Post by High Priestess on Nov 10, 2015 15:25:26 GMT
when we are betrayed, it's not betrayal by an enemy.....
Recently, a host wrote about being approached by a neighbor's friend, who wanted to stay at her house. She held the space for him, and he said he would be staying there, but he ended up changing his mind very close to the date he was supposed to stay, and didn't pay her anything. She had neglected to ask for payment up front.
I think there are things that many of us just have to learn by unpleasant experience -- such as the need to have payment up front. This is hard for many of us who are kindhearted by nature. As kind and respectful people, we aren't oriented to think that we might be taken advantage of or our generosity abused, because we wouldnt' treat others like that. But one of the things we quickly learn when renting out property, is that we can't assume that other people have the same values that we do, or that others will all be thoughtful people.
It can be particularly difficult and tricky to negotiate the complex situation of doing business with friends, or relatives' or neighbor's friends, which is why I (generally, not strictly and not always) recommend against doing business with people you know, or who your neighbors know. It can seem unfriendly to take that position -- but the problem that so often rises, is that people with whom you have some type of non-business relationship, tend to expect "exceptions" and exemptions, special preferences from you -- which ultimately means, that they dont' really feel that they should have to PAY you (or pay in full) for what they think should be GIVEN to them because, after all, you're "friends." There are many stories that many hosts and others have, of problems that resulted from trying to do business with friends -- so I suggest keeping a boundary, with friendships on one side, business on the other, and dont' mix the two.
Also, I think many hosts and people renting out property generally, have experienced why it isnt' a good idea to hold a space for someone who hasn't paid. At the very least a (nonrefundable) deposit should be required to hold the space. That way, if the person decides not to take the place, they don't lose the entire rent, only the deposit, and you as the person renting it, have at least some compensation for the time you held the space open for them, during which you may have lost other potential renters.
Recently, a host wrote about being approached by a neighbor's friend, who wanted to stay at her house. She held the space for him, and he said he would be staying there, but he ended up changing his mind very close to the date he was supposed to stay, and didn't pay her anything. She had neglected to ask for payment up front.
I think there are things that many of us just have to learn by unpleasant experience -- such as the need to have payment up front. This is hard for many of us who are kindhearted by nature. As kind and respectful people, we aren't oriented to think that we might be taken advantage of or our generosity abused, because we wouldnt' treat others like that. But one of the things we quickly learn when renting out property, is that we can't assume that other people have the same values that we do, or that others will all be thoughtful people.
It can be particularly difficult and tricky to negotiate the complex situation of doing business with friends, or relatives' or neighbor's friends, which is why I (generally, not strictly and not always) recommend against doing business with people you know, or who your neighbors know. It can seem unfriendly to take that position -- but the problem that so often rises, is that people with whom you have some type of non-business relationship, tend to expect "exceptions" and exemptions, special preferences from you -- which ultimately means, that they dont' really feel that they should have to PAY you (or pay in full) for what they think should be GIVEN to them because, after all, you're "friends." There are many stories that many hosts and others have, of problems that resulted from trying to do business with friends -- so I suggest keeping a boundary, with friendships on one side, business on the other, and dont' mix the two.
Also, I think many hosts and people renting out property generally, have experienced why it isnt' a good idea to hold a space for someone who hasn't paid. At the very least a (nonrefundable) deposit should be required to hold the space. That way, if the person decides not to take the place, they don't lose the entire rent, only the deposit, and you as the person renting it, have at least some compensation for the time you held the space open for them, during which you may have lost other potential renters.