Post by High Priestess on Feb 5, 2016 3:28:26 GMT
Michelle shared Feb 3 2016
Feeling a little burnt out and beaten..
Hello fellow hosts. I'm just here to have a little moan and ask for a sympathetic "There, there, don't let them get to you" from the group. I am reminded of your post a little while ago Helga about how you felt after a couple of bad star ratings.
We have had a lot of guests this past two months and are pretty much fully booked through February. We have mostly one nighters as we are a stop-off point for people "doing" the South Island. We can sleep groups of 5 so we get many families traveling together.
Recently we have have some real nightmare groups. They don't let us know what time they will arrive, or arrive hours later/earlier than said time. They flood the bathroom, the children are out of control and house rules seem to be more of a "rough guide" that don't really apply to them. So I have had to be firm with many of them remind them of the rules. One Swedish family hung all their wet laundry long our wooden banister in a shared space.
Our last family from China just left. They arrived an hour early. At the time of booking they asked if they could use the kitchen. I said no - not available. We have had some bad experiences so have removed kitchen use from the listing. They arrive with a chilly-bin full of fish and say they will cook! Ummm no. You will not. There are lots of great cheap options for eating in our town. They are very angry but go out for dinner. I had to store the large amount of fish in our fridge for the night. After they checked out I discovered they had emptied all the garbage from their car (food, bottles, plastic bags etc) in our garden! They were rude and had that "entitled" air about them. Wonder what their review will be like?
Sadly this is typical of what we are dealing with at the moment.
I just got a review from a similar group. Many problems with them, very rude and disrespectful. Left an hour late etc. They wrote a short review and totally burnt us on stars. 3 for communication, location, accuracy and overall! The first time ever we have got that low. Always 5 for accuracy and communication. I spend a lot of time on the listing description and messaging/emailing guests. This was purely revenge.
I am now going to have to start turning more groups down (and I am already quite picky).
We have had some great young couple staying too. Lovely, friendly and seem to love everything then at review time they give us 4 or 3 stars for location. Grrr. We are a farmstay - so we need to be in the country right!
Argghhh, anyway. I need to toughen up and not get so upset about those damn stars. Am set to lose that stupid little SH badge the way things are going. Probably not a bad thing.
Bring on winter and some down time when I won't dream about medieval torture devices for some of our "lovely" guests.
Sorry about the rant all you lovely hosts out there. I feel a little better getting it off my chest. Happy hosting.
12 comments•7 likes
Follow
Like
Monet
Alejandra
Gavin & Jo
Friederycke and Jeff
helga
+2
more
Delete
Hide
Milu
Milua day ago
You poor thing! Sounds like you've piled bad on to bad with your recent guests. Where did the family get the fish from? Did they actually buy it somewhere or do they travel with poles and make stops along the riverbank?
Reply Like 2 replies Delete
Michelle
Michellea day ago
Thanks Milu. They bought it from the other coast of the South Island 3 1/2hrs drive away. It was getting a bit smelly already. I pity the next place they got to with that bin full of fish.
helga
helga9 hours ago
Pity their garden ;-)
Deborah
Deboraha day ago
You have a great listing and wonderful reviews. I would love to stay there. Hang in there and enjoy the off season. I was upset too when recently we got fewer stars from another host. I think it was just his personality. I try not to let it bother me, but it does.
Reply Like 1 reply Delete
Michelle
Michellea day ago
Thank you Deborah. I know I need to be thicker skinned - it is a business after all. Actually some of our more difficult guests have been hosts too. We have just listed a whole house in town in an effort to have less stay with us in our home and get some breathing space.
Markus
Markus 9 hours ago
michelle:
What lovely listings you offer! It sounds like people are picking up on your sweetness and taking advantage which is so unfortunate.
It is going to be ok- and hopefully you've had your bad batch and sending positive vibes for great guests from here on out.
