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If you stayed at someone’s house what would you expect?

62 replies

Shutthedoorproperly · 30/06/2021 11:41

I have visitors this weekend. It is sooo long since I had anyone to stay that I think I’ve lost the power of hosting! It’s at least a decade.

Someone tell me what I need to prepare/clean/sort! Thankyou!

OP posts:
WeAreTheHeroes · 30/06/2021 11:44

Clean bedding, clean towels. Clean the room they'll be staying in, obviously. Get in things you know they like if you want to - or check whether there's anything they dislike or have an allergy to. Make it clear what's happening for breakfast - i.e. do they just help themselves, or will it be at a specific time and you'll be doing a cooked breakfast, etc. Just make them feel comfortable.

Purplewithred · 30/06/2021 11:44

clean bedding, towel, regular meals (maybe going out with you), an idea of The Plan. hangover cures would be nice if you have those kinds of plans.

I would expect to bring you a nice gift, to pay for a meal or something, to offer to strip the bed, and to not take the piss. I would also bugger off in good time on Sunday.

HotToddyColdSauvignon · 30/06/2021 11:45

Clean bed linen, a range of towels for them to use.

If you have any hotel sized mini smellies I usually put in a little basket somewhere obvious in their room for them to use.

Check if they have any dietary arrangements / get their preferred type of milk in etc.

DDIJ · 30/06/2021 11:45

This reply has been withdrawn

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Notaroadrunner · 30/06/2021 11:56

I would expect clean bedclothes and a couple of towels - one for body/one for hair. I'd expect shower gel and shampoo in the bathroom - wouldn't care what kind. I'd expect breakfast - cereal or toast is perfect. As for lunch and dinner you could have stuff in, order a takeaway or eat out - ask guests what they'd like to do. I wouldn't expect to have to pay for everyone if eating out or getting a takeaway unless you specifically invited them for the weekend. If they asked could they come then they should pay their way.

user1471523870 · 30/06/2021 11:57

I think the basics are clean bed, towels and space to put their suitcase/clothes.

Then often my guests forget phone chargers or ask to have a glass of water in the room for the night, or ask for the hairdryer.

idontlikealdi · 30/06/2021 12:01

A warm welcome, enough food and drink. Let them know they can help themselves to tea / coffee / whatever they want.

Clean bedroom / bedding / towels.

Anything else they want / need they can ask for or bring with them surely.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/06/2021 12:04

Fresh linens
Windows open all day til they arrive
Lots of tea coffee and biscuits in the kitchen
Stuff to make a half decent breakfast if only staying 1-2 nights
Clean the loo
Clean the litter trays if you have any

MsIreneWinters · 30/06/2021 12:13

Let them know about any odd things about your house in advance.

E.g if making the loo flush involves some complicated series of jiggles or the bathroom door only locks if you turn it 3 and a half times then let them know before they embarrass themselves, rather than after!

maxelly · 30/06/2021 12:32

As others have said, make sure your house is generally clean and non smelly and their room in particular is tidy and nice. If you have pets pay particular attention to the smell and hairiness of the rooms they use, as pet owners we tend to go 'nose-blind' to the lingering odour of our darlings Grin but we forget not everyone is as keen and the smell or hair can bother others in particular if they have any allergies, when he last came over my brother kindly informed me my house has 'eau de guinea pig' lingering around it which I can't smell at all Blush so I will be scrubbing out their hutch and thoroughly airing the room they are in before any future guests come for sure! Otherwise I wouldn't panic re doing too much cleaning, obviously you want the place hygienic etc but personally I would rather there be a bit of mess and a relaxed/happy host than show home perfection but host a frazzled mess!

On the topic of pets do have a plan to separate/restrain any particularly exuberant or noisy animals (or indeed, children!) from your guests who may not be as keen on them as you are!

Food, I always go a bit OTT for guests personally but I would say get in their preferred drinks both hot/cold, soft and alcoholic (if you don't know what they like then I guess a selection of tea/coffee/herbals/juice/pop/wine/beer), some nice snacks and then a range of breakfast items unless you plan to go out for breakfast. Cold breakfast is fine, I wouldn't necessarily do a cooked breakfast except for certain older relatives I know like them, although it is nice to get those part-cooked croissants/pain au chocolats from the supermarket that you can pop in oven for 15 mins. For lunches/dinners you can discuss with your guests and fit around your planned itinerary, you shouldn't necessarily have to do all the catering although on a weekend visit I usually do at least one hot home cooked meal and maybe a buffet or cold lunch or two, and then we'll eat out or get takeaway for other meals (guests will usually offer to pay, I'll gracefully decline, they will insist and I'll let them pay at least once Wink ).

I think the key to a good visit is to keep busy, even with my nearest and dearest sitting around the house chatting gets boring after a while. What/how much I plan depends very much on who's coming, my mother for instance is pretty much incapable of independent thought and when asked what she'd like to do just says 'whatever you like' so for her I'd very much plan an itinerary (garden centre Saturday AM, lunch at pub, shops Saturday PM and so on) whereas with other friends we can be more spontaneous but I'd still have a few ideas ready just in case e.g. we could go to local nature reserve or the cinema is showing X film or we could visit Y local attraction (good to have wet weather and dry weather options also!), so maybe a bit of googling of what's on esp if it's things you'd need to book? Also on a longer visit you may want to discreetly find/hint at things your visitor can do without you in tow/ways to have some individual time or time with other people, being in each others company 24/7 for prolonged periods can be a recipe for disaster IME!

