Post by High Priestess on Oct 16, 2015 5:38:09 GMT
Jane shared Oct 15 2015
empty dressers/closet space in a home you rent that you live in?
Hi, all - I received a review in which the guest was surprised at "how much of the owner's stuff" was in dresser drawers and closets and she was surprised when I gave her a tour of the house that it was my house, only realizing that fact at the very end of my tour, even though the whole tour, obviously, I was saying things like, "This is where my sons sleep usually."
1) She obviously must've gone through all or most of my drawers in order to discover that they have my things in them. Can I address this to her? Do I need to list this in my listing, not to go through my stuff and clarify what I DO offer?
2) she really didn't get that airbnb is most people's homes. This leads me to wonder if the trend with airbnb, which I feel I've heard about, that it's people buying 2nd homes that are NOT primary residences and ARE empty for guests. What do you all know or just pick up on about any change towards this?
3) How much empty space in dressers and hanging clothes in closet do those of you WHO LIVE IN YOUR HOME offer to your guests?
Ana:
I keep all the towels and sheets in the dresser but I do have an Ikea closet for them to hang things. My other room is just a place to sleep on a budget. and yes I live in the house with two roommates and two dogs and a small hair salon. If guests would just please, please read listings they wouldn't have to be surprised at every turn ;o}
Finna:
I leave about 10 hangers in the closet for guest's use
Queenie & Ted (queenie&ted)
I'm a live in host and I rent my children's bedrooms. They are adults and have moved out. I say this to say that the dressers in each room is empty except for the extra bed sheets I keep in them. The closets are not empty but I do leave a large section of it free for guests to hang clothes. I also have over-the-door hooks on every door.
Most of my guests only stay 2-3 nights so I don't think they really use the dressers but a good portion of them are in town for events and do need space to hang shirts or dresses.
As for your guest, I would simply tell her that there is no dresser space for Guests. Put a note or sticky on the dresser itself identifying the contents as "Personal Property of Owner".
I make sure that guests know they're coming to my private home when they first inquire and again if they book and a third time when we get the reminder that a guest is coming. We have long determined that guests don't read everything in the listing and somehow come up with the idea that even though the listing is for a 'private room', they've won the jackpot and will get a whole house!
Jane
Nobody has addressed if guests are using their personal bedroom. From some of the other comments in this thread, such as personal items all needing to be locked up or else they are ok to be labeled "open slather for guests" scares the everything out me. I probably won't do airbnb if all my possessions are up for going through. I can't possibly lock everything up - toiletries, clothes drawers, paper area, dining room hutch. And this is my personal bedroom that I give up and go live elsewhere to do! No way. Any other insights from you, since I've seen you post elsewhere and would love your further opinion on my new fears?
DAVID
Just make clear what is off limits, and what can be used. Set expectations and people will respond in kind
nathalie
Bonjour Jane, as you i rent my home . A real live-in home. It is written in the description and in the pre approving message : "this is my usual home so there are personal stuff in it but a big drawer is emptied for your stuff". With a clear communication and a clean home, i never had any problem.
Finna
Oops. Also I have put some coat hooks on the wall on the room, with further hangers and guests seem pretty happy with that. Two drawers in a dresser should be plenty in my opinion, unless guests are staying for a long period of time. I am new to hosting and right from the start I mention that this is our home and therfore they shouldn't expect anything else, and so far all my guests have been content with that. I would say 'don't fret over emptying your closets completely' It's your home!
C C (CC)
I would never expect my guests to deal with my stuff being in the space they paid for. My furniture is empty, for their use.
Anne
As a traveler, I want the dresser empty and at least half the closet space. In the common rooms I expect your stuff but not in "my" room. I'll have to remember to ask now that you've brought it up.
Anne
Does having the host's belongings in the room mean they'll be coming in to get stuff? That's almost as bad as the host who said they will tiptoe in...yuck.
C C (CC)
So right, Anne. Or the host who comes in to pep you up or water plants...or just toodle around.
Andrew (andrew)
I always recommend keeping all personal items, documents, prescription drugs, and anything else you don't want guests handling in locked cabinets during their stay. Lots of otherwise nice people can't resist going through your stuff.
I don't think there's anything wrong with stuff being in your closets and so forth, but it's best to have some clothes storage space dedicated exclusively to guests. The longer a guest's stay, the more space they're likely to need. A small, free-standing wardrobe in each guestroom should serve most needs well. There are collapsible ones that you can put away when you're not hosting - they're not nice looking but useful if space is an issue.
It looks like this particular guest was a first-time Airbnb user, so they probably weren't too clear on the concept. It is pretty clear in your listing that it's your home, though.
DAVID
Jane I disagree with your assertion that most "entire home" listings are for a host's primary place of residence. (Where I am, they are most certainly not.)
I would suggest that many guests arriving to an "entire home" listing would not anticipate the owner's personal items cluttering the accessible space/storage - unless, like nathalie, you specify otherwise.
I think it would behove you to make it crystal clear to potential guests that - your listing is your primary place of residence, which (other than the daily cat feeding) you vacate for the duration of a guest's stay, noting however, that most of your personal day to day living items (including clothes) remain in the house (and are not for guest use). (I store my personal items away in; a big locked storage area under the stairs, 1 locked cupboard in the kitchen & 1 locked cabinet in the laundry. Anything that isn't locked away, I consider to be open slather for guests to use during their stay. Additionally all my bedroom wardrobes are free from items, except those a guest may use during their stay.)
