Post by High Priestess on Oct 27, 2015 4:03:19 GMT
Christine shared Oct 26 2015
2 guests, 6 suitcases!
I have just had 2 guests arrive with 6 suitcases and a large cardboard box, all to fit in a standard sized double room! They didn't give me any warning they were bringing so much or ask if there was room for it. So I've piled them and all their bags into the room. I've no idea how they will all fit in there for a week! Am I being too mean? Should I let them keep a few cases in the lounge room?
Margaret
I think if they didnt ask in advance its their own problem but if I had room in a secure shed or storage area I would offer to put a case or two (that they would not need access to during their stay in for them). I wouldnt store things in an area I sat in or in the hall.
Andrew
No, this could be the breakthrough moment where they learn to either pack sensibly or rent a space that's big enough for all their junk.
It may seem nice to offer storage for their stuff in the common areas, but can also backfire. For example maybe the guests wind up with the impression that your boundaries don't apply to them. Or, worse yet, if they believe something has gone missing from a suitcase that they left in the lounge, you'll have a more difficult situation on your hands.
Most worrisome is the cardboard box - not the sort of thing one takes on a vacation. Have these guests been clear about their reasons for staying in your area and their plans for their departure date?
Jeannette
I've amended my house rules, following Deborah, to max out the luggage at 3 pieces, and I've added info on where to purchases storage.
Jeannette
tinyurl.com/os9odjk
Serafina
They get the space they rented, as far as I'm concerned. That said there could be any number of reasons for having so much luggage. I was frequently forced to travel with extra luggage and large cardboard boxes for work, in another life. And sometimes a sweetheart accompanied me. They should be expecting to live with their excess.
Fiona
I had that happen several weeks ago. A lovely couple relocating to my area from overseas showed up with six suitcases and started apologizing all over themselves when they saw my face. I told them they could keep overflow in my unsecured garage but they found they hadn't organized well enough to find what they needed so kept them all in the room. They also instantly regretted bringing so much but honestly, who knows what they are going to find in a strange country? I wouldn't fault them too much but also wouldn't let them store in a common area.
Christine
They are relocating here. But wouldn't you bring one suitcase with you and have the rest sent once you were settled? The excess luggage fee must have been huge!
Keith
+1 for "you only get the space you booked" They should book a larger room, or another room, or bring less crap.
I dont go so far as to mandate people bring a max number of cases, but it's on them if they don't have enough room because they brought too much stuff.
I had 4 girls visiting from singapore (they were in both my available rooms at the time, with my bedroom between them).
Lovely and fun guests. They were surprised when I told them the bars close at 2am and they all rushed out the door the first night.
EVERY DAY there was a different UPS or FedEX package arriving for them. AND
They took a trip to costco and spend $1500 on stuff there.
Their baggage fees for the flight home must've been more than another seat on the plane.
Relocation is a reason to bring more stuff, but notify ahead of time or arrange for storage. around here, you can get a storage unit for a 1st month rate of $1.. perfect for people moving to town.. get a spot, jam your crap in there, then go apartment hunting and empty it out before months end.
Deborah
THis is an example of why I have a house rule that states guests may only bring two (or sometimes I change it to 3) suitcases. Some hosts are adamant that long lists of house rules are offputting and strive to keep theirs short and sweet. That is fine, until you find that the house rule you need with a particular guest has been left off your short and sweet list.
It is also not allowed for my guests to store their things anywhere outside their room. Anything I find outside their rooms which they have left behind, that remains there too long, I will snatch up and deposit in the lost and found box in the bathroom, and if it is too large for that, I will keep it in my room and make someone do the work to contact me to see where their item went that was stored where it was not permitted to be stored.
I have had guests who were in transition between two residences and those were the ones who brought the most problems vis a vis excess belongings.
I take a different approach than SErafina or those who suggest that if a guest rents a room they get to use the space as they wish, after realizing that guests who cram too much into rooms, or the wrong items, can damage those rooms. I have had damage caused by too many items squeezed into spaces: scrapes on floors, marks on walls, imprints squashed into carpets from heavy items, my personal property knocked over and sometimes broken by a mass of things crammed into a space that wasn't meant for it all. I am not renting a storage compartment, I am renting a furnished guest room, and it is not to be used for just any purpose, but for living in as a temporary resident. Examples of types of belongings that could cause inordinate damage: metal tools, which may be greasy or oily (eg if your guest is a carpenter or plumber moving from one city to another, and has their tools with them), packing cases with hasps which catch on the carpet and tear it, cardboard boxes full of foodstuffs which end up leaking eg a broken jar of honey, a smushed box of flour. I repeat: my furnished guest rooms are not storage lockers. Those who are moving with many things should rent storage lockers or keep things at friends' homes, in their car.
Christine
They only brought suitcases Deborah, not carpentry tools. My guests are happily coexisting with their luggage in the room, so I guess it's all a storm in a teacup.
Lisa
And of course there's the very high probability that they will leave a crap review because you didn't have enough space for all of their luggage. I've had 2 sets of guests in the past that brought an incredible amount of luggage, then leave me a horrible review as I didn't have enough storage space for all of their excessive luggage and them. Despite the fact that they have an empty wardrobe and 2 empty chests of drawers to unpack their things, most people don't unpack and then complain there's not enough floorspace to lay out 5 cases and live out of them. Ugh. All you can do is just do your best
Deborah
My example of tools was an explanation of why I have the rule I do, not because your guests have tools. For instance, I have had guests who brought 3 suitcases, and 10 boxes of things. I had one guest who had tools, which did damage the room.
Deborah
ANother reason to mention, for limiting amount of belongings that guests can bring: I have found that sometimes when guests have too much stuff, they end up moving my furniture around to make space for their stuff. Doing this can easily damage wood floors, and potentially damage the furniture too.