RogueMnerHidesUnderABigHat · 30/06/2021 12:36

Clean sheets, a clean towel, as clean a house as can be arsed to provide.

A warm and enthusiastic welcome. Plenty of wine

Shoxfordian · 30/06/2021 12:39

Make the beds, clean towels, tidy the room up, get some food in

5128gap · 30/06/2021 12:40

All I'd want is somewhere clean warm and comfortable to sleep, and privacy for bathroom use (a door lock is a must!) Beyond that I'd be coming to see you and would expect to fit in with how your household usually worked and to feel I hadn't put you to too much trouble so we both enjoyed the visit. If I wanted anything more I'd book a hotel.

tcjotm · 30/06/2021 12:46

I always make sure people know how to open the front door in case of emergency. The key is always in it as it’s a deadlock type and I’m very conscious of fire safety.

I may be more the paranoid type than the warm hostess type 😂.

TheMotherlode · 30/06/2021 12:54

If only really expect the basics - fresh bedding and towels, breakfast and tea/coffee and for the house to be relatively clean.

We stayed with some friends a few years back and the bedding had clearly been slept in and the bath was covered in black mould, still makes me shudder.

I wouldn’t expect someone hosting me to pay for/cook all of my food but it’s nice if they have a plan for food, I.e. to decide if we’re going out, getting a takeaway, cooking at home.

thelegohooverer · 30/06/2021 12:54

The WiFi password. And let them know if opening a window at night will set off an alarm.

I’d also have a chat around covid expectations as people can be on very different wave lengths and I’d want them to feel comfortable.

emmathedilemma · 30/06/2021 12:55

Clean house, clean bedsheets, towels we usually have a conversation beforehand about if guests are bringing them or not (if they come by car they tend to bring them), drinks, breakfast provisions, nibbles, and whatever you're having for meals if not eating out. Dig out your wifi code if any kids are coming, the teens seem to always be stressing about data when they visit me!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/06/2021 12:56

A bedside table with a good lamp for reading in bed.

A loo brush!! And spare loo roll somewhere obvious if needed, not hidden away somewhere else so that you have to ask.

Big enough towels - bath sheet size.

Bedroom windows that open, not locked shut like at 2 houses we’ve stayed at, where we had to ask for keys and the otherwise non-weird hosts seemed surprised that anyone would want bedroom windows open.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 30/06/2021 13:01

Id expect a clean bedroom/linens and some towels. I think id expect a clean house, but not ridiculously clean. Just a bit of a tidy up and a clean bathroom and kitchen counters etc. Id also expect there to be enough food in for the first few meals maybe, but this depends what your plans are.

As for the PP suggesting some smellies in the guest room, ive never expected or experienced this, but id like to stay at that persons house!

JonahofArk · 30/06/2021 13:03

A bottle of water by the bed.

purplemunkey · 30/06/2021 13:05

As everyone else says - clean house and fresh bed lined/towels for the room they are staying in is the basics I think. Show them how the shower works maybe? That's sometimes caught me out at other people's houses. Other than that, have a rough plan of what you'd like to to during their stay but we open to change if they don't fancy any of what you have planned.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 30/06/2021 13:06

A loo brush?! In case your guests want to crack on with some cleaning themselves?!

A bottle of water? Meh. They're staying there. They can have a glass of water surely? Its not a hotel.

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 30/06/2021 13:09

@5128gap you’re my kind of guest Grin

I stopped bending over backwards to be the “perfect host”, as I used to get stressed with hosting, and needed to change my approach.

Now I happily provide a clean room, clean sheets/towels and a clean and private bathroom. For the rest, they can eat with the family and join us for anything, but am not looking to entertain them as such. They’ll be expected to make their own tea/coffee etc after day 1

DH has invited an old school friend over for a week (whilst DH himself is at work mostly Grin) as friend needs a break as has a burn out.

He knows I wfh, have kids and a puppy, so won’t be perfect hostess but he is very welcome and can join us for all meals etc and just hang out here

In a way I find people usually relax more if they can just do their own thing

The more you actively “host” the more tired you get Wink

Malin52 · 30/06/2021 13:09

I love these threads. It will start off with 'tidy room, clean towels, hairdryer and a bedside lamp' and the responses will get progressively more mad through to "I cannot feel like I've hosted properly unless I have built a personal shower room with views over the bay and i have stocked the mini bar with their favourite champagne. Don't forget to ensure the remote controlled curtains are still functioning! I did once and it was a disaster! We still laugh about it but I was sooo embarrassed!"

ChubbyLittleManInACampervan · 30/06/2021 13:12

As to clean house…. Not gonna happen right now (new puppy chaos). “Clean enough” will have to do