Consider increasing your price? They seem VERY reasonable for the amount of folks you can accommodate. Maybe if you increase the base price it will help?
As regards to rules consider writing something like:
We require you confirm a scheduled arrival time 48 hours prior to your check-in day. This will ensure someone is home to welcome you. The "(insert title of your unit)" is available beginning at (insert time here), if you need a later check-in please let us know.
Early check-ins prior to (5 mins before your listed time) will be charged an additional $50. By showing up early you understand and agree to pay the $50 through airbnb no exception. (Maybe a hefty fee will deter people from showing up early)
Guests are required to leave the unit as they found it.
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Thank you for your kind words. Our price is similar to others around here for a private room so I can't go too much higher. I would love to though. The problem I think with check ins is that the guests just don't read anything so they don't even know when check in is from. And of course they don't care that we have jobs and lives either. I do state in my listing and messages that they must tell us their arrival time. I just have to keep smiling through this for the next two months and think of the extra income. Hopefully there will be some nice folks out there soon.
helga
helga7 hours ago
Michelle, do you have your own text added to the booking confirmation? Most people read at least that. I have the way description there and repeat my phone number too. On the IB message, where you have only a few words, I say in shorthand something like welcome, please mail/text me your ETA, number is... So far every IBer did that.
Markus
Markus 9 hours ago
@ Michelle:
Add a cleaning fee:)
Reply Like 1 like Delete
helga
helga9 hours ago
Poor Michelle, don't let it get to you. I know it does, but complaining helps;-) I commiserate about the laundry on the banister! I have bars which support a glass loft and others are handholds or provide stability. It's good design and I really hate it if people hang their underpants from them. Ok, I provide clothes hangers and there is a rudimentary wardrobe, but that does not mean that you can hang shirts in the wardrobe or socks in eye height over the fridge. One guy even sat down on the stairs (that is normal) but with the legs dangling over the kitchen before the shelf with the glasses. Not even kids dare that. We need stars for culture and level of education!
But as you have a farm, get some rusty tools from a yard sale and create your private farm museum. So you can offer, with a wicked grin: "Would you like a tour of my private torture chamber, ah, my farm museum?"
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Thank you Helga. Yes complaining does help! I love the rusty farm tool idea. We have plenty of those. Maybe a little waterboard set too? My group from China arriving today just told me they wi
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Will arrive at 1pm. Check in is from 3. Im sure they don't read anything!
C C
C C9 hours ago
Ha ha, Helga!!! Once again, as always, I marvel over your command of English! Michelle, it's good to see you! Your guests with their pail of fish have almost left me speechless! I have been known to chase a guest down the street with a rake, though. For people like that, leave a review like this actual one of mine:
I enjoyed talking to *** and learning a little about his life in Australia. I don't think he will be coming back to Memphis, as he mentioned he was rather let down by Graceland, but there is much more to commemorating Elvis than just visiting the mansion. We have many Elvis-themed motels here and I think he would really enjoy them should he return.
Reply Like 9 replies•2 likes Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Haha CC. I would really enjoy chasing some of these guests with a rake! Maybe it just be part of the farm experience. I am reminded of a family that stayed last month. They had a 3yr old boy . I heard a blood curdling scream from down the hill. Up runs this little child in his nappy with our pig in hot pursuit. The parents had let him wander down to see the animals on his own. After me telling them children must be supervised at all times. We have ponds, streams and not to mention hungry pigs who want to eat boys in nappies. The parents just laughed. They didnt learn. They then let the 7yr old daughter go down and she went in to see the turkey. Our turkey does not like visitors...more screams. I remind them again. Happy when they left with their children still in one piece.
C C
C C8 hours ago
Oooooo, lord! Turkeys, roosters, pigs.... Even my tough grands no match! People stupit.
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Yep CC. People stupit. Maybe they didn't like theirs kids. Some folks are just muppets and nothing I say makes any difference to how they behave. Bring on the next crew arriving today....smile smile smile.
