the loopholes or sew up the ambiguities and bring things back to crystal clear. And then...as if that were not enough....some guests also seem to have an expectation that you explain the "why" of all your rules...as if not realizing that this would increase the amount of required reading for prospective guests by a significant amount.
And then we have...to our own dismay...." the yellow pages book of rules".
Examples of such "touchy" issues -- thermostat settings. Yes, some hosts will insist that you cannot set limits on thermostat settings on your own property, that if you do, you're the Grinch who ruined Christmas. Coffeemakers. There have been strident lectures delivered to hosts who use Keurig setups, that they are responsible for the destruction of the planet. Duvet covers, when to wash. Some hosts adamantly insist if you do not wash every duvet cover after every reservation you should just pack up shop and close your business because you're lower than pond scum. NEver mind that hotels do not do this. Screening of guests and asking for photo of guest. Some hosts insist there can be no possible good use of a photo of the guest to a host, and that if you want to see a photo of a guest before they book, and dislike Airbnb's new policy that prevents that, you're probably a Klan member or other discriminatory and hateful toad just waiting to reject people on the basis of their race.
And of course, House rules, perhaps the most touchy of all!!
It's quite common to see some hosts bash any host who has "longish" house rules. Because, apparently, they all know that there can be no possible reason for this except wanting to torture people. A surprising number of hosts will be completely dismissive of anyone who has discovered (often to their own dismay) that there is just no way around saying what has to be said. These will insinuate, in a simplistic and demonizing way, "long rules! Bad host!"
There's one article about this here: globalhostingblogs.com/2017/04/08/house-rules-why-warum-por-queзачем-pourquoi/
So I thought I'd share an example of why our house rules end up getting longer and longer...in spite of our own wish for this not to happen!!
As has been written about elsewhere, (for instance, here: globalhostingblogs.com/2017/11/15/mail-and-the-boomerang-guest/ ) allowing guests to receive mail at your home can introduce problems. Not always, or course, but there is the possibility of problems. So for that reason, many hosts myself included will create a rule to help eliminate potential problems.
When I started, it was a simple two words; "No mail."
Then, I discovered people thinking that "mail" did not include packages, so I had to say "No mail or packages delivered to my house, please.
But then, I found that while not ordering mail or packages, guests were using my address in ways they should not and which would cause trouble for me...eg open bank account with my address.
So then it became "no mail or packages may be delivered to my house and do not give out my address to any business or institution, ther than immigration authorities as required or a cab driver.
But then, the whole issue of what to do when guests broke this rule arose. Because in spite of having stated crystal clearly that guests could not get mail or packages sent to my house, and actually reminding guests of this in about 3 different ways, (once in the house rules before they inquire, once after inquiring, and again after arrival) they would have mail or packages sent to my house. So now, I had to add to the rule, what guests could expect if they did this. Because I had already tried handing them the item and scolding them, only to find this didn't work...because guess what. They found out that they could keep ordering packages and say "oops!" Oops! Didn't know about that rule. Oops! It came here by mistake. Oops! It was Amazon or Pottery Barn's error, etc.
Also, something that is helpful in doing property rentals, is understanding human psychology. I have learned that for some folks, one of the best motivators to follow house rules in host's home, is that there are some kinds of consequences for not doing so. Such people lack the basic respect which would motivate them just to behave as expected in a property where they are an invited guest. Rather, they are responsive to consequences. This may be fear of getting a bad review, or it might be a fine for rule violation (unfortunately Airbnb and some other platforms do not allow for this...a shame because it would be very effective). Or it might be that they see they are not able to benefit from breaking the rule.
So...now I have to take another approach, and also tell guests about this in advance, so they would not expect that if they violate my house rules they can benefit from that. So....if guests have mail or packages come to my house...I state I'll return to sender, or throw out.
But then, as you might expect....that wasn't enough either!!...Because now as some of the more astute of you may have guessed, when they dont' get an item that they had delivered to your home in violation of your rules...guess what...not a few will blame YOU for this! "Where's my package!!!" So now I had to also state that I will not be responsible or liable for any items sent to my house..!!
And so you see how things can just go on and on. Yes if guests could "get it" with a simple 2 word statement all would be well. But the nature of some renters seems to be trying to find excuses or ways around the rules, so we end up with longer and longer rules, continually trying to close the loopholes or sew up the ambiguities and bring things back to crystal clear. And then...as if that were not enough....some guests also seem to have an expectation that you explain the "why" of all your rules...as if not realizing that this would increase the amount of required reading for prospective guests by a significant amount.
And then we have...to our own dismay...." the yellow pages book of rules".