2 guests, 6 suitcases!
I have just had 2 guests arrive with 6 suitcases and a large cardboard box, all to fit in a standard sized double room! They didn't give me any warning they were bringing so much or ask if there was room for it. So I've piled them and all their bags into the room. I've no idea how they will all fit in there for a week! Am I being too mean? Should I let them keep a few cases in the lounge room?
Margaret
I think if they didnt ask in advance its their own problem but if I had room in a secure shed or storage area I would offer to put a case or two (that they would not need access to during their stay in for them). I wouldnt store things in an area I sat in or in the hall.
Andrew
No, this could be the breakthrough moment where they learn to either pack sensibly or rent a space that's big enough for all their junk.
It may seem nice to offer storage for their stuff in the common areas, but can also backfire. For example maybe the guests wind up with the impression that your boundaries don't apply to them. Or, worse yet, if they believe something has gone missing from a suitcase that they left in the lounge, you'll have a more difficult situation on your hands.
Most worrisome is the cardboard box - not the sort of thing one takes on a vacation. Have these guests been clear about their reasons for staying in your area and their plans for their departure date?
Jeannette
I've amended my house rules, following Deborah, to max out the luggage at 3 pieces, and I've added info on where to purchases storage.
Jeannette
tinyurl.com/os9odjk
Serafina
They get the space they rented, as far as I'm concerned. That said there could be any number of reasons for having so much luggage. I was frequently forced to travel with extra luggage and large cardboard boxes for work, in another life. And sometimes a sweetheart accompanied me. They should be expecting to live with their excess.
Fiona
I had that happen several weeks ago. A lovely couple relocating to my area from overseas showed up with six suitcases and started apologizing all over themselves when they saw my face. I told them they could keep overflow in my unsecured garage but they found they hadn't organized well enough to find what they needed so kept them all in the room. They also instantly regretted bringing so much but honestly, who knows what they are going to find in a strange country? I wouldn't fault them too much but also wouldn't let them store in a common area.
Christine
They are relocating here. But wouldn't you bring one suitcase with you and have the rest sent once you were settled? The excess luggage fee must have been huge!
Keith
+1 for "you only get the space you booked" They should book a larger room, or another room, or bring less crap.
I dont go so far as to mandate people bring a max number of cases, but it's on them if they don't have enough room because they brought too much stuff.
I had 4 girls visiting from singapore (they were in both my available rooms at the time, with my bedroom between them).
Lovely and fun guests. They were surprised when I told them the bars close at 2am and they all rushed out the door the first night.
EVERY DAY there was a different UPS or FedEX package arriving for them. AND
They took a trip to costco and spend $1500 on stuff there.
Their baggage fees for the flight home must've been more than another seat on the plane.
Relocation is a reason to bring more stuff, but notify ahead of time or arrange for storage. around here, you can get a storage unit for a 1st month rate of $1.. perfect for people moving to town.. get a spot, jam your crap in there, then go apartment hunting and empty it out before months end.
Deborah
THis is an example of why I have a house rule that states guests may only bring two (or sometimes I change it to 3) suitcases. Some hosts are adamant that long lists of house rules are offputting and strive to keep theirs short and sweet. That is fine, until you find that the house rule you need with a particular guest has been left off your short and sweet list.
It is also not allowed for my guests to store their things anywhere outside their room. Anything I find outside their rooms which they have left behind, that remains there too long, I will snatch up and deposit in the lost and found box in the bathroom, and if it is too large for that, I will keep it in my room and make someone do the work to contact me to see where their item went that was stored where it was not permitted to be stored.
I have had guests who were in transition between two residences and those were the ones who brought the most problems vis a vis excess belongings.
I take a different approach than SErafina or those who suggest that if a guest rents a room they get to use the space as they wish, after realizing that guests who cram too much into rooms, or the wrong items, can damage those rooms. I have had damage caused by too many items squeezed into spaces: scrapes on floors, marks on walls, imprints squashed into carpets from heavy items, my personal property knocked over and sometimes broken by a mass of things crammed into a space that wasn't meant for it all. I am not renting a storage compartment, I am renting a furnished guest room, and it is not to be used for just any purpose, but for living in as a temporary resident. Examples of types of belongings that could cause inordinate damage: metal tools, which may be greasy or oily (eg if your guest is a carpenter or plumber moving from one city to another, and has their tools with them), packing cases with hasps which catch on the carpet and tear it, cardboard boxes full of foodstuffs which end up leaking eg a broken jar of honey, a smushed box of flour. I repeat: my furnished guest rooms are not storage lockers. Those who are moving with many things should rent storage lockers or keep things at friends' homes, in their car.
Christine
They only brought suitcases Deborah, not carpentry tools. My guests are happily coexisting with their luggage in the room, so I guess it's all a storm in a teacup.
Lisa
And of course there's the very high probability that they will leave a crap review because you didn't have enough space for all of their luggage. I've had 2 sets of guests in the past that brought an incredible amount of luggage, then leave me a horrible review as I didn't have enough storage space for all of their excessive luggage and them. Despite the fact that they have an empty wardrobe and 2 empty chests of drawers to unpack their things, most people don't unpack and then complain there's not enough floorspace to lay out 5 cases and live out of them. Ugh. All you can do is just do your best
Deborah
My example of tools was an explanation of why I have the rule I do, not because your guests have tools. For instance, I have had guests who brought 3 suitcases, and 10 boxes of things. I had one guest who had tools, which did damage the room.
Deborah
ANother reason to mention, for limiting amount of belongings that guests can bring: I have found that sometimes when guests have too much stuff, they end up moving my furniture around to make space for their stuff. Doing this can easily damage wood floors, and potentially damage the furniture too.