C C
C C8 hours ago
My mother used to tell stories of how roosters would jump on your head & proceed to take you right apart!! There's quite a difference between animals in a story book & animals on a farm--lol!!
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Our turkey (Gonzo) would most certainly do that given half a chance. He has left some good marks on my husband and my kids. He likes me haha. I have a warning about him in the guest handbook in the room. These parents knew...just didn't care. Go figure.
C C
C C7 hours ago
You know in that sequel to Silence of the Lambs those people were eat up in a pen with wild boars....
helga
helga6 hours ago
Pigs will eat everything. They don't even watch crime and murder stories ;-( I am laughing about you two, CC chasing guests with a rake and Michelle fretting that the pigs are not fed by and with the guest's offspring. Most people try to pet cats and are offended if the cats walk away or even hiss. Half ask before touching a dog, but with birds most people believe they are harmless even if they hiss. My parrot does not even hiss twice or fly away, he just strikes ultrafast and then he clings on like a pit bull, the more you wave your arm to get rid of him, the deeper the wounds ;-) But it sharpened my reflexes too, most times I'm faster then the guest to snatch Auguste away, for the other cases I have good disinfectant and bandages at home ;-) But I suppose you won't have to worry for the review, it would be to shameful to write "The room was nice but I was pecked by a turkey." Maybe they write: "We had a lot of lovely food but did not even gain weight, as the animals are very entertaining and good fitness partners."
C C
C C6 hours ago
Yeah, unfortunately whenever I chase someone down the street with my rake & my hillbilly screech--I always seem to be in my bathrobe.
helga
helga5 hours ago
Haha, I wonder why they run, exactly.
Michelle
Michelle5 hours ago
Haha now I'm laughing again. Thanks guys. I love the image of you CC in your robe with a rake. And Helga with parrot in one hand and bandage in the other. Maybe I need a parrot mmmmm? Some people just have no clue really. I need to start keeping a journal of all the crazy stuff some guests say to me about the animals. I try so hard not to laugh at them. One Swedish woman suggested I buy a harness for our rabbit and set up a series of jumps and hurdles like for horses and run around with him! What?!! Yes, what a great idea - I have so much time for that!
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
helga
helga5 hours ago
Haha, that's a good one. I went shopping with my niece and we visited all the animal stores. As my sister would tell me to keep all further living acquisitions, there was not much to buy, just a ladder for Auguste and two harnesses for the guinea pigs. So my niece could walk with them on the line. Yeah, you can drag a guinea pig behind you, but probably not for long as someone will call the cops to arrest you for cruelty ;-) Once I got a harness for Auguste, that was a flop! Putting something around his neck is not easy, he is VERY much against it. As soon as the ring is closed, the parrot is dead. Just laying stiff and motionless. Don't stop, as soon as you don't hold him, he will flip in all senses. He ended up hanging from the line in my hand, which I had lifted in a reflex movement. Fortunately, it's not a hangman's sling, the knot does not glide. Just drop the parrot to the floor, brake a bit before he hits it and then try to snatch a flipping parrot - as easy as a flipping fish on the lawn. The second try was worse, but for a while I had just to lift the harness to make him fly into the other room on the spot ;-)
helga
helga5 hours ago
Next Summer, when I read the usual stories of a tourist gored by a bull or trampled down by a cow, I'll imagine them hosted by someone like you Michelle. That's one of my favorite Summer stories, happens at least once a month. I prefer them to the boring "Shark bit off surfer's leg" tales. Much more sport then bank robberies too.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Michelle
Michelle5 hours ago
Yes, I can just picture a guinea pig being dragged along on ever shortening legs as they wear off on the pavement! I imagine Auguste would not enjoy playing a game of hangman. Last week I had a guest tell me she thought I had a fake peacock in the paddock. "No" I tell her. "It's real".
"Oooh can I go and play with it?" Sure, I would love to see you try that. How would one go about playing with a peacock?