I think communication is key here - take this as an opportunity to set up guest expectations appropriately for your environment.
empty dressers/closet space in a home you rent that you live in?
Hi, all - I received a review in which the guest was surprised at "how much of the owner's stuff" was in dresser drawers and closets and she was surprised when I gave her a tour of the house that it was my house, only realizing that fact at the very end of my tour, even though the whole tour, obviously, I was saying things like, "This is where my sons sleep usually."
1) She obviously must've gone through all or most of my drawers in order to discover that they have my things in them. Can I address this to her? Do I need to list this in my listing, not to go through my stuff and clarify what I DO offer?
2) she really didn't get that airbnb is most people's homes. This leads me to wonder if the trend with airbnb, which I feel I've heard about, that it's people buying 2nd homes that are NOT primary residences and ARE empty for guests. What do you all know or just pick up on about any change towards this?
3) How much empty space in dressers and hanging clothes in closet do those of you WHO LIVE IN YOUR HOME offer to your guests?
Ana:
I keep all the towels and sheets in the dresser but I do have an Ikea closet for them to hang things. My other room is just a place to sleep on a budget. and yes I live in the house with two roommates and two dogs and a small hair salon. If guests would just please, please read listings they wouldn't have to be surprised at every turn ;o}
Finna:
I leave about 10 hangers in the closet for guest's use
Queenie & Ted (queenie&ted)
I'm a live in host and I rent my children's bedrooms. They are adults and have moved out. I say this to say that the dressers in each room is empty except for the extra bed sheets I keep in them. The closets are not empty but I do leave a large section of it free for guests to hang clothes. I also have over-the-door hooks on every door.
Most of my guests only stay 2-3 nights so I don't think they really use the dressers but a good portion of them are in town for events and do need space to hang shirts or dresses.
As for your guest, I would simply tell her that there is no dresser space for Guests. Put a note or sticky on the dresser itself identifying the contents as "Personal Property of Owner".
I make sure that guests know they're coming to my private home when they first inquire and again if they book and a third time when we get the reminder that a guest is coming. We have long determined that guests don't read everything in the listing and somehow come up with the idea that even though the listing is for a 'private room', they've won the jackpot and will get a whole house!
Jane
Nobody has addressed if guests are using their personal bedroom. From some of the other comments in this thread, such as personal items all needing to be locked up or else they are ok to be labeled "open slather for guests" scares the everything out me. I probably won't do airbnb if all my possessions are up for going through. I can't possibly lock everything up - toiletries, clothes drawers, paper area, dining room hutch. And this is my personal bedroom that I give up and go live elsewhere to do! No way. Any other insights from you, since I've seen you post elsewhere and would love your further opinion on my new fears?
DAVID
Just make clear what is off limits, and what can be used. Set expectations and people will respond in kind
nathalie
Bonjour Jane, as you i rent my home . A real live-in home. It is written in the description and in the pre approving message : "this is my usual home so there are personal stuff in it but a big drawer is emptied for your stuff". With a clear communication and a clean home, i never had any problem.
Finna
Oops. Also I have put some coat hooks on the wall on the room, with further hangers and guests seem pretty happy with that. Two drawers in a dresser should be plenty in my opinion, unless guests are staying for a long period of time. I am new to hosting and right from the start I mention that this is our home and therfore they shouldn't expect anything else, and so far all my guests have been content with that. I would say 'don't fret over emptying your closets completely' It's your home!
C C (CC)
I would never expect my guests to deal with my stuff being in the space they paid for. My furniture is empty, for their use.
Anne
As a traveler, I want the dresser empty and at least half the closet space. In the common rooms I expect your stuff but not in "my" room. I'll have to remember to ask now that you've brought it up.
Anne
Does having the host's belongings in the room mean they'll be coming in to get stuff? That's almost as bad as the host who said they will tiptoe in...yuck.
C C (CC)
So right, Anne. Or the host who comes in to pep you up or water plants...or just toodle around.
Andrew (andrew)
I always recommend keeping all personal items, documents, prescription drugs, and anything else you don't want guests handling in locked cabinets during their stay. Lots of otherwise nice people can't resist going through your stuff.
I don't think there's anything wrong with stuff being in your closets and so forth, but it's best to have some clothes storage space dedicated exclusively to guests. The longer a guest's stay, the more space they're likely to need. A small, free-standing wardrobe in each guestroom should serve most needs well. There are collapsible ones that you can put away when you're not hosting - they're not nice looking but useful if space is an issue.
It looks like this particular guest was a first-time Airbnb user, so they probably weren't too clear on the concept. It is pretty clear in your listing that it's your home, though.
DAVID
Jane I disagree with your assertion that most "entire home" listings are for a host's primary place of residence. (Where I am, they are most certainly not.)
I would suggest that many guests arriving to an "entire home" listing would not anticipate the owner's personal items cluttering the accessible space/storage - unless, like nathalie, you specify otherwise.
I think it would behove you to make it crystal clear to potential guests that - your listing is your primary place of residence, which (other than the daily cat feeding) you vacate for the duration of a guest's stay, noting however, that most of your personal day to day living items (including clothes) remain in the house (and are not for guest use). (I store my personal items away in; a big locked storage area under the stairs, 1 locked cupboard in the kitchen & 1 locked cabinet in the laundry. Anything that isn't locked away, I consider to be open slather for guests to use during their stay. Additionally all my bedroom wardrobes are free from items, except those a guest may use during their stay.)
I think communication is key here - take this as an opportunity to set up guest expectations appropriately for your environment.