We have coloured sheep here, brown, black, grey and patchwork. An American man asked me when will the wool grow out and turn white like all other sheep? Hahaha. It was hard not to laugh at that one. These are not Michael Jackson sheep.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
helga
helga3 hours ago
Haha, Michel Jackson sheep ! My niece would protest, she tested leading the guinea pig on the lawn but I'll paint her the picture of a walk on pavement. You can play with a peacock: Yoy get in front of it and say "Boo!" The peacock is supposed to fan its feathers then. They have them in some gardens in Austria, one belonging to a castle close to my mother. The guardians don't like you play with the fowls though.
scott
scott2 hours ago
You do one nighters with groups of up to 5 people? That's nuts, Michelle. You're going to kill yourself.
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Suzanne
Suzannean hour ago
I was going to suggest longer minimum stays too. Or less people in all....or fewer children....good luck!!!!
Michelle
Michellean hour ago
I know Scott, but that's how it is here in Hokitika. If I only took 2 night stays or more I wouldn't have anyone. We have a really large room that can sleep a whole family and that is one of our points of difference. The market is getting flooded here with places that sleep 2-3. I know I sound mental, but if I changed anything, the bookings would stop. I just felt like having a big moan about the last few guests we've had. Thanks for listening haha.
scott
scott43 minutes ago
I understand. It's a bit of conundrum. People are seeing your place as a motel and treating it accordingly. With one night bookings, it would be hard to get into their heads that it's a home.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle19 minutes ago
Yes, you are right Scott. That is why we have just listed a whole house in the town so we can start easing back on the in-home hosting of big groups. Fingers crossed it works out. People do like to stay on a farm though.
Markus
Markus 25 minutes ago
michelle:
The "Similar" listings airbnb has under yours are at $81 per night and are for 2 and 3 people only. That might help with the wear and tear in your home if you allow less people maybe 3-4 max?
Feeling a little burnt out and beaten..
Hello fellow hosts. I'm just here to have a little moan and ask for a sympathetic "There, there, don't let them get to you" from the group. I am reminded of your post a little while ago Helga about how you felt after a couple of bad star ratings.
We have had a lot of guests this past two months and are pretty much fully booked through February. We have mostly one nighters as we are a stop-off point for people "doing" the South Island. We can sleep groups of 5 so we get many families traveling together.
Recently we have have some real nightmare groups. They don't let us know what time they will arrive, or arrive hours later/earlier than said time. They flood the bathroom, the children are out of control and house rules seem to be more of a "rough guide" that don't really apply to them. So I have had to be firm with many of them remind them of the rules. One Swedish family hung all their wet laundry long our wooden banister in a shared space.
Our last family from China just left. They arrived an hour early. At the time of booking they asked if they could use the kitchen. I said no - not available. We have had some bad experiences so have removed kitchen use from the listing. They arrive with a chilly-bin full of fish and say they will cook! Ummm no. You will not. There are lots of great cheap options for eating in our town. They are very angry but go out for dinner. I had to store the large amount of fish in our fridge for the night. After they checked out I discovered they had emptied all the garbage from their car (food, bottles, plastic bags etc) in our garden! They were rude and had that "entitled" air about them. Wonder what their review will be like?
Sadly this is typical of what we are dealing with at the moment.
I just got a review from a similar group. Many problems with them, very rude and disrespectful. Left an hour late etc. They wrote a short review and totally burnt us on stars. 3 for communication, location, accuracy and overall! The first time ever we have got that low. Always 5 for accuracy and communication. I spend a lot of time on the listing description and messaging/emailing guests. This was purely revenge.
I am now going to have to start turning more groups down (and I am already quite picky).
We have had some great young couple staying too. Lovely, friendly and seem to love everything then at review time they give us 4 or 3 stars for location. Grrr. We are a farmstay - so we need to be in the country right!
Argghhh, anyway. I need to toughen up and not get so upset about those damn stars. Am set to lose that stupid little SH badge the way things are going. Probably not a bad thing.
Bring on winter and some down time when I won't dream about medieval torture devices for some of our "lovely" guests.
Sorry about the rant all you lovely hosts out there. I feel a little better getting it off my chest. Happy hosting.
12 comments•7 likes
Follow
Like
Monet
Alejandra
Gavin & Jo
Friederycke and Jeff
helga
+2
more
Delete
Hide
Milu
Milua day ago
You poor thing! Sounds like you've piled bad on to bad with your recent guests. Where did the family get the fish from? Did they actually buy it somewhere or do they travel with poles and make stops along the riverbank?
Reply Like 2 replies Delete
Michelle
Michellea day ago
Thanks Milu. They bought it from the other coast of the South Island 3 1/2hrs drive away. It was getting a bit smelly already. I pity the next place they got to with that bin full of fish.
helga
helga9 hours ago
Pity their garden ;-)
Deborah
Deboraha day ago
You have a great listing and wonderful reviews. I would love to stay there. Hang in there and enjoy the off season. I was upset too when recently we got fewer stars from another host. I think it was just his personality. I try not to let it bother me, but it does.
Reply Like 1 reply Delete
Michelle
Michellea day ago
Thank you Deborah. I know I need to be thicker skinned - it is a business after all. Actually some of our more difficult guests have been hosts too. We have just listed a whole house in town in an effort to have less stay with us in our home and get some breathing space.
Markus
Markus 9 hours ago
michelle:
What lovely listings you offer! It sounds like people are picking up on your sweetness and taking advantage which is so unfortunate.
It is going to be ok- and hopefully you've had your bad batch and sending positive vibes for great guests from here on out.
Consider increasing your price? They seem VERY reasonable for the amount of folks you can accommodate. Maybe if you increase the base price it will help?
As regards to rules consider writing something like:
We require you confirm a scheduled arrival time 48 hours prior to your check-in day. This will ensure someone is home to welcome you. The "(insert title of your unit)" is available beginning at (insert time here), if you need a later check-in please let us know.
Early check-ins prior to (5 mins before your listed time) will be charged an additional $50. By showing up early you understand and agree to pay the $50 through airbnb no exception. (Maybe a hefty fee will deter people from showing up early)
Guests are required to leave the unit as they found it.
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Thank you for your kind words. Our price is similar to others around here for a private room so I can't go too much higher. I would love to though. The problem I think with check ins is that the guests just don't read anything so they don't even know when check in is from. And of course they don't care that we have jobs and lives either. I do state in my listing and messages that they must tell us their arrival time. I just have to keep smiling through this for the next two months and think of the extra income. Hopefully there will be some nice folks out there soon.
helga
helga7 hours ago
Michelle, do you have your own text added to the booking confirmation? Most people read at least that. I have the way description there and repeat my phone number too. On the IB message, where you have only a few words, I say in shorthand something like welcome, please mail/text me your ETA, number is... So far every IBer did that.
Markus
Markus 9 hours ago
@ Michelle:
Add a cleaning fee:)
Reply Like 1 like Delete
helga
helga9 hours ago
Poor Michelle, don't let it get to you. I know it does, but complaining helps;-) I commiserate about the laundry on the banister! I have bars which support a glass loft and others are handholds or provide stability. It's good design and I really hate it if people hang their underpants from them. Ok, I provide clothes hangers and there is a rudimentary wardrobe, but that does not mean that you can hang shirts in the wardrobe or socks in eye height over the fridge. One guy even sat down on the stairs (that is normal) but with the legs dangling over the kitchen before the shelf with the glasses. Not even kids dare that. We need stars for culture and level of education!
But as you have a farm, get some rusty tools from a yard sale and create your private farm museum. So you can offer, with a wicked grin: "Would you like a tour of my private torture chamber, ah, my farm museum?"
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Thank you Helga. Yes complaining does help! I love the rusty farm tool idea. We have plenty of those. Maybe a little waterboard set too? My group from China arriving today just told me they wi
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Will arrive at 1pm. Check in is from 3. Im sure they don't read anything!
C C
C C9 hours ago
Ha ha, Helga!!! Once again, as always, I marvel over your command of English! Michelle, it's good to see you! Your guests with their pail of fish have almost left me speechless! I have been known to chase a guest down the street with a rake, though. For people like that, leave a review like this actual one of mine:
I enjoyed talking to *** and learning a little about his life in Australia. I don't think he will be coming back to Memphis, as he mentioned he was rather let down by Graceland, but there is much more to commemorating Elvis than just visiting the mansion. We have many Elvis-themed motels here and I think he would really enjoy them should he return.
Reply Like 9 replies•2 likes Delete
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Haha CC. I would really enjoy chasing some of these guests with a rake! Maybe it just be part of the farm experience. I am reminded of a family that stayed last month. They had a 3yr old boy . I heard a blood curdling scream from down the hill. Up runs this little child in his nappy with our pig in hot pursuit. The parents had let him wander down to see the animals on his own. After me telling them children must be supervised at all times. We have ponds, streams and not to mention hungry pigs who want to eat boys in nappies. The parents just laughed. They didnt learn. They then let the 7yr old daughter go down and she went in to see the turkey. Our turkey does not like visitors...more screams. I remind them again. Happy when they left with their children still in one piece.
C C
C C8 hours ago
Oooooo, lord! Turkeys, roosters, pigs.... Even my tough grands no match! People stupit.
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Yep CC. People stupit. Maybe they didn't like theirs kids. Some folks are just muppets and nothing I say makes any difference to how they behave. Bring on the next crew arriving today....smile smile smile.
C C
C C8 hours ago
My mother used to tell stories of how roosters would jump on your head & proceed to take you right apart!! There's quite a difference between animals in a story book & animals on a farm--lol!!
Michelle
Michelle8 hours ago
Our turkey (Gonzo) would most certainly do that given half a chance. He has left some good marks on my husband and my kids. He likes me haha. I have a warning about him in the guest handbook in the room. These parents knew...just didn't care. Go figure.
C C
C C7 hours ago
You know in that sequel to Silence of the Lambs those people were eat up in a pen with wild boars....
helga
helga6 hours ago
Pigs will eat everything. They don't even watch crime and murder stories ;-( I am laughing about you two, CC chasing guests with a rake and Michelle fretting that the pigs are not fed by and with the guest's offspring. Most people try to pet cats and are offended if the cats walk away or even hiss. Half ask before touching a dog, but with birds most people believe they are harmless even if they hiss. My parrot does not even hiss twice or fly away, he just strikes ultrafast and then he clings on like a pit bull, the more you wave your arm to get rid of him, the deeper the wounds ;-) But it sharpened my reflexes too, most times I'm faster then the guest to snatch Auguste away, for the other cases I have good disinfectant and bandages at home ;-) But I suppose you won't have to worry for the review, it would be to shameful to write "The room was nice but I was pecked by a turkey." Maybe they write: "We had a lot of lovely food but did not even gain weight, as the animals are very entertaining and good fitness partners."
C C
C C6 hours ago
Yeah, unfortunately whenever I chase someone down the street with my rake & my hillbilly screech--I always seem to be in my bathrobe.
helga
helga5 hours ago
Haha, I wonder why they run, exactly.
Michelle
Michelle5 hours ago
Haha now I'm laughing again. Thanks guys. I love the image of you CC in your robe with a rake. And Helga with parrot in one hand and bandage in the other. Maybe I need a parrot mmmmm? Some people just have no clue really. I need to start keeping a journal of all the crazy stuff some guests say to me about the animals. I try so hard not to laugh at them. One Swedish woman suggested I buy a harness for our rabbit and set up a series of jumps and hurdles like for horses and run around with him! What?!! Yes, what a great idea - I have so much time for that!
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
helga
helga5 hours ago
Haha, that's a good one. I went shopping with my niece and we visited all the animal stores. As my sister would tell me to keep all further living acquisitions, there was not much to buy, just a ladder for Auguste and two harnesses for the guinea pigs. So my niece could walk with them on the line. Yeah, you can drag a guinea pig behind you, but probably not for long as someone will call the cops to arrest you for cruelty ;-) Once I got a harness for Auguste, that was a flop! Putting something around his neck is not easy, he is VERY much against it. As soon as the ring is closed, the parrot is dead. Just laying stiff and motionless. Don't stop, as soon as you don't hold him, he will flip in all senses. He ended up hanging from the line in my hand, which I had lifted in a reflex movement. Fortunately, it's not a hangman's sling, the knot does not glide. Just drop the parrot to the floor, brake a bit before he hits it and then try to snatch a flipping parrot - as easy as a flipping fish on the lawn. The second try was worse, but for a while I had just to lift the harness to make him fly into the other room on the spot ;-)
helga
helga5 hours ago
Next Summer, when I read the usual stories of a tourist gored by a bull or trampled down by a cow, I'll imagine them hosted by someone like you Michelle. That's one of my favorite Summer stories, happens at least once a month. I prefer them to the boring "Shark bit off surfer's leg" tales. Much more sport then bank robberies too.
Reply Like 2 likes Delete
Michelle
Michelle5 hours ago
Yes, I can just picture a guinea pig being dragged along on ever shortening legs as they wear off on the pavement! I imagine Auguste would not enjoy playing a game of hangman. Last week I had a guest tell me she thought I had a fake peacock in the paddock. "No" I tell her. "It's real".
"Oooh can I go and play with it?" Sure, I would love to see you try that. How would one go about playing with a peacock?
We have coloured sheep here, brown, black, grey and patchwork. An American man asked me when will the wool grow out and turn white like all other sheep? Hahaha. It was hard not to laugh at that one. These are not Michael Jackson sheep.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
helga
helga3 hours ago
Haha, Michel Jackson sheep ! My niece would protest, she tested leading the guinea pig on the lawn but I'll paint her the picture of a walk on pavement. You can play with a peacock: Yoy get in front of it and say "Boo!" The peacock is supposed to fan its feathers then. They have them in some gardens in Austria, one belonging to a castle close to my mother. The guardians don't like you play with the fowls though.
scott
scott2 hours ago
You do one nighters with groups of up to 5 people? That's nuts, Michelle. You're going to kill yourself.
Reply Like 2 replies•1 like Delete
Suzanne
Suzannean hour ago
I was going to suggest longer minimum stays too. Or less people in all....or fewer children....good luck!!!!
Michelle
Michellean hour ago
I know Scott, but that's how it is here in Hokitika. If I only took 2 night stays or more I wouldn't have anyone. We have a really large room that can sleep a whole family and that is one of our points of difference. The market is getting flooded here with places that sleep 2-3. I know I sound mental, but if I changed anything, the bookings would stop. I just felt like having a big moan about the last few guests we've had. Thanks for listening haha.
scott
scott43 minutes ago
I understand. It's a bit of conundrum. People are seeing your place as a motel and treating it accordingly. With one night bookings, it would be hard to get into their heads that it's a home.
Reply Like 1 reply•1 like Delete
Michelle
Michelle19 minutes ago
Yes, you are right Scott. That is why we have just listed a whole house in the town so we can start easing back on the in-home hosting of big groups. Fingers crossed it works out. People do like to stay on a farm though.
Markus
Markus 25 minutes ago
michelle:
The "Similar" listings airbnb has under yours are at $81 per night and are for 2 and 3 people only. That might help with the wear and tear in your home if you allow less people maybe 3-4 